Question: Ramos Pinto "Collector" Porto Reserve

[Andy Velebil]

I was at my local Cost Plus Market and they had this in the clearance section for 50% off, so of course I got one. I read the back label and it says "This is an Unfiltered wine. Sediments may occur." That statement caught my eye. I don't think I have had a cheap ruby that was bottled unfiltered. Does any other producer make an inexpensive ruby that is unfiltered? If anyone has had, it can you let me know if you liked it or not.

Thanks

[Steven Kooij]

Qta. d. Javali does not filter its Special Reserve ruby, and it does throw quite a bit of deposit. DISCLAIMER: I import this Port.

[Andy Velebil]

Steven,

Thanks, I was really curious because I had never known anyone produced an inexpensive ruby that was unfiltered. I appreciate the info.

[Frederick Blais]

Quinta de la Rosa is also one of these producer. On their back label, from memory, it was written that all the grapes where foot troden, grade A and that the wine was unfiltered. Rarely producer will use the same technique as the Vintage to produce a Ruby. The price reflects that also, 5$ above average Ruby Port price.

[Derek T.]

Interesting comment from Fred about the process used to produce unfiltered Ruby which relates nicely to my debate with Roy on the price of 2005 VP in the Other Discussions area

Derek

[Frederick Blais]

Derek, though I do not completly disagree with your statement, there is a big leap in quality between VP and ruby. Though some ruby are made with grade A grapes, it does not mean it could have produced superb VP.

The other thing is the market. For every product you pay for quality and brand. Nike shoes must cost about the same price to produce then VP and they sell also about the same price and even more sometimes! Don't wait for a revolution on that anywhere soon

[Al B.]

So what is the difference between an unfiltered Ruby and a Crusted Port? Neither come from a single year or a single vineyard, both continue to evolve in the bottle.

Is there a difference?

Alex

[Derek T.]

Fred,

I don't disagree with anything you say.

My objection is to the notion that the price of VP is in any way related to the cost of production. It simply is not the case, especially for the major producers who grow all of the grapes used for their VP. It costs the roughly the same amount of money to produce good and bad wine. The difference is the quality of the vines, location and the skill of the producer. These same producers sell port that goes through more or less the same process as VP for $10 to $20 a bottle which includes the cost of the picking, the treading, the barrel, the blending, the bottle, the cork, the label, the marketing and the shipping. None of these costs differ between VP and Ruby.

I have no problem paying a premium price for a premium product. I do have a problem with price-fixing which results in 2 year old VP costing more at today's price than a bottle from the same producer that has been stored at someone elses expense for 20 or 30 years.

I don't expect a revolution, I just wanted a rant

Derek

[Derek T.]

Fred,

In relation to Alex's question - do these unfiltered ruby ports have a stated year of bottling on the label. If so, like Alex, I can't see how they could be any different to Crusted Port.

Derek

[Andy Velebil]

Derek,

I checked my bottle and it does not show a year bottled. It does have what looks like a production number (which is L-35643 10 L 04) in very small print on the back label. I'm sure someone at Ramos Pintos could decipher the code and give a bottling date.

BTW, I opened this yesterday and I will say this is much better today, on the second day after being opened. Much more integrated tannins and flavors more in line with a mid-weight SQVP than a ruby. For the $8.00 I paid, I will go back and try to get more.

[Frederick Blais]

I did not keep the bottle, its beeing recycled at the moment :)