Vintage Port in Boston area

[Patrick R.]

Dear Port Lovers,

I am new to Vintage Port, but I am trying to make up for lost time. I am curious if any of you can recommend some purveyors of quality Vintage Port in the Boston area. I have three considerations: 1) Variety; 2) Reasonable Prices; 3) Potential for a Rara Avis. Thanks in advance.

-PR

[Andy Velebil]

Paging Dr. Moses, Dr. Moses can you please respond to the front counter?

Patrick,
Moses is our resident Boston local who probably knows every good wine store, and some not so good, in your area. Hopefully he'll chime in soon.

[Gary Banker]

Marty's on Washington Street in Newton. Martignetti's on Soldiers Field Road in Brighton. Blanchard's on Harvard Avenue in Brighton.

If you are willing to drive 30-45 minutes, go to New Hampshire. The large wine specialty stores have a lot and the prices are low. They seem to stock tawny ports more than vintage port. Store #69 in Nashua is pretty good and I think there are others in Portsmouth and Salem. Check http://www.nh.gov/liquor/index.shtml.

[Moses Botbol]

Pretty much what Gary said. Bin Ends in Braintree had some convincing deals. I bought their last 2003 Dow Magnum for $90. They had a lot of Burmester and some Barros Colheitas for good prices. Brookline Liquor Mart has a few odd's and end's worth getting. Good price is all relative I suppose.

Discount Liquors in Somerville near Herb Chambers has a lot of wines from Portugal and you'll know what shows up in there. Worth a look. Julios liquors towards Worcester is suppose to be awesome. Corporate Liquors in Burlington (new Woburn Jaguar dealership) will have port soon and for cheap.

Unless you are looking for 2003+ vintages, you won't find much for solid deals for older stuff. I know MS Walker (big distributor) is sitting on Dow 1985, but their wholesale price is kind of high. You would get a case with perfect storage if you did buy and it's a fantastic Dow vintage.

I went to a marvelous liquor store in the North End that a great selection of port wines and Douro red's, but I forget the name. It was very small, but worth the hunt.

D&L Liquors in Watertown will order stuff a lower margins, worth giving them a shot on a pre-paid order.

[Gary Banker]

I stopped in Julio's on Route 9 last year. I didn't see much in the way of port or madeira and haven't been back.

I was in Marty's yesterday. They had Barros 1950 colheita (375 ml). They appear to have stocked up in port and madeira. I cleaned them out of Barbeito VB (Lote 2).

I'll have to try Bin Ends, Discount Liquors, and Corporate. I didn't know that Corporate had a storefront operation.

[Moses Botbol]

I was in Marty's yesterday. They appear to have stocked up in port and madeira. I cleaned them out of Barbeito VB (Lote 2).

Are you going in on any of Marty's RWC offerings? They are selling at or right below RWC's prices with delivery towards Christmas.

[Gary Banker]

I'm not on Marty's mailing list. I haven't received the offer. They had 2 of the RWC madeiras on the shelf. They also had D'Oliveira, Blandy's, Leacock, Cossart Gordon, and Justino's on the shelf.

I also picked up a case of the HM Borges 10 year Malmsey that I had ordered.

[Moses Botbol]

Picked up Dow 2003 VP's for $47 a bottle this morning.

The store had 1960 Fonseca VP 375's for $90 and 1977 Smith Woodhouse VP for (750) for $90.