For The Love Of Port

Is there a difference between Dow's 77 vintage port, and the "Silver Jubilee" bottling? Are all bottles labeled "Silver Jubilee"? Is it a different wine? or just a re-issue with a newer label?

Thanks,
Alan

Same Port, different labels!

1977 was the silver jubelee of H.M. Queen Elisabeth II. All bottles of Dow's '77 I've ever seen here were labeled as such...perhaps there was a different label for the US-market?

As an aside; didn't the Mouton '77 also have a jubelee label? I could be wrong...and why is it that of all the Symington houses only Dow put it on its labels? Did she visit the company perhaps?

There is some confusion as there was a special one-off VP made in '77 that was a blend of wines from all the shippers of the Factory House.

I think it was called Royal Jubilee, I've no idea how much was made.

Tom

The bottle we have in Canada did not have any mention about the Jubilee even if we are still very close to the Queen.

I'.ve read about that one Tom.I've only seen one for sale about three times normal price.

Steven Kooij wrote:As an aside; didn't the Mouton '77 also have a jubelee label? I could be wrong...and why is it that of all the Symington houses only Dow put it on its labels? Did she visit the company perhaps?

I think the special Mouton '77 label was to commemorate a visit to the chateau by the Queen Mother.

You often see Mouton on the Buckingham Palace menu when foreign dignitaries come - so it is obviously a favourite. (Although wasted on French Presidents - of the last two, despite having large cellars, I think one preferred Coca-Cola and one lager, but I can't remember which way round! )


I've seen other special 77 Silver Jubilee labels - some Warre bottles have them so I doubt there was a visit.

Speaking of Silver Jubilee etc. I have a 1935 Sandeman VP which is also a special bottling commemorating the coronation of King George VI in 1937, with a purple wax sealed capsule and sand-etched engraving on the bottle. I once had 2 OWC of this juice and have had fun plundering them over the years. I opened one for George and Mrs. Sandeman when I was enthroned into the Confraria and gifted them another bottle. (BTW, they were not the folks that sponsored my becoming a Confrade). Sadly, I now have just one bottle left.

Steven,
As an aside, I bought a few bottles of Mouton '77 on release. It was a poor vintage and it was very cheap (my records show $16 (!) a bottle in Dec, 1980) so i took a flier. A mistake. Thin, acidic and wholly unpleasant. I have 2 bottles left.