1980 Warre's label question

[Sandy Becker]

I recently bought two bottles of 1980 Warre's from a national online retailer, from whom I have been buying for several years without any issues. These two bottles, however, each have a different label.

In the attached photo, the bottle on the far left is one I acquired many years ago. The two on the right are the recent purchase. The labe on the middle bottle is on glossy paper as I'd expected, but the right bottle's label is on a matte finish. Both bottles were imported by Vineyard Brands. Both bottles are embossed 'Warre's 1980' and each has a Selo de Garantia.

I know that different bottlers have used different labels in the old days, but these both came from SFE and for the same importer. Should I be concerned about the authenticity of the bottle on the right?

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[Eric Menchen]

I don't think you need be concerned about the authenticity of those bottles. I have seen this on other Ports as well, specifically Smith Woodhouse, also an SFE product. I can think of two causes:

1. Different release times. The various houses keep plenty of bottles in their lodges, and may not label them until they release them on the market. Newer releases may show new logos, etc. Those stacks of bottles in the lodge often aren't labeled. No reason putting on labels that will just wear with time, and you might not know what label to put on years in advance anyway (see next item).
2. Different markets. Even when released at the same time, bottles bound for the UK may get different labels from those bound for Asia, or ...

The glass lettering looks the same, no? That could vary too, but I would be more surprised by that on something as young as 1980.

[Moses Botbol]

Send them both to me and I'll tell you whether they taste the same.

Eric's response sounds reasonable to me.

[Eric Menchen]

Send them both to me and I'll tell you whether they taste the same.

I like Moses' response better I'll help.

[Andy Velebil]

agree we should open them all just to taste them to make sure they are all good

Well the one on the right with the paper type label is more like the current style of Warre's label and so I assume it was a later ex-cellars release.

The one on the left, with the line about the Queen of Denmark, is probably the oldest and most original label.

The one in the middle is somewhere between them.

I will send you a message..

[Roy Hersh]

I would surmise the same as the explanation #1 that Eric gave above.