Muito Velho ports 1870 and 1900 - anyone tried them?

[Rune EG]

From an importer in Denmark I have been offred two types of old ports for sale:
- Porto Tawny Muito Velho VVV vintage abt 1900 price Denmark USD 290 - EUR 225
- Porto Tawny Muito Velho VVVV vintage abt 1870 price Denmark USD 480 - EUR 370

Both ports were bottled in 1947 and since then been stored in bottles at Borges Warehouse in Gaia until a few years ago. Then the bottles were sent to IVDP to certified. Bottles were also re-corked and put on new labels. Appearently the Borges family now want to sell some of the bottles.

Anyone tried these two ports?

[Al B.]

I've tried something similar - a large parcel of these wines were sold through the auction houses in London late last year.

My tasting note is on the database, but is reproduced here for convenience:
This wine was stored in pipes in the Borges cellar until it was bottled in 1947. In 2007 the wine was submitted to the IVDP, who approved it in the category of ""over 40 years tawny"". The exact age of the wine is not known, but it is believed to have been in the barrel for at least 15 years prior to bottling.

Deep brown in colour, thick and soupy being full of fine sediment making it opaque, but with a slight green hint on the rim. Rich on the nose, with lots of concentrated orange and black treacle. Gentle acidity on the entry, with the burnt sugar flavours providing a nice balance. Lots of concentrated grapefruit dominates the palate. Burnt toffee shows on the aftertaste, before a long and lovely grapefruit skin finish. Enjoyable drinking.

My personal impression is that this was in the barrel for perhaps 40 years before being bottled. 87/100. Tasted 5 December 2012.

[Rune EG]

Thanks for your comments Al.
It must be the same bottles.
Unless there are other tasting notes with better impression of the bottles, it is not so tempting to pay that kind of money.

[Tom Archer]

Rune,

I will be taking delivery of a few of these later this month. If you want a bottle, I can mail one to you in Norway for 180 eur including postage.

[Marc J.]

I picked up some of these a little while back but I can't say that I've had the opportunity to pop 'em open. I do appreciate the tasting note, since I haven't been able to determine the back story on these bottles that does give me a little more information to go on.

[Rune EG]

Hi Tom!

Thanks for your offer, but I am unfortunately unable to take advantage of it.
In Norway we have a state monopoly, which means private persons cannot receive or import that way.

[João Rico]

I have drunk a few litres of those wines :)

Regarding the Vintage:

V - 1937 bottled in 1947
VV . 1927 bottled in 1947
VVV - 1917 bottled in 1947
VVVV - 1907 bottled in 1947

Each "V" stand for 10 years in barrel.
Quinta do Junco was one of the most important land for Borges, until it was bought from Fladgate

All bottles I've drunked, especially VVV and VVVV were really, really good, especially because I bought them in auction, in Portugal, for 20/30€ each

[Miguel Simoes]

João, you mention having purchased some of these at auction in Portugal.
Can you share who typically hosts these auctions?
Thank you, Miguel