For The Love Of Port

Did Taylor produce a 2000 Quinta De Vargellas in a regular bottling?
That is in addition to their Vinha Velha. Has anyone tasted it?

I don't believe Taylor's released a Vargellas that year (aside from the VV) - all the best grapes went to their classic VP released that year.

I suppose they reserved the VV grapes specifically for that particular wine.

Hope this helps!

Todd

Actually the VV comes from distinct sites within the Vargellas property where the truly oldest vines exist. In 2000, there was no regular bottling of Vargellas VP. There was a boxed set released with the 1995, 1997 and 2000 VVVVPs.

My guess (and it is only a guess) would be that when the grapes were vinified by Taylors at the end of the 2000 harvest, they found that they had sufficient volume of sufficient quality to be able to blend a great VP without using all the lottes of the wine made from the Vinha Velha old vines.

But there was sufficient left in the old vines wine to make a small, balanced parcel of Vargellas Vinha Velha wine from the 2000 vintage. I don't know how much was made, but I suspect that the Taylor's Vintage took priority and the VVV was made up from the juice that was not needed in the vintage blend.

But, I stress, that is only my guess.

Alex

Thanks for the information. The tasting note was originally posted because a local reputable merchant advertised a 2000 Quinta De Vargellas for $60. After reading your posts that no Vargellas was produced in 2000 I assumed the regular bottling of Taylor was for sale and I stopped by the merchant. The merchant was selling the 2000 Quinta De Vargellas Vinha Velha for $60. I snapped up the six bottles that were available.

I have not tried any of the 2000 vintage ports let alone this one. Members of this forum have started that the 2000 vintage ports are starting to close down. If so when should I open the first one?

You got quite a deal!! Obviously, the merchant had no idea what he was sitting on. But not that uncommon either. I recently won at auction 2 bottles of VVV. They were originally listed as just the Vargellas. However, since I knew there was no 2000 Vargellas (just the VVV) I bid on them and won. Although not quite at that good of a price you got.

Wow - what a score! $60 for the VV 2000. Wine-searcher.com shows this particular VV for no less than $199USd, so certainly a value.
I'll give you $120 if you send me one??? That's 100% profit from what you spent on it!! (We can't even get the VV around these parts... probably very little demand combined with even LESS supply! )

Todd

$60 for a bottle of 2000 VVV (assuming that it has not been on display in the shop window for the last 5 years) is a brilliant price. Sadly, its a wine that deserves to be looked away in a cool, dark place for a long time. I have a feeling that I have posted a tasting note on this wine as it was my Christmas treat to myself.

It was a real waste of a great bottle.

Alex

I know I put a TN into the newsletter on the 2000 a few months ago when doing an article on a tasting of Vargellas and VVVs. It should take just a moment for you to locate it.