A Pipe of 1963 Fonseca
Moderators: Glenn E., Roy Hersh, Andy Velebil
A Pipe of 1963 Fonseca
Anyone saw this already? http://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2015/12/ ... r-strongly
There is going to be an auction in february for a Pipe of 1963 fonseca port (about 400 bottles). Interesting to see what the taste will be, like an old colheita?
There is going to be an auction in february for a Pipe of 1963 fonseca port (about 400 bottles). Interesting to see what the taste will be, like an old colheita?
http://www.vinhodoporto.nl my port webshop
- Glenn E.
- Posts: 8187
- Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2008 10:49 am
- Location: Sammamish, Washington, United States of America - USA
- Contact:
Re: A Pipe of 1963 Fonseca
At this point, that's likely a fantastic 50+ year old colheita. It isn't a VP anymore, that's for sure!Jasper A. wrote:Anyone saw this already? http://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2015/12/ ... r-strongly
There is going to be an auction in february for a Pipe of 1963 fonseca port (about 400 bottles). Interesting to see what the taste will be, like an old colheita?
I would love to be part of a group purchase of that pipe!
Glenn Elliott
Re: A Pipe of 1963 Fonseca
Wow what a find, if you do put a group together and need some participation, I certainly would be interested.
Imagine have a FTLOP bottling of a 1963 Fonseca. However the question begs, will this wine, blended for VP have what it takes to be an awesome Colheita?
Imagine have a FTLOP bottling of a 1963 Fonseca. However the question begs, will this wine, blended for VP have what it takes to be an awesome Colheita?
- Andy Velebil
- Posts: 16644
- Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2005 4:49 pm
- Location: Los Angeles, California, United States of America - USA
- Contact:
Re: A Pipe of 1963 Fonseca
My reading it was bottled in 1966, so it's still a VP and not a Colheita.
Andy Velebil Good wine is a good familiar creature if it be well used. William Shakespeare http://www.fortheloveofport.com
- Glenn E.
- Posts: 8187
- Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2008 10:49 am
- Location: Sammamish, Washington, United States of America - USA
- Contact:
Re: A Pipe of 1963 Fonseca
Andy Velebil wrote:My reading it was bottled in 1966, so it's still a VP and not a Colheita.
Ah, yes, you are correct. I missed the last line. Bottled in '66 makes it extra interesting.Most of the auction houses will take a break until the new year, but Port lovers should keep an eye out for Bonham's sale in February. The London auction will feature a pipe of the 1963 Fonseca Vintage Port – or about 400 bottles.
The pipe was shipped to the UK in 1966, bottled and laid down in a private cellar. The 1963 vintage was classed as one of the best of the century, so interest is expected to be strong.
Glenn Elliott
Re: A Pipe of 1963 Fonseca
That needs a bit of clarification...so I found this.
The pipe, a cask containing almost 60 cases or 700 bottles, was shipped to the UK in 1966 – costing only £252, or the equivalent of just over seven shillings (36p) for each bottle. The Port was then bottled and cellared at a family home.
Bonhams is to sell 468 bottles from the pipe in 12-bottle lots at its fine wine sale in London on 18 February 2016, with each dozen estimated to fetch £1,400-1,600. The family owners are keeping 200 bottles back.
‘The Fonseca 1963 is my reference vintage Port, made by my father Bruce,’ said David Guimaraens, technical director and head winemaker of Fonseca owner The Fladgate Partnership – and the sixth generation of the Guimaraens family to be involved in Port.
‘If any of the vintage Ports that I make during my career are as spectacular as this 1963 after 50 years, then I will feel satisfied with what I have achieved.’
Richard Harvey MW, Bonhams director of wine, added: ‘It’s very unusual to find a pipe of Port almost untouched. The fact that it is Fonseca 1963, one of the truly great Ports of the 20th century, is even more astonishing and will excite the interest of Port lovers everywhere.’
Exporting Port in pipes to the UK, where importers would then bottle the wine for their clients, was commonplace until 1974, with well-to-do families ‘laying down’ a pipe of Port for new-born children or godchildren.
The rules governing the production of Port now forbid any exports in bulk, however.
Read more at http://www.decanter.com/wine-news/bonha ... hFKgM04.99
- Andy Velebil
- Posts: 16644
- Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2005 4:49 pm
- Location: Los Angeles, California, United States of America - USA
- Contact:
Re: A Pipe of 1963 Fonseca
The family is only keeping roughly 3 case (before counting any that may have been already consumed).
Andy Velebil Good wine is a good familiar creature if it be well used. William Shakespeare http://www.fortheloveofport.com
- Eric Ifune
- Posts: 3420
- Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2005 8:02 pm
- Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, United States of America - USA
Re: A Pipe of 1963 Fonseca
Do we know who bottled it?
- Andy Velebil
- Posts: 16644
- Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2005 4:49 pm
- Location: Los Angeles, California, United States of America - USA
- Contact:
Re: A Pipe of 1963 Fonseca
Not that I know of.Eric Ifune wrote:Do we know who bottled it?
And without getting a TN from a trusted source (and some other info, like who bottled it) I wouldn't be too keen on placing a high bid
Andy Velebil Good wine is a good familiar creature if it be well used. William Shakespeare http://www.fortheloveofport.com
Re: A Pipe of 1963 Fonseca
The auction has not been published yet, however I found a picture...
-
- Posts: 215
- Joined: Sat May 30, 2009 3:53 pm
- Location: George Town, Cayman Islands
Re: A Pipe of 1963 Fonseca
468 bottles = 39 lots of 12 bottles each.
39 x GBP 1,500 = GBP 58,500.
Not a bad return for a GBP 252 investment in 1966... especially as they still keep bottles back and have consumed some over the years...
Why couldn't my grand parents buy a few of those pipes back then?
39 x GBP 1,500 = GBP 58,500.
Not a bad return for a GBP 252 investment in 1966... especially as they still keep bottles back and have consumed some over the years...
Why couldn't my grand parents buy a few of those pipes back then?
Re: A Pipe of 1963 Fonseca
The follow up mentioned the family is holding back 200 bottles. Andy then wrote: The family is only keeping roughly 3 case (before counting any that may have been already consumed).
So is the latter info coming from, "Frank"?
Also, those mentioning early in the thread, COLHEITA ... I was shaking my head thinking, did you guys even bother to read the offering? Thanks Andy for setting the record straight, although quite obvious if one actually reads the offering and mention of the 1966 bottling. It would be interesting to note what month it was bottled and then taste one of those vs. an ex-cellars bottling to see if there is a difference in the profile, albeit at this point, bottle variation could account for that.
So is the latter info coming from, "Frank"?
Also, those mentioning early in the thread, COLHEITA ... I was shaking my head thinking, did you guys even bother to read the offering? Thanks Andy for setting the record straight, although quite obvious if one actually reads the offering and mention of the 1966 bottling. It would be interesting to note what month it was bottled and then taste one of those vs. an ex-cellars bottling to see if there is a difference in the profile, albeit at this point, bottle variation could account for that.
Ambition driven by passion, rather than money, is as strong an elixir as is Port. http://www.fortheloveofport.com
- Andy Velebil
- Posts: 16644
- Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2005 4:49 pm
- Location: Los Angeles, California, United States of America - USA
- Contact:
Re: A Pipe of 1963 Fonseca
My bad (good catch) meant to say 2.5 are gone (I also typo'd). Here's the math...Roy Hersh wrote:The follow up mentioned the family is holding back 200 bottles. Andy then wrote: The family is only keeping roughly 3 case (before counting any that may have been already consumed).
So is the latter info coming from, "Frank"?
Also, those mentioning early in the thread, COLHEITA ... I was shaking my head thinking, did you guys even bother to read the offering? Thanks Andy for setting the record straight, although quite obvious if one actually reads the offering and mention of the 1966 bottling. It would be interesting to note what month it was bottled and then taste one of those vs. an ex-cellars bottling to see if there is a difference in the profile, albeit at this point, bottle variation could account for that.
About 700 bottles bottled in 1966. That's 58.33333 cases (lets round down to 58)
468 bottles being sold. That's 39 cases
58-39= 19 cases left
200 bottles are being kept by the family. That's 16.666 cases (lets just say 16.5)
16.5-19= 2.5 cases which are unaccounted for (drunk by family??)
Andy Velebil Good wine is a good familiar creature if it be well used. William Shakespeare http://www.fortheloveofport.com
Re: A Pipe of 1963 Fonseca
I cannot fathom having 700 bottles of 1963 Fonseca VP...now 53 years old...and only having consumed 30 bottles, or about 1 every 2 years. What else do they have that they were drinking instead? ...and What are they waiting for??Andy Velebil wrote: My bad (good catch) meant to say 2.5 are gone (I also typo'd). Here's the math...
About 700 bottles bottled in 1966. That's 58.33333 cases (lets round down to 58)
468 bottles being sold. That's 39 cases
58-39= 19 cases left
200 bottles are being kept by the family. That's 16.666 cases (lets just say 16.5)
16.5-19= 2.5 cases which are unaccounted for (drunk by family??)
Any Port in a storm!
Re: A Pipe of 1963 Fonseca
Andy wrote:
Yes they would be. Very!drunk by family?
Ambition driven by passion, rather than money, is as strong an elixir as is Port. http://www.fortheloveofport.com
Re: A Pipe of 1963 Fonseca
Guilty as charged, but I blame Glenn. . I think what led me on is that in fact they are not auctioning off a Pipe. They actioning off bottles from the same Pipe. Big difference and besides in all the excitement of finding so much 1963 Fonseca up for sale, who has time to read?
Re: A Pipe of 1963 Fonseca
I did not read carefull enough, anyway still coole auction.Roy Hersh wrote:The follow up mentioned the family is holding back 200 bottles. Andy then wrote: The family is only keeping roughly 3 case (before counting any that may have been already consumed).
So is the latter info coming from, "Frank"?
Also, those mentioning early in the thread, COLHEITA ... I was shaking my head thinking, did you guys even bother to read the offering? Thanks Andy for setting the record straight, although quite obvious if one actually reads the offering and mention of the 1966 bottling. It would be interesting to note what month it was bottled and then taste one of those vs. an ex-cellars bottling to see if there is a difference in the profile, albeit at this point, bottle variation could account for that.
http://www.vinhodoporto.nl my port webshop
-
- Posts: 5943
- Joined: Wed Aug 30, 2006 7:38 am
- Location: Boston, USA
Re: A Pipe of 1963 Fonseca
That '63 Fonseca is more marketing than anything different than any other '63 Fonseca IMO.
Welsh Corgis | F1 |British Cars
Re: A Pipe of 1963 Fonseca
I would agree with the whole "Pipe" angle, great marketing. However what makes this a bit different is all these bottles have been in the same place all those years.Moses Botbol wrote:That '63 Fonseca is more marketing than anything different than any other '63 Fonseca IMO.
- Andy Velebil
- Posts: 16644
- Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2005 4:49 pm
- Location: Los Angeles, California, United States of America - USA
- Contact:
Re: A Pipe of 1963 Fonseca
And a 3 year bottling. Which I don't think I've ever seen before.Edward J wrote:I would agree with the whole "Pipe" angle, great marketing. However what makes this a bit different is all these bottles have been in the same place all those years.Moses Botbol wrote:That '63 Fonseca is more marketing than anything different than any other '63 Fonseca IMO.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Andy Velebil Good wine is a good familiar creature if it be well used. William Shakespeare http://www.fortheloveofport.com