For The Love Of Port

someone is selling a bottle of 1937 vintage (?) port. there is only 1 photo available right now.
i have a few questions..
does it look fake to you?
what price would you offer for it? (this is out of my normal port buying range so i have no clue how high to bid)
any other remarks? the writing looks like it says Martinez but i'm not sure about that as i can't find it in my Port Vintages book. it does mention the Gonzalez Byass 1937 vintage. but i couldn't find any photo of a bottle with lettering that looks like this. also since that word is off centre i would expect a second word following that so that's a plus for Gonzalez Byass.

Certainly looks "old". Does the foil say anything on the top? Shooting from the hip I'd offer $200-350 USD for it.

There’s not much VP from this year, Is it a colheita? If so, appears to be bottled relatively young. But hard to tell from pics.

What’s the fill level like?

i am trying to get more information

Bert VD wrote: ↑Wed Dec 23, 2020 8:16 am i am trying to get more information

That would be very helpful.

fill level is low in the neck of the bottle. not bad. the seller says there are no markings on the capsule as far as he knows but the bottle is at his mothers house so he can not confirm. he asks 210€ which is a bit much for me for a mystery bottle. he also said the bottle has been laying in a dark cool basement for as long as he knows. so i said the price is high for me for a mystery bottle. he awaits an offer from me.

Bert VD wrote: ↑Wed Dec 23, 2020 1:26 pm fill level is low in the neck of the bottle. not bad. the seller says there are no markings on the capsule as far as he knows but the bottle is at his mothers house so he can not confirm. he asks 210€ which is a bit much for me for a mystery bottle. he also said the bottle has been laying in a dark cool basement for as long as he knows. so i said the price is high for me for a mystery bottle. he awaits an offer from me.

Given the year and the older style bottle, it is either a VP or a colheita that was bottled a long time ago. I'd most likely lean toward a Colheita given the war started about when this would be being bottled if it was a VP. The war is the main reason, along with the recovery from the depression still going on, why very little VP was produced from 1937. It was largely left in cask until sometime after the war. But being a Colheita is pure speculation...and the bottle/capsule does seem a bit more VP-ish than tawny, though if it was bottled a long time ago would have most likely used the same bottle/capsule anyways. Only one way to find out...

Regardless, it is a risky bottle to pay 210€. I agree with you, I would not pay that much for it. I'd put a more reasonable estimate from a private seller at around 100-120€.

Andy Velebil wrote: ↑Wed Dec 23, 2020 3:54 pm Regardless, it is a risky bottle to pay 210€. I agree with you, I would not pay that much for it. I'd put a more reasonable estimate from a private seller at around 100-120€.

For 100-120€ I wouldn't think twice on it. Sounds like you can beat up the seller some and get that down to at least 150€.

Can you see the bottle in person? Even an colheita from back then is worth that kind of money.

i will pick it up after new year. i'm not a tawny drinker and still undecided on what i will do with it. but i'm happy i "saved" this oldie

Bert VD wrote: ↑Sat Dec 26, 2020 10:32 am i will pick it up after new year. i'm not a tawny drinker and still undecided on what i will do with it. but i'm happy i "saved" this oldie

Well done! may we inquire as to what the final price was?

Andy Velebil wrote: ↑Sat Dec 26, 2020 3:49 pm

Bert VD wrote: ↑Sat Dec 26, 2020 10:32 am i will pick it up after new year. i'm not a tawny drinker and still undecided on what i will do with it. but i'm happy i "saved" this oldie

Well done! may we inquire as to what the final price was?

100€. not bad right?

Bert VD wrote:

Andy Velebil wrote: ↑Sat Dec 26, 2020 3:49 pm

Bert VD wrote: ↑Sat Dec 26, 2020 10:32 am i will pick it up after new year. i'm not a tawny drinker and still undecided on what i will do with it. but i'm happy i "saved" this oldie

Well done! may we inquire as to what the final price was?

100€. not bad right?

A fair price. Well done.

Wow, nicely done indeed. Let us know how it is, and if the cork gives anymore detail!


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Those stencils legible read "nandez", so I guess the name of the Port was Fernandez or Hernandez. I agree, probably a Colheita from a local/small produceror even a private family stock.

The latter is often a good thing since individuals often did private fillings for special occasions (weddings, funerals, birthdays) and didn't ven think about drinking bad stuff, this is also a question of showing respect to the guests/friends.

Have fun, always interesting to see what's inside such "surprise lots".

Cheers

i got the bottle today. the brand name is Fernandes, Costa & Co Oporto. it's clear on the capsule.
i can't find anything on this brand. it is the 2 last names that come up in the Quevedo family history but that might be just coincedence. and there is a Rua de Fernandes Costa in Oporto close to Casa da Musica.

the bottle is clearly 2 halves pressed and has lots of faults in the glass. air bubbles and "folds". so i guess it is quite old glass. i don't think there has been a selo. the bottom of the glass has CR embossed.

there is a lot of sediment in the bottle which points more towards a vintage than a colheita i think.

now i need to think about what i will do with it.

here are some extra photo's.

Bert VD wrote: ↑Tue Jan 05, 2021 1:46 pm there is a lot of sediment in the bottle which points more towards a vintage than a colheita i think.

now i need to think about what i will do with it.

I am still leaning towards Colheita. The bottle looks great and I would plan on drinking it on the first occasion to do so!