For The Love Of Port

Hi all, I am a novice when it comes to Port but but I have a chance to buy three bottles from a neighbour of Ferreira '63 at £60 each. I think the levels are quite good and it is my birth year. Is it likely to be still drinking well and should I go ahead? I need pushing. I am prone to dither!

Sounds like a good price. I'd do it. Easy birth year to find port from.

Just need your national id number and day/month of birth.

Welcome to the forum Mark. That is an excellent price for a '63 Ferreira, especially if it's in good condition. The only other question would be where it was stored all of these years? Did they store it in their hot attic or was it kept in a cool, dark basement. Hopefully it's the latter. if the storage was good, then I wouldn't even think twice about buying all three bottles at that price. And yes, I would think they'd still be drinking fairly well.

Just returned home from collecting them. All levels seem very good with very little ullage. Slight damp stickiness in cracks of wax capsule so cork looks like starting to leak but levels were really good enough to persuade me to buy. Kept in cool garage in Uk by the owner who worked in the trade but is old and cant drink anymore due to ill health. Rather sad really but I will open a bottle soon.
Thanks for responses

If it weren't for the wax, there would be no Ferreira port left anywhere. Their corks are generally loose and it's their great job on the wax that has saved the port. Ferreira ports also age among the best.

Last had this about 5 years ago. Still beautiful. Ferreira just seems to last and last.

Thanks guys, this all sounds good. I might trying topping up the wax seals on two of the bottles with a bit of candle wax tomorrow and then opening the other soon. This is so much more exciting than the Port en primeurs I bought over the last few vintages!

I’m also a 1963 baby and I have a few bottles of the Ferreira. They are fully mature and delicious drinking.

Mine have leaked a little bit too. Rather than top up with candle wax, it’s worth buying some proper bottle wax and using that. Strip the old wax off, clean the neck and top of the cork (being very careful not to push the cork into the bottle!) and then dip the bottle into the molten wax.

While you’re waiting for your bottle wax to arrive, wrap the top of the bottle tightly with cling film to create a temporary air-tight seal.