Porto vs. UK bottled Vintage Port, do you have a preference?

[Roy Hersh]

There are benefits to bottlings that have taken place in Oporto (actually the Gaia side of the river where the lodges actually reside) as well as some superior bottling of Vintage Ports that took place in the UK.

Of course with the UK bottlings, some companies did a better job than others. Do you have a particular company that you like or dislike. There are many and I assume we'll acquire a fine listing from participants here. I'd also like to hear what you feel are the strong points for VPs bottled in each place. If you do have an overall preference, please feel free to share your opinion.

Thanks!

[Derek T.]

I used to have a strong preference for Oporto bottlings but that wasn't based on any particular experience, just the notion that bottled at source must be more reliable.

having now tasted many great VPs bottled in the UK by the likes of Justerini & Brooks, Berry Brothers, Harveys and others I seem to have now gone in completely the other direction.

The only UK bottler that I can report mixed results from is The Wine Society.

Derek

[Roy Hersh]

Other sterling reputations are held by:

*Corney & Barrow,
* Saintsbury,
* Grants of St. James
* Army & Navy Stores

Companies that I have heard issues with but this is heresay not from personal experience (must keep the lawyers away):

* Whitwham's
* Christopher & Co.
* Francis Downman

[Andy Velebil]

I can't say either way. I've had some good bottles and some bad bottles from both. However, when buying UK bottled VP's I am more concerned with who the bottler was. As there does seem to be better ones than others, as Derek and Roy have already mentioned.

[Eric Ifune]

I can't say I've had a lot of British bottled ports. Two that I have and thought well done were Berry Brothers and Rudd, and Army Navy Stores.