Vintage Port Purchase

[DavidW]

Hello,

I recently visited Portugal and decided to buy a couple bottles of VP to store for a few years (10+). These were;

2001 Quinta de Ventozelo - 39 Euro
2004 Quinta das Tecedeiras - 49 euro

The vendor told me that these were good vintage years (especially the 2004) but I have since found that it was actually 2000 and 2003 that were the good years. I am just wondering if I have gotten ripped off or are these good prices for these. This is more for future reference as I am just learning about the finer aspects of port.

Thanks
Dave

[Frederick Blais]

Unfortunately, In Portugal as anywhere, when you don't know much about a specific product, we try to sell you what brings the vendor the best markup or what he is in the mood to sell. I've withnessed it too many times unfortunately.

2001 and 2004 are not bad vintages but they are not the most renown recently released. As for the price, I can't say you got rip but you can probably find better Port for the same price.

[Andy Velebil]

Dave,

Welcome to FTLOP, I am glad you have found our fun little (ok, maybe not so little) site.

Of the two you bought, I've only had the 2004 Tecedeiras. And while good, it is more of a softer earlier drinking Vintage Port (The term "mid-term drinker" is what is used to describe these type of VP's). I'd put it peaking in about 15-20 years. As for the price, thats a wee bit steep for a mid-term drinker. But think of the fun memories of your trip to Portugal you'll have years down the road when you finally pull the cork. So don't fret about the price, just put them away for a bit and let them age.

[Todd Pettinger]

Hello,

I recently visited Portugal and decided to buy a couple bottles of VP to store for a few years (10+). These were;

2001 Quinta de Ventozelo - 39 Euro
2004 Quinta das Tecedeiras - 49 euro

The vendor told me that these were good vintage years (especially the 2004) but I have since found that it was actually 2000 and 2003 that were the good years. I am just wondering if I have gotten ripped off or are these good prices for these. This is more for future reference as I am just learning about the finer aspects of port.

Thanks
Dave

Look at it this way David... you will always cherish the very first bottle of VP you buy... I know because I cherish the little-known 2003 Fonseca & van Zeller that was MY first purchase of VP. Mind you, I get ripped off on damn EVERY bottle of VP I purchase in my homeland, so don't feel bad at all.

Mid-term drinkers (as Andy has mentioned) can actually be very good from a QPR perspective. In a few years (I suggest 8-10 yrs rather than 10-15) they may turn out to be VERY good... in which case you will be LAUGHING!

(I have found in my experience, it does not matter whether the producer name is huge or not, whether the vintage year is great or not, and whether the price paid is extravagant or not... all that matters is "did you enjoy the wine?" - if you did, all is well in the world!!!)

:)

[Roy Hersh]

2001 was a very solid year and I have tasted a number of fine Vintage Ports from that particular harvest, including your bottle which is solid and the price maybe just a few euros too much. Regardless, it will be quite enjoyable for the next 15 years or so. I am sure you'll find a time to enjoy it within those years.

The 2004 is a good but not great bottle and should also be consumed by the early part of the 2020s. We hope you will come back and visit and tell us more about your trip to Portugal. By the way, did you purchase these at VinoLogia?

[DavidW]

No, I purchased them at Napoleao in downtown Lisboa. I didn't get to Porto or the northern regions as we were on a geology trip looking at the Lusitanian and Algarve basins. Next trip with be to Porto however.

Thanks..

[Roy Hersh]

How many bottles of the 2004 Tecedeiras did you buy?

I think it is a solid Port and was actually quite enjoying the one bottle I had of it ... first enjoyed last year at a trade tasting. That price seems a bit high to me, but the quality will win out over a few dollars in the long run.