For The Love Of Port

I have heard about this before, but got a confirmation yesterday. In a website about travel.

The importer of Barbeito in Norway, Wine Tailor, says that they have stopped selling the old vintages now. Mr. Opedal from the company says that they have nothing older than 60 years now.

Wine Tailor sold 39 bottles of 1834 M in 2007.

It sounds like you'll just have to go back to Madeira on vacation again Reidar!

I wonder why they've made the decision to stop bringing in the older stuff.

No Roy, I was not precise in my entry. Barbeito is not selling more of their old wines... Anyplace ?

That is awful news. I was so hoping I would still be able to get my Norwegian who lives in Helsinki to get me a bottle of the 1910 Sercial on his next visit. I love Sercial, but haven't tried it yet.

Hey eweryone! Do not be sad, if Barbeito does not sell any old wines, you might find some old Barbeito wines in wine shops in Funchal!!! Try for example Wicker and Wine near Savoy Hotel! I found there ABSL Lisrao Branco . And there is another wine shop in Rua Joao da Deuz where is some old Barbeito wines, some dated 19th century! The shop is near Funchal primary school. Go to downstairs and there is the heaven! Som old ports too...

P.S.
The only sad thing is, you have to go Funchal
V-P

That is not sad at all, as I will be back there in May and have been saving to load up on some nice bottles this year. But did you have to name names! Some secrets do not need to be splayed on the web.

I am not sure that what Reidar describes is taking place worldwide. In fact, I am not sure if it is even true at the Barbeito shop in Funchal, must less what is coming here to the USA. Not that I doubt what Reidar says, but again, it may just be accurate for No. Europe, who knows.

Roy, will be interesting for you to find out. I called the importer in Norway today and they confirmed that for the time being
nothing leaves Barbeito for them. They are a big importer. Remember they got the biggest part of the stock of 1950 T..
And also plenty of 1795 T when it was available.

I have heard other rumours too, but it is not a place to post it here

But the wines are still in stock and it is just a matter of time... But I think when that time comes , the prices may
be sky high ?

But of course, RWC has still stocks...And some shops in Funchal ( but as I have heard, not Diogos ).

Another confirmation ! Just got an e-mail from an Austrian friend with our interest , which says that he
talked with Barbeito yesterday and they confirmed that in 2009 NO vintage wines will be sold from their
new facility NOR to the dealers...

Same reason I have heard from a few very different sources now, which I cannot post...

I will let you know what I find out. Thanks for the follow up.

Reider et al.,

I am glad you had me do a reality check. Apparently when Mario Barbeito passed away in 1985, there's been a lot of "family infighting" over the years which has resulted in the culmination last spring of there being no more releases of their older bottlings. Hopefully this is just a temporary situation ... but who knows for sure?

Yeah, that was my info also..

I also put out some 'quiet' feelers.
The response was similar - but with a slightly different slant.
It suggested that there would be no more old vintages sold (at retail) - the remaining stock was solely for the families use and for any significant events.

While in Funchal in 2006 I asked if 1834 M would dry out soon. Answer: "1875 M first ".

I have always felt that the 1875 Barbeito Malvasia was a very solid bottling ... but then I had the good fortune to try the 1875 D'Oliveiras Malvazia and was absolutely stunned by its depth of flavors and sublime nature. No comparison in my book, but any Madeira in a storm.

When we were at Barbeito last, May 2007 there was a good number of bottles of the 1834 left for sale and enough in barrels too. I can't wait to see the difference in pricing this May and I am hoping that the Euro will weaken just a bit too.

Roy, as far as I have heard is that bottles have been withdrawn from Diogo's also. So what you may find are in other stores...At crazy prices ??

I heard the same thing. Gone from Diogo's.
A friend was in Madeira in December and reported that the Madeira Wine Company did still have one 'old' wine - a 1908 Blandy Bual that was priced at €1700 - that's enough to sober us up completely!

Alan Gardner wrote:I heard the same thing. Gone from Diogo's.
A friend was in Madeira in December and reported that the Madeira Wine Company did still have one 'old' wine - a 1908 Blandy Bual that was priced at €1700 - that's enough to sober us up completely!

Hi Alan,

i have received MWC's price list lately and have it lying here in front of me.

The 1908 you are talking about is indeed Bual and sold under the Cossart Gordon label (bottled 1985). The price, however, is EUR 760,-, still expensive enough, but nowhere near to what your friend said.

Best,

Andreas

Ok I was slightly out - here's the excerpt sent from the blackberry on-site!

"The 1908 Bual is the oldest wine at Blandy's and is 1900 Euros"

I thought I recalled €1700.
Maybe it's now on sale!
I hope it's much less (of course).
Alan