Which Bottle Has Been in Your Possession the Longest

[John M.]

I was just looking over my excel sheet and was curious which bottle I've had the longest that remains unopened. Being a newbie of sorts mine is a 2003 Grahams VP purchased 3/1/2010...a little surprised as I've been drinking with enthusiasm since 2007. How about you?

[Glenn E.]

Ooh, fun question!

It's fairly easy for me, though, as I've thought about these two bottles often. I have a 1977 Royal Oporto VP and a 1970 Martinez VP that were purchased at the same time. I don't remember exactly when off the top of my head, but they were among the first bottles of VP that I bought over the internet and the purchase was probably in 2007 or 2008. There's some chance it was in 2006, too. But that means I've had them ~10 years.

[Bert VD]

possibly 1999 Bomfim. bought in 2010.

[Svein CE]

Martinez 1970, since 1979/80.
It has been in 3 different cellars. First my own up north, then the Vicars and then my own down south since 1990.

[Eric Menchen]

Until this summer I had some 1997 VPs purchased in 2008, but we drank those in a horizontal tasting of 1997s. So after that, I think I still have some 1994 Quinta do Vesuvio that I bought in 2009 after loving that wine so much at the first Gala.

[Andy Velebil]

Good question. It's be long enough that I don't know what my longest owned bottle is at this point.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Thomas V]

2011 Taylor's VP bought early 2015

[Eric Ifune]

Of bottles I've bought, 1977 Warres in the early 1980's. Of those my father bought, a 1970 Sandeman bought on release.

[Roy Hersh]

The oldest held in (2 offsite and 1 home) cellar is a 1985 Graham's, purchased in October or November 1987.

[Rune EG]

Very interesting question. Had to look into the cellar list.
It appeared to be a 1963 Noval purchased in London 1994.
Followed by 1994 Dow and 1994 Warre purchased 1996 also in London.

Then I have two whisky bottles: Chivas Regal 12 years and Ballantine's 17 years, purchased 1985 and 1983, but I guess those do not count We are basically not drinking any spirit in our house (except as part of port of course)!

[Svein CE]

"Then I have two whisky bottles: Chivas Regal 12 years and Ballantine's 17 years, purchased 1985 and 1983,"
I'll take the Ballantine's off your hands, if you are interested.

[Gary Richardson]

Graham's 2000 VP, purchased at their lodge in 2005. Still have it in the cellar. Very first Port I ever bought.

[John M.]

Great Answers--keep them coming. But I am surprised--thought for sure I'd get far more answers such as Eric Ifune's (from the 70s/80s).

[Eric Menchen]

Great Answers--keep them coming. But I am surprised--thought for sure I'd get far more answers such as Eric Ifune's (from the 70s/80s).

I only started collecting wine after a few trips to California wine country in the early 2000s. I might have a few of those in the cellar, but Port came later.

[Gerwin de Graaf]

For wines, I still have some reds and whites that were bought in may 2007 (2005 Bordeaux red and monbazillac white).

For Ports, I started buying (and collecting) in 2007 (2005 Vintage, since my oldest son is from 2005). I received my first 2005 VP's in november (still have all of these).

And my spreadsheet tells me that my first bottles of Port were bought in August 2007 (6 bottles of Graham's 10 Yo Tawny).

[Al B.]

I've got some 1983 Bordeaux that I bought in 1992 that are the bottles that have been in my posession for the longest. The port that's been in my posession the longest is some Vesuvio 1991, which I bought in July 1994.