Fonseca LBV vs. Taylor Fladgate LBV

[Mark DaSilva]

We're putting together some gift baskets on our site and we can't decide on what port to put on the cheaper basket. Right now, we have the Thanksgiving basket with a Dow 20 year tawny and our executive pack for Christmas comes with a Dow Vintage 1994. We will do another mid-range basket with the Dow 20 year tawny for Xmas as well, but we think we need to have a cheaper Xmas basket for those who don't want to spend a lot of money...

So, we can't decide between:

Fonseca LBV or Taylor Fladgate's LBV.

Any suggestions? They are priced about the same.

[Frederick Blais]

I prefer the Fonseca, but on a customer basis, I think the Taylor is more appreciated... but I can't see why

[Todd Pettinger]

Tough call indeed.

If the bottles are similar price-point and you can afford to make them up with the choice of either (not sure of the logistics of that or your gift baskets, or even the technology behind being a primarily web-based retailer) then I would go with that and allow the consumers to decide.

Although I agree with Fred in that most of the consumers, particularly in the US, may choose Taylor over Fonseca, simply due to name-brand recognition. I haven't had my skirt blown up by either LBV to the extent where I have a vested opinion... although due to availability in MY market, and price at a discount bulk-box liquor outlet here (Superstore's Liquor Store - if your brother lives around one, send him there immediately!) the Taylor is certainly the one that I have tried by almost 10:1.

Todd

[Mark DaSilva]

Thanks for the input so far, fellas.

Never heard of Superstore, Todd. Is that an Albertan chain? You can actually BUY alcohol other than a gov't store (besides beer and wine)?

[Todd Pettinger]

Meh... sorry Mark - forgot your brother is in BC - the land of the liquor control boards... Actually, pretty much the whole country is under that scheme. Alberta is, indeed "separated" from that system, and since privatization, there has popped up literally HUNDREDS of small stores, chains, and other types of establishments. (I think this is what they are referring to when the gov't here touts the "Alberta Advantage!") Internet sales is still off-limits I believe, but I could be wrong.

Superstore is a grocery chain that does have liquor store outlets here in AB. Discounted prices for purchases of 6 or 12-bottle lots, depending upon the type of spirit. For the hard stuff it is usually 3 bottles. For the really good stuff (think your high-priced cognacs, aged whiskies and scotches, champagnes, and of course, VPs [when they have them, which is not often] are single-bottle prices.)

Earlier this summer, I picked up a case (minus one bottle) of Fonseca Guimaraens 2001 VP (my wedding year) for $50/bottle. Maybe not such a stellar price down in CA, but phenomenal around these parts.

[Mark DaSilva]

Lucky you to be in Alberta then. Whenever I have friends or family come down to visit (which is wayyy too often), they gasp at the availability of alcohol at the supermarket.

"You mean, you can buy eggs, bread, eggos, and a single malt Glenfiddich at the same store"

"Yes, and it hasn't changed since the last time you were here."

[Moses Botbol]

Either one is a toss up. I'd go for the prettier label. Niepoort and Warre are more impressive looking bottles (and perhaps tasting), as I would lump them all into a similar quality level and price point. Ramos Pinto and Noval are great and maybe a couple of bucks less, but are not as well known to the masses.

[Al B.]

Mark

I'm not entirely sure that you are asking the right audience here. If you were trying to sell me a cheaper gift basket for myself I'd tell you to put in an unfiltered LBV, the older the better (like the Warre 1995 that was on sale in the UK this summer at $10 a bottle).

However, I'm not your target market, my daughter and friends most likely are. To them, the small difference in quality between brands is less important than the name recognition - and the Taylor probably wins that competition.

So, my vote would be for the Taylor LBV and let the real port lovers just buy from your list and ask for you to "gift-wrap" the bottle in a basket.

Alex

[Andy Velebil]

Mark,

i agree with Alex. We aren't the best people to ask as our tastes are a bit more, well, refined than the masses...lets face it, we are Port nerds The Taylors would probably be the best and have the best price point to sell it at.

[Roy Hersh]

BTW, you never mentioned which vintage of LBV you were considering. It really doesn't make a big difference, but I'd be more inclined to buy a 2001 then a 2002. Then again, Alex's poignant comment would negate the importance of vintage and make it what is called a moot point.

I agree that it really does not make much difference which LBV you choose and you might even consider something like the Fonseca Bin 27 which actually sounds sexier than an LBV (what is that?) to a non-Port lover.

[Moses Botbol]

I agree that it really does not make much difference which LBV you choose and you might even consider something like the Fonseca Bin 27 which actually sounds sexier than an LBV (what is that?) to a non-Port lover.

Well... In that case... His Eminence's Choice, Nimrod, Chairman of the Board... there's plenty of Ports with important sounding names.

[Andy Velebil]

Nimrod

Now there is a bad name for any wine product

[Todd Pettinger]

Nimrod

Now there is a bad name for any wine product

I agree. I haven't seen it around here, but would likely buy one... just to see if it is a bad as the name suggests.

[Moses Botbol]

I agree. I haven't seen it around here, but would likely buy one... just to see if it is a bad as the name suggests.

Warre's Nimrod

[Peter W. Meek]

Nimrod

Now there is a bad name for any wine product

Why? Nimrod was an ancient King of Sumerians who "was a mighty hunter before the Lord". Check out Wikipedia for "Nimrod".

Or are you thinking it is a silly name because Bugs Bunny says once or twice of Elmer Fudd: "What a Nimrod!"?
It's like saying "What a hunter!" in a sarcastic voice (meaning NOT).

[Andy Velebil]

Peter,

First let me welcome you to Glad you have found us and have dropped in.

As for Nimrod....all during my childhood nimrod was slang for a very stupid person, used in a derogatory way. Think of it as when Ford used the name Pinto for one of their cars in Mexico. Sure it has a correct meaning in certain places and contexts, but it also has a very different meaning in other places. So while Nimrod may have been a great name in certain market places, i can say in the southwest part of the US it has a whole other connotation.