Inheritance

[Tom Archer]

My port collection started from scratch - I have never inherited any bottles nor expect to inherit any.

Ultimately I plan to put my cellar into a trust, so that it is not dispersed after my demise.

There is the little saying in VNG that when someone asks who will drink a new VP, the correct answer is "God knows" - as you will probably be dead by then.

By tradition, VP is bought by one generation for the benefit of the next, but I wonder how many people here have ever inherited any bottles, or hope to do so in the future.

Conversely, how many expect to ultimately drink their cellars to extinction, and how many plan to leave a tasty legacy?

- Sober thoughts!

Tom

[Moses Botbol]

Interesting question.

I plan to leave my 2050 Vintage to the next generation...

Hopefully I will still be enjoying and buying wine and port in 2050!

[Derek T.]

I did not inherit a cellar. My parents always have a bottle of port in the cupboard in case an emergency glass is required when I turn up at the door so my port inheritance will be whatever is left in that bottle on their demise

As for my own cellar, it depends on how long I live, how long I work, how rich or poor I am in retirement and whether or not my son has a taste for it. I have no definite plan. What will happen will happen.

If I die before Tom and my son doesn't like port them perhaps Tom can buy my son a new car in exchange for my (his) cellar and add it to his own to be held in trust for the good of mankind

[Tom Archer]

If I die before Tom and my son doesn't like port them perhaps Tom can buy my son a new car in exchange for my (his) cellar and add it to his own to be held in trust for the good of mankind

It has occurred to me that a trust could ultimately play host to more than one collection, and respect the wishes of those making bequests.

A person who has lovingly built up a fine cellar over many years may despair of relatives who can only see its cash value.

When I get round to drawing up the trust deed, provision for the acceptance of donations will not be excluded.

Tom

[Glenn E.]

I built my cellar - such as it is - myself and have no expectation of ever receiving any Port as part of an inheritance.

Like Derek, I have no real plan for what to do with my cellar - if I even still have a cellar - when I die. I hope that's a long time away so that I don't have to even consider it for many years. If I only have a few bottles left at that time, I'll probably bequeath them to someone who likes Port. If I have a large stash left... well, that would be much more interesting. I like Tom's idea of a trust, so if his is set up and running perhaps I'll add my stash to his (and potentially Derek's) when that day comes.

[Eric Menchen]

I have never inherited a bottle, nor do I expect to. I have no children, nor do I expect to. Ideally I would die with not a bottle left, but since I don't know the hour of my demise, and I'd rather have some left over than run out, there probably will be a little left when I die. I'd like that to be served at my wake, which I hope will be a festive celebratory occasion.

[Roy Hersh]

A person who has lovingly built up a fine cellar over many years may despair of relatives who can only see its cash value.

I agree with Tom that too often, upon the demise of a wine collector, the family members each take a few bottles and then send the rest off to auction. I am very concerned about this. My wife enjoys drinking Port but does not share my passion. I have therefore instilled the passion in my daughter who is now 6 years and four months of age. Exactly four years ago to this month, she started decanting my Vintage Ports for me and has done the vast majority that have been opened at home, ever since. Outside of the cork removal, she does all the rest herself now.

We talk about wine and Port and I let her sniff everything we taste at home. She typically prefers red and more so Port. "Port" is the 3rd word she ever spoke. As a toddler, I bundled her up and had her in my cellar when I was moving bottles around. I always would bring her over to the Port section and got a kick as she would always move towards the Port and liked to touch the Selo on the bottles.

I plan to hopefully drink through all bottles old and by then, older ... through the 1980s and if I live as long as my own father, then I may even get to drink some of the 1991/1992/1994s. As I have a LOT of 1994, only a few cases worth of 1997s but from 2 dz. producers, and a ton of 2000s and a smattering of 2003s and younger.

I will ensure that my daughter is bequeathed all of my Ports remaining. By the time she is in her late 20's she'll have a great collection of well aged vintages to choose from and I plan to share in her drinking pleasure as she grows up. My wife would put them to auction and knowing this, she and my daughter have been put on notice of my intentions for the remaining bottles of Port to go to Taylor and the table wines, my wife can drink and enjoy or sell or do whatever she pleases.

My parents were not drinkers, the occasional Rye or Scotch but rarely if ever, wine. From the time I got into Port, I started to open the occasional bottle with my parents and both like it quite a bit, but neither ever bought a bottle. Fortunately, my daughter very much enjoys Port, although her sips are quite limited at this point. She loves to tell me which berry she detects in every Port, except Colheita/Tawny of course.

[Derek T.]

I have therefore instilled the passion in my daughter who is now 6 years and four months of age.

Is that why that gorgeous little girl of yours was Christened "Taylor Fladgate Fonseca Symington Niepoort Delaforce Warre Portal Graham Cockburn Dow Crasto Croft Ramos-Pinto Calem Ferriera Barron Forrester Pombal Dorene Hersh"?

[Andy Velebil]

Roy you best hope she grows up and still likes it....what if she doesn't??? Thats a serious question BTW. We all plan for the best but that doesn't always happen. As for me, since I've no kids and don't plan on having any (we know how that can change with one phone call though :help: ) I have already told many of you and my other friends that I want a good number of bottles to be opened at my funeral to celebrate. I've never been a fan of downer funerals...so when I go come celebrate the fact this dude is dead and you can now raid my cellar at the wake

Whatever remains after that shall be divided up between the staff and a few other friends here for their later drinking pleasure.

[Derek T.]

Andy,

I have a Fonseca 1966 and a Leonardo 30 year old in my wine cooler that belong to you. If you pass away before I see you again I will be sure to enjoy them whilst toasting your honour

Derek

[Andy Velebil]

Andy,

I have a Fonseca 1966 and a Leonardo 30 year old in my wine cooler that belong to you. If you pass away before I see you again I will be sure to enjoy them whilst toasting your honour

Derek

Thats it?? It would be worth the plane ticket to fly over here for the party...you wouldn't be disapointed and would drink better than that

[Derek T.]

Andy,

I have a Fonseca 1966 and a Leonardo 30 year old in my wine cooler that belong to you. If you pass away before I see you again I will be sure to enjoy them whilst toasting your honour

Derek

Thats it?? It would be worth the plane ticket to fly over here for the party...you wouldn't be disapointed and would drink better than that

I was planning on drinking them in the airport lounge on the way to the party

[Andy Velebil]

Andy,

I have a Fonseca 1966 and a Leonardo 30 year old in my wine cooler that belong to you. If you pass away before I see you again I will be sure to enjoy them whilst toasting your honour

Derek

Thats it?? It would be worth the plane ticket to fly over here for the party...you wouldn't be disapointed and would drink better than that

I was planning on drinking them in the airport lounge on the way to the party

Ok thats better my young apprentice

[Roy Hersh]

I was planning on drinking them in the airport lounge on the way to the party

I almost spit up on my keyboard!

[Eric Ifune]

Not really inherited. I picked up the wine habit from my father. We've kept a joint cellar for some time now. He added bottles in the 70's, 80's, and early 90's while I've added from the 80's to now. He drinks bottles I've bought and I drink bottles he's bought; and of course we drink a lot together. He still has a few bottles of Port from the 70's.

[Luc Gauthier]

I was planning on drinking them in the airport lounge on the way to the party

I almost spit up on my keyboard!

You guys are a riot
This begs the philosophical question : Is It wrong to wish Ill will in order to taste great VP :twisted:

[Andy Velebil]

You guys are a riot
This begs the philosophical question : Is It wrong to wish Ill will in order to taste great VP :twisted:

only if you don't share the bottle with others

[Luc Gauthier]

You guys are a riot
This begs the philosophical question : Is It wrong to wish Ill will in order to taste great VP :twisted:

only if you don't share the bottle with others

Truer words were never spoken . . .

[Al B.]

My father taught me a love of fine wine. Being part Belgian, I remember drinking red wine with dinner at the weekends ever since I was old enough to hold a glass. What I didn't realise, until recently, is that what I was drinking up to the age of about 10 was 60% water and 40% wine. However, given that I inherited Dad's claret collection when he died and his Morgan '83 (a +8, not a case of 12), I forgive him. Ironically enough, he never did enjoy port despite all my attempts to convert him.

My love affair with vintage port began on my 21st birthday when my grandparents presented me with a case and a bottle of Taylor 1963 - and then opened the extra bottle. That was my first real experience of vintage port and is where I started on the slippery slope.

I intend for my wine collection to outlive me, even if my geneology would make me expect to live for a fair few years yet - events permitting. My will makes it perfectly clear what happens to the bottles when I do pass from this world - certain specific bottles are to be given to people born in the year of the vintage and the rest is to be held in trust by a friend for the children, and will be shared equally between them when the youngest reaches the age of 35. That's the age at which I felt that I would have been capable of understanding what I had and appreciating it for what it was rather than simply holding a party and inviting everyone over for free booze.

So far, only my son appears to be interested in port although my 15 year old daughter attended a champagne reception at the National Gallery in London yesterday and has decided that she quite likes champagne...

If Tom gets the idea of a trust organised and makes it open to bequests, I do quite like the idea of "The Bridgeman Bequest" to the "Tom Archer Memorial Port Library" where library members can make a few withdrawls a year of mature vintage port, replacing each bottle withdrawn with one of equal quality. Provided there are enough bottles in the library, this could allow members to have access to mature vintage port with reasonable regularity.

[Tom Archer]

I do quite like the idea of "The Bridgeman Bequest" to the "Tom Archer Memorial Port Library"

I quite like that idea too - I would have to extend my cellar or move the collection to a new one, so there could be the Bridgeman Alcove, behind a locked iron gate; where a few score bottles lie peacefully.

Then once a year (perhaps on your birthday) a dinner party is held; one ancient bottle is extracted for consumption, and a fine strapping young blackstrap is put in its place.

A place is set at the head of the table, at which is placed your photograph, tastefully mounted.

The port would be passed in strict accordance with convention; and your memory dutifully toasted.

How does that sound?

Tom