Interesting Noval listing in Southby's Auction catalog

[Stewart T.]

Just thought this was interesting for those out there looking for esoteric Noval trivia...

RARE QUINTA DO NOVAL
The head of A.J. Silva at the time was Luis Porto. He regarded the 1962 vintage very highly, but declared the 1963 vintage along with the other shippers. Only one pipe of this blend (in proportions one third 1962, two thirds 1963) was shipped to London and, on this occasion, bottled by Hedges and Butler in 1965.
These bottles have been in the owner’s cellar since original delivery.

Tasting note from the same cellar, December 1995: Great, sweet, damsons and roses nose. Still very youthful, glorious fruit and toffee taste. Real nectar. Nacional weight underpinning the sheer fragrance of the fruit. Long lingering finish. SS.

Quinta do Noval Nacional 1962/Quinta do Noval 1963
Excellent levels, plain wax capsules - quite fragile and cracked but intact, no labels
12 bts (cn)
Estimates:
per lot: £1,400-1,800
per lot: US$2,200-2,800
per lot: €1,500-1,900

[Glenn E.]

Wow, very cool! Well beyond my price range, though.

[Marco D.]

Very cool. If they were in single bottle lots, I would probably bid on a bottle. But a case is pricey. The Rare Wine Company keeps their eyes on auctions, perhaps they will buy and offer them for sale. If it sells for $3000 a case, that would make it $250 a bottle -- a steal for a Nacional, especially given the price of the 1963 Nacional.

[Glenn E.]

They're just listing that they have 12 bottles available... my guess would be that they're being sold as single bottle lots.

$3000 for a 1963 Nacional would be about right... and these have to be rarer and more valuable.

[Marco D.]

They're just listing that they have 12 bottles available... my guess would be that they're being sold as single bottle lots.

$3000 for a 1963 Nacional would be about right... and these have to be rarer and more valuable.

In the catalog, it's listed as one 12-bottle lot (#776). Seems very cheap...

[Roy Hersh]

Yes it is very inexpensive ... even if it was just for the lackluster 1962 Nacional alone.

[Stewart T.]

If i am reading it correctly, it is a blend of '62 Naciaonal with the '63 REGULAR vintage. Since this is a unique lot, they may not be sure what to value it at.

It's not like you are getting a case of '63 Ncaional for $3000.

[Glenn E.]

They're just listing that they have 12 bottles available... my guess would be that they're being sold as single bottle lots.

$3000 for a 1963 Nacional would be about right... and these have to be rarer and more valuable.

In the catalog, it's listed as one 12-bottle lot (#776). Seems very cheap...

Zowie, that's a steal if it's really for all 12 bottles!

I seem to recall that there's at least one person here on FTLOP that likes the '62 Nacional better than the '63. Alan, I think?

[Andy Velebil]

not a good deal at all IMO. It's a blend of a good VP, with a less than stellar VP. They are trying to capitalize on the Nacional part of it. An easy pass at that price.

[Al B.]

Despite the fact that this port is nothing more than a Crusted Port (albeit one which has some historical significance since there were only 672 bottles ever made) the case sold for a hammer price of £4,400 - which after buyer's premium and tax works out to be £430 ($690) a bottle. If anyone sees any of these being offered in the market, please post here. I'd love to be able to see the mark-up being asked by any retailer who bought this - but at that price I guess it was a port-lover rather than a dealer.

[Roy Hersh]

Alex,

You ain't lyin' ... amazing what some people will spend on a bottle, eh?