NV Ports at Vons/Safeway/Pavilions

[Timothy B.]

I don't know if this is only in the South-West US, but the Von's / Pavilions / Safeway supermarket chains look to be having a wine sale where all bottles over $20 are 30% off and there's an additional 10% for buying 6 or more bottles (mix and match).

This is what I saw for Port at a local Pavilions - assuming a 6 bottle purchase - are they decent prices?

Warres Otima 10-year Tawney ($27.99 retail) - $17.63
Graham's 6 Grapes ($24.27 retail) - $15.29
Taylor-Fladgate 10-year Tawny ($33.99 retail) $21.41
One other port listing at 21.99 for 13.85

(and Dom Perignon (retail $184.99) $116.54 ...)

Also when I was in Sedona this past weekend, I am pretty sure the store there had a bottle or two of vintage port in the locked cabinet. (These stores typically have a locked case near the wine/liquor with the really valuable stuff - like Grey Goose vodka ?!?)

--- T

[John M.]

Those are pretty good prices. Hard to find those much cheaper.

[Andy Velebil]

Otima is a good price, but not so great of a 10 year tawny.
Taylor 10 year I haven't bought in a long time, so not sure current pricing around our area.
Six Grapes is about average for most wine stores around us, but very good for supermarket pricing. So for the convenience of only having to drive to a local store and not some far off wine store, yes they are decent prices.

[Moses Botbol]

Otima is a good price, but not so great of a 10 year tawny.
Taylor 10 year I haven't bought in a long time, so not sure current pricing around our area.

Agreed. Otima 10 is not high on my list while the 20 certainly is. I think that is solid pricing for Taylor 10.

[Marc J.]

The Pavilions down the street has a walk-in wine cellar and in addition to the Ports you've already mentioned they also carry the 2005 Croft Roeda & the 2005 Taylor Vargellas - both are on sale for about forty bucks a bottle. They also have a Taylor 30 year old that is going for $95.00 (that's the sale price) which doesn't seem like much of a deal to me.

[John M.]

Around lovely NJ you can find these for the following:

Otima: $17-$19
6 G's: $16-$18
Taylor 10: $21-$23

I prefer Fonseca Bin 27 to 6G's, and it is cheaper, too. I can find if for $14 to $15 and there are few stores in CA where you can get 375mm for $5/bottle.

[Andy Velebil]

The Pavilions down the street has a walk-in wine cellar and in addition to the Ports you've already mentioned they also carry the 2005 Croft Roeda & the 2005 Taylor Vargellas - both are on sale for about forty bucks a bottle. They also have a Taylor 30 year old that is going for $95.00 (that's the sale price) which doesn't seem like much of a deal to me.

grab all the Roeda you can at that price, it's a killer VP

[Marc J.]

Andy,

Thanks for the tip. I hadn't seen a TN for the 2005 Rodea so I bit hesitant to pull the trigger. I suppose its time to make a trip down the street...

[Roy Hersh]

Marc J.,

Really?

I have four TN's on the 2005 Croft's Quinta da Roeda in the TNDB and there are several others as well. Have another peak.

[Marc J.]

Ah yes, now I see them. WOW!!! The 2005 Roeda sounds like a blockbuster SQVP! Recently I've opened some older bottlings of Croft's Roeda and I found them to be a bit one dimensional. It looks as though Croft has put a bit more stuffing into their SQVP since the merger with Taylor Fladgate. This weekend might prove the perfect opportunity to pop open one of these bad boys...

[Eric Menchen]

I wouldn't call it a blockbuster, but a great QPR SQVP, IMHO.

[Roy Hersh]

Agreed.

[Marc J.]

The Rodea was very enjoyable. It wasn't overly powerful, but quite nice nonetheless. The TNs for this wine described it as "massive" and full of power, although it is concentrated I didn't find it to be a powerhouse.

[Andy Velebil]

The Rodea was very enjoyable. It wasn't overly powerful, but quite nice nonetheless. The TNs for this wine described it as "massive" and full of power, although it is concentrated I didn't find it to be a powerhouse.

Marc,
Whas this consumed over one day or multiple? If the later it may be slowly closing down. I was pretty shocked at how well this was when I had it over an extended time. I generally don't buy a lot of young SQVP's but I bought a lot of this after tasting it.

[Marc J.]

Andy,

I tasted my way through this wine over the course of a couple of days. In Roy's TNs I noticed that he made mention of the massive concentration of this wine as well as the ”blockbuster” finish. It did not seem quite as powerful as was described in the TNs, but I think that your speculation about it shutting down may be right on the mark. In fact, I did notice that some of the flavors seemed just a tad bit muted and the wine didn't seem quite as vibrant as I was anticipating. Nevertheless, I did enjoy it and considering that it was only forty bucks a bottle I might pick up a few additional bottles to lay down.