For The Love Of Port

Little 'aide memoire' for older VPs:

Offley is 'offley' good value..

In my part of the world it would have to be the Taylors LBV at AU $16 (currently on 2005) or the 2001 Vargellas at AU $40, both from Costco.
In another pleasing recent development, the biggest liquor chain in Australia has begun stocking a range of Cockburns (Special Reserve $23, 06 LBV $25, 10yr old Tawny $32 and 08/09 Quinta dos Canais $55), which are comparitively good prices for the area.

Tom Archer wrote:Offley is 'offley' good value..

I had one that I thought was Offley bad, so I've avoided it ever since. It may have been just that bottle, but there are plenty of other fish in the sea. When someone else opens one that is Offley good I'll reconsider.

Eric Menchen wrote:

Tom Archer wrote:Offley is 'offley' good value..

I had one that I thought was Offley bad, so I've avoided it ever since. It may have been just that bottle, but there are plenty of other fish in the sea. When someone else opens one that is Offley good I'll reconsider.

I will be the first to admit many years ago I had some Offley I wasn't impressed with it and it left me a bit jaded. However, a visit a few years ago really changed my mind. They have really improved their ports, even their basic ones are far better now. Just to name two, I really like their 10 year tawny and the 2000 Offley Boa Vista VP is drinking very well now and still has some years ahead of it. I'd encourage you to give them a shot again.

I am fan of Delaforce 10 year tawny and all of Andresen's ports as good values. Dow LBV at $13 is hard to beat (at Costco).

Well, I'd have to change my thoughts after seeing today's offering of 750 ml bottles of 2007 Quinta da Romaneira VP for $19.99 ... and with a case buy, free shipping as well. In the USA, it doesn't get much better than that. It would even be a very good price here for LBV.

Best value for a 10 year tawny.... Quarles Harris 10 year tawny at Trader Joes. $15 a bottle. Just finished the bottle last night and it was better after being open a few days.

I give up on trying to figure out the best value. This market is obviously in flux right now.

Andy Velebil wrote:Best value for a 10 year tawny.... Quarles Harris 10 year tawny at Trader Joes. $15 a bottle. Just finished the bottle last night and it was better after being open a few days.

+1

I just opened a bottle of Quarles Harris 10 Year Old and it still hasn't come around, but I know that in a couple of days (if it lasts that long) it'll be singing. At $15/bottle its one of the best values out there.

Like Moses said , " value comes at any price "

However we montrealers get our value port in the states .
There is no such thing as a " best value port , in montreal

Luc,

I was wondering why I was contacted as a reference for your application for a NEXUS pass.

Roy ,

You may be on to something

2000 Taylor VP @ $65 (+ 15% premium & insurance) on WineBid seems really good value.
http://www.winebid.com/Item/4118051/200 ... r-Fladgate

Would you guys agree?

I came back from the Port loving dormant a few weeks ago and (after due research through the FTLOP tasting notes) got a few bottles at that same price at last week's auction...

Miguel Simoes wrote:2000 Taylor VP @ $65 (+ 15% premium & insurance) on WineBid seems really good value.
http://www.winebid.com/Item/4118051/200 ... r-Fladgate

Would you guys agree?

I came back from the Port loving dormant a few weeks ago and (after due research through the FTLOP tasting notes) got a few bottles at that same price at last week's auction...

Welcome back Miguel!

I haven't checked prices for this vintage in some time, but given it's now 12 years old it doesn't appear to be a bad price. But again, I've not followed closely this vintage in the recent auction and retail markets so not 100% sure. Anyone else know?

I have not really been tracking prices for the last six months, but have sensed a slight downward trend as of late. My notes for 2000 Taylor say $70, so $65+15%=$74.75 IMHO would be a good price for a bottle, but not one that would make me run out and buy a full case.

Looking at the pricing graphs on WineBid.com it does appear that prices have come down substantially from 3 years ago.

Would say 25-40% on many bottles (I looked mostly at bottles in the $40-75 range).

Do you guys have a similar sense, or would it appear to be something specific to winebid.com?

Miguel Simoes wrote:

Looking at the pricing graphs on WineBid.com it does appear that prices have come down substantially from 3 years ago.

Would say 25-40% on many bottles (I looked mostly at bottles in the $40-75 range).

Do you guys have a similar sense, or would it appear to be something specific to winebid.com?

I've noticed a drop in pricing as well--not scientifically based but just a feel from shopping around. Been seeing lots of various VPs at lower prices than a year ago and the 2007 Romaniera for $20/bottle earlier this summer was just flat out nuts--haven't seen a price on VP that low since I got involved in port--a nice VP for less than a lot of LBVs.

My feeling, though i don't track very scientifically, is that 94s, 97s, 00s have come down in the UK a fair bit over the last couple of years since i started buying - at retail, Dow / Graham 94 are regularly going for £350+VAT per case, many 97s are regularly under £300+VAT per case. Some of the "trophy" wines - notably Noval 97 and Taylor 92/94 - seem to have bucked the trend though.

Ports from the 80s seem to be softening in price a bit in the UK, while 77s don't seem to be doing much. There are exceptions - a massive amount of Fonseca 85 seems to be floating around the market at the moment, driving prices on that well down (especially at auction), while Fonseca 77 appears to have dramatically increased in price even since the end of last year.

However, the top 70s, 66s and 63s seem to be going only one way....up... [have noticed a few good value 1960s though, both at auction and retail]

A local store has 2003 Fonseca for $75

Rob C. wrote:Some of the "trophy" wines - notably Noval 97 and Taylor 92/94 - seem to have bucked the trend though. There are exceptions - a massive amount of Fonseca 85 seems to be floating around the market at the moment, driving prices on that well down (especially at auction), while Fonseca 77 appears to have dramatically increased in price even since the end of last year.

I don't disagree with anything you've said, and I would tend to echo your statements that I quoted above. I saw one Noval 97 for something like $150, which is slightly low, but nothing consistent. The Taylor has definitely held, as I've been watching the 1992 particularly closely. Fonseca 1992, on the other hand, has been cheaper. 've been watching to get 1977, but no luck there finding cheaper prices.