TFP verticals at TCWC

[Eric Menchen]

Received an e-mail today from TCWC. Provenance commands a premium here:

The Fladgate Partnership is home to three of the finest Port Houses, Taylor, Fonseca and Croft. All three have long histories of making some of the finest fortified wines for which the region is known. That's what makes today's offer so exciting. Below we have three assortments, one each for Taylor, Fonseca and Croft. Each case contains six of the top vintages of the last 20 or so years. All of the wines are coming from the properties' cellars where they have been laying since being bottled. Provenance doesn't get any better.

Taylor Vintage Port - Mixed Case - 09, 07, 03, 00, 97 & 85
$ 789.50 per Case of 6 Bottles
Delivery: Summer / Fall 2012

1 bottle of each of the following:
2009 Taylor Vintage Port - 95 Neal Martin, Wine Journal / 94 WS
2007 Taylor Vintage Port - 95 WA / 96 WS
2003 Taylor Vintage Port - 98+ WA / 94 WS
2000 Taylor Vintage Port - 98 WA / 95 WS
1997 Taylor Vintage Port - 96 WA / 94 WS
1985 Taylor Vintage Port - 93 WS

Fonseca Vintage Port - Mixed Case - 09, 07, 03, 00, 97 & 85
$ 759.50 per Case of 6 Bottles
Delivery: Summer / Fall 2012

1 bottle of each of the following:
2009 Fonseca Vintage Port - 93 Neal Martin, Wine Journal
2007 Fonseca Vintage Port - 94 WA / 94 WS
2003 Fonseca Vintage Port - 96+ WA / 96 WS
2000 Fonseca Vintage Port - 95 WA / 94 WS
1997 Fonseca Vintage Port - 93 WA / 90 WS
1985 Fonseca Vintage Port - 90 WA / 93 WS

Croft Vintage Port - Mixed Case - 09, 07, 03, 00, 94 & 91
$ 609.50 per Case of 6 Bottles
Delivery: Summer / Fall 2012

1 bottle of each of the following:
2009 Croft Vintage Port - 93 Neal Martin, Wine Journal / 95 WS
2007 Croft Vintage Port - 88 WA / 92 WS
2003 Croft Vintage Port - 93 WA / 96 WS
2000 Croft Vintage Port - 90 WA / 88 WS
1994 Croft Vintage Port - 90 WA / 96 WS
1991 Croft Vintage Port - 93 WA / 94 WS

[Andy Velebil]

talk about a nice line up on all fronts, especially good for someone starting out. Nothing like having older and younger VP's all wrapped up in one nice package.

[Glenn E.]

Yeah, that's a pretty stiff premium for provenance. $130/bottle for the Taylors and $125/bottle for the Fonsecas when neither vertical contains the 1994 is pretty steep. But I'm sure some people will be happy to pay that for ex-cellars bottles.

The Croft vertical might actually be the best deal...

[Ray Barnes]

I have to admit that the price on the Crofts was more than I expected, but perhaps I am underestimating their quality. I wonder what a vertical of the great Sandemans would go for, if available.

[Eric Menchen]

I have to admit that the price on the Crofts was more than I expected, but perhaps I am underestimating their quality. I wonder what a vertical of the great Sandemans would go for, if available.

I was actually most tempted by the Croft. Now what would be the great Sandemans? I have had some great ones, but they've had some rough spots too, which makes me wonder not what a vertical of the great Sandemans would go for, but what it would consist of.

[Ray Barnes]

How about a short vertical consisting of Sandemans 1900, 1945, 1963 and 2007? I just finished (and shared) a second bottle of the 07, man that is wonderful stuff.

[Roy Hersh]

The only thing I focused on was the differential between the WA & WS ratings for each of those wines. Very telling.

[Ray Barnes]

Point taken - especially on the 1994 Croft.

[Roy Hersh]

Yes, that one too, but look at all 3 lists.