Like manna from heaven
Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 11:25 am
Last year a deal was offered to me to buy some Quinta do Crasto 2004, Vinha da Ponte. It is a wine I covet and believe is one of the greatest 2 or 3 red wines ever produced in the region (although I have not had Barca Velha older than 1991). That said, at the last minute the deal fell through and I was left on my own. I went through every channel I had at my disposal and asked local wine shops, distributors and even called the importer. No luck!
Finally, one wine shop in town, The Spanish Table had a GM that I was very friendly with and her husband worked for a distributor that carried the Crasto. I was shocked to find just two six packs were allocated to WA State. I wanted to weep, but in an exchange of favors, she told me that she would obtain one of the six packs for me, but of course, I still had to pay the retail price. Now I know Andy bought in at around $80 and the orig. offer I had was close to that too. But I wound up paying $120 because I never knew if these would ever be available again and ultimately, for a wine like that ... I was willing to pay a silly premium just to get my hands on the treasure.
Fast forward a year. The morning I was told that a few cases were being "released" and did I want any at the crazy low price. It was a local Washingtonian that approached me and I know he is for real. I said sure and told him, (half in jest) that I'd like two cases. He said "sure" and told me the price and I fell off my chair. Where as I overpaid the first time, his price was under $60 a bottle literally half of what I paid the first time around. I asked him to repeat himself to make sure it was not a hearing issue, but he was dead serious. I am never this lucky and wonder if that clean living is finally starting to pay off. As I have seven bottles today, if I do somehow come to own two more cases, on Labor Day weekend, I'll be opening a bottle just prior to starting the Fair. This makes last year's case, a bit easier to swallow when I look at the blended cost.
I am not counting my chickens yet!
Nor do I believe in jinkses.
Finally, one wine shop in town, The Spanish Table had a GM that I was very friendly with and her husband worked for a distributor that carried the Crasto. I was shocked to find just two six packs were allocated to WA State. I wanted to weep, but in an exchange of favors, she told me that she would obtain one of the six packs for me, but of course, I still had to pay the retail price. Now I know Andy bought in at around $80 and the orig. offer I had was close to that too. But I wound up paying $120 because I never knew if these would ever be available again and ultimately, for a wine like that ... I was willing to pay a silly premium just to get my hands on the treasure.
Fast forward a year. The morning I was told that a few cases were being "released" and did I want any at the crazy low price. It was a local Washingtonian that approached me and I know he is for real. I said sure and told him, (half in jest) that I'd like two cases. He said "sure" and told me the price and I fell off my chair. Where as I overpaid the first time, his price was under $60 a bottle literally half of what I paid the first time around. I asked him to repeat himself to make sure it was not a hearing issue, but he was dead serious. I am never this lucky and wonder if that clean living is finally starting to pay off. As I have seven bottles today, if I do somehow come to own two more cases, on Labor Day weekend, I'll be opening a bottle just prior to starting the Fair. This makes last year's case, a bit easier to swallow when I look at the blended cost.
I am not counting my chickens yet!
Nor do I believe in jinkses.
) sent me an email that for the same price he also had a case of 2003 Vinha da Ponte in perfect condition. I only had one bottle, so it was a no-brainer. Thank god the Fair is coming up. Actually I must be horse whipped for my last sentence.