Are other folk as jumpy as I about the provenance of wines from brokers?
John this is a great question and ties into what Andy brought up in his comment that others quoted above.
There are people on this Forum, who seek out obscure Ports. That is their specialty. I admire the perseverence in doing so. Of course from reading their tasting notes, it is apparent to some, that provenance comes into play with a lot of the wines they post about. I believe that is because "price" dictates what they buy as much as the obscurity of the Ports. Admirable when it comes to bargain hunting and hey, what is more fun than when you find a rare Port or one that is at least uncommon, for next to nothing?
I salute that mindset.
However, as a buying strategy overall, imho, it is fraught with the ups and downs of provenance. You are right to be picky about that. Not everyone is. I used to buy from auctions quite freely in the early to mid-1990s when there were VERY FEW wine auctions going on at all in the USA. Now there are at least a dozen or more that are well-respected, some far more than others. But ... and here is the big butt :help: there are some that are really auctions that hide behind gray market buying tactics. Additionally, they are not as picky or as considerate to their clients about protecting their interests. Some use the "I am really a broker" or "the sellers I buy from, put up merchandise with us on a contingency basis." I am not going to name names, but serious wine buyers here know who I am talking about.
Let's face it, when you hear folks opening up disappointing bottle after bottle (not meaning of an '83 Cockburn type issue) of 1st and 2nd growth Bdx from vintages like 1989 and 1990 and finding consistent flaws ... that speaks volumes. The same can be said when I read about 1970 or 1994 "Grand Cru classe" Vintage Ports. Provenance is everything and although I admire bargains and will certainly take a punt when I am assured of storage etc ... I'd rather pay $10-20 more for a bottle and KNOW where it comes from.
This is why I put up the listing of Piers Methuen's Ports (for a couple of years now) in the marketplace, as I have emailed with he and his partner and know of their keen buying habits and access to impeccably stored Ports. The fact that he is a direct descendent of John Methuen is what initially captivated my attention and was the impetus for me writing them three years ago to check on the veracity. Sure, their prices can look silly at times compared to comparative prices found in the UK, but there is something very comforting opening a bottle at an important tasting and knowing it came from a very special cellar with optimum conditions. Nobody is more upset (internally) than me :twisted: when I bring a supposedly great wine and it is corked or has any other issue. Fortunately, I have had almost ZERO "other" issues and can only beat myself up for an hour or two when on occasion it is my bottle that is the corked one at a tasting. It happens and is not within our control, no matter what we'd like to believe. Unfortunately, at the time, that provides very little solace.
Some wise man once said,
"Provenance is next to godliness!" I am a true believer.
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