Friday is the last day for buying in ...

[Roy Hersh]

Subscriber's to the newsletter will receive an email from me with a "private" offering of "cult" Quinta do Crasto Douro wines. Quantities are large enough to support many of you and there is also a specially negotiated lot of Port that will be included from a different Shipper.

Whatever does not sell within a week, will turn up here in the Marketplace.
I also have first dibs on a nice grouping of Ports that I'll include here later on today.

[Roy Hersh]

Exclusivity expires tomorrow and there should be a couple of cases left for those who check back here tomorrow, although subscribers have been receiving a discounted price, which also expires on Friday.

So, for those looking to grab some, today is your last chance before the Port and Douro wines are shared with everyone from by 11 a.m.

[Roy Hersh]

Last week, FTLOP’s VP of Technology Stewart Todd was over at my home for a brain storming session in which we also tasted three bottles of Port. One of them was a Ruby Reserve, which really struck me as a very solid QPR Port and my tasting note can be found on the FTLOP homepage or in the November newsletter.

Knowing that with the winter coming, many people like to have reasonably priced Ports around the house to share with friends, or enjoy a nightly sipper while reading or before bed, maybe even a splash to add to your turkey gravy at Thanksgiving. Not to mention, being affordable enough to give as gifts during the holidays!

It is not your typical Ruby Reserve. This Port sits in cask for 8 years, which is even longer than an LBV and more typical of the age of a Colheita and then it’s held in bottle for a decade. I don’t know why it is considered a “Ruby” per se, but the name of it is: Tuke Holdsworth “Personal Reserve” Ruby Reserve Port.

Disclaimer: You all know that I’m friends with the importer, Bartholomew Broadbent and some of you have even met him. After Stewart and I enjoyed this Port, I called him to learn more about this bottling and found it was selling for $39.99! I chuckled to myself and told him that if he’d allocate a couple dozen cases of this, at a better price point, I’d feel good about promoting it. As some decent Single Quinta Vintage Ports sell at that price and LBVs for a bit more than half, I explained that we’d have to have a far “more inexpensive” price point. After several days of discussions, we settled on a deal, for you.

Through next Friday, November 21st, we have a special offer for FTLOP Forum members @ $19.99 per bottle. However, if you would like to purchase by the case, the price is lowered by $2 per bottle to $17.99 (12 bottles/case) a solid savings of $24 per case which should cover most of the shipping cost. Not too shabby! Buying direct has its benefits, and I am thrilled to be able to offer this Port to FTLOP members at this price.

What do I get out of this deal? Not a bottle and not a dime! Long ago, I promised that whenever I could come up with some great buys on Port, I’d pass them along. So, take advantage while you can!

If you are looking to have some good quality, inexpensive Port around the house … this is your opPORTunity. The savings when buying a case makes it a no-brainer (especially in these economic times) and that is still way below its selling price on the street.

Call Broadbent Selections, Inc. and ask for Nicole Holmes, who will personally take care of FTLOP’ers. Nicole can be reached at (415) 931-1725. You can use a credit card and they will ship anywhere in the USA where it is legal to do so. Enjoy!

In addition to the above Port offering, a retailer in Richmond, VA just happened to contact me with this offering. He is sitting on a treasure trove of great Douro wines by the “cult”ish producer, Quinta do Crasto. These are already tightly held by collectors and are typically next to impossible to find at this point and especially at these prices. Have a look but don’t dawdle if you are into the finest of Douro wines, as even the 2006 Douro will go quickly at this price. The rest, don’t wait until Monday!

Here is what is available:
2006 Quinta do Crasto, DOC Douro – 16 cases left @ $16.99 per bottle. A steal of a deal!!!
2005 Quinta do Crasto, Touriga Nacional – 36 bottles available @ $85 per bottle. Grab a case and ask Chris if he’ll do any better to defray your shipping costs. : )
2004 Quinta do Crasto, Vinha da Ponte – 24 bottles will go quickly. This is THE GREATEST of any Douro wine I have ever tasted, period! $102 per bottle. Amazingly, I originally paid $120 per bottle for these, two years ago, on release. Run, don’t walk!!!
Call Chris Anderson at (804) 364-2020

[Eric Menchen]

Perhaps I'll call. I tried their website and it isn't all that friendly. After I told the website I wanted to ship to Colorado, it no longer lists any selections as available. However, the shipping page indicates that Colorado can be shipped to, and I've had wine shipped to me in Colorado from both producers and retailers in California. (I actually visited the producers, which might make a difference. They initiated shipment when I was there in some cases, and after the fact when I called from home in at least one case.)
-Eric

[Todd Pettinger]

I was saddened to not have anything left in the 2008 fiscal budget to try a case of this.

I could try the "buy now and ask for forgiveness later," but the Chief Financial Officer in my household needs to be sucked up to so that I can make a trip to Seattle for the January offline a reality. Perhaps I can buy a bottle from you Roy or Glenn if I make it there!!!

Todd

[Glenn E.]

No room in my fridge, so I didn't order. Sounds like a great deal... I just don't have space for it right now.

I have some weird shaped bottles of the 1999 and 2000 Bodegas Uvaguilera Ribera del Duero Palomero in my fridge right now that are taking up more than their fair share of space. They have high shoulders, so can't be stacked fore and aft on the shelf like most bottles. Once I figure out an alternate solution for storing those I'll have some more space to fill up.

[Eric Menchen]

Broadbent also lists a few of those Quinta do Crasto ports:
2005 Quinta do Crasto Touriga Nacional - $75.00
2004 Quinta do Crasto Vinha da Ponte - $100.00
But they are out of stock of both, unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately for my bank account). Now I'm trying to figure out what to add to complete my order. Another Tuke? A Broadbent VP? A Ferreira LBV? Any other good deals at Broadbent? I already have a bunch of Quinta do Crasto 375s on my working list for tasting, and the Broadbent Auction Reserve.
-Eric

[Roy Hersh]

Eric,

You must call to order the Tuke, they won't honor the price I've negotiated if done by their website. Call Nicole.

Also, if you need something to fill in, check out the fabulous Ferreira Duque de Braganca 20 year old Tawny, it is the best on the market, imo.

[Eric Menchen]

I wasn't going to order through the site, but have been e-mailing with Nicole. I had a Ferreira 10 Year on my list, but just changed that to the 20. :) I'll be calling to finalize things.

[Roy Hersh]

I will look forward to your impressions on the 20 year old Duque ... preferrably a TN. Enjoy!

Did anybody else grab some bottles or a case?

[Roy Hersh]

Tomorrow is the last day for to buy into the Port deal. Forewarned, is forearmed.

[Ray Barnes]

Since I wasn't here when this thread began, what exactly is this deal?

[Roy Hersh]

Ray,

Please have a look at the first post in this thread for details.

[Ray Barnes]

Got it Roy, it is on the QdC. Since I am also trying to win some vintage madeira now too I may not be able to take advantage of this deal though.. thanks...

[Eric Menchen]

Woohoo, shipment arrived today! From Broadbent I ordered several of the Tuke's, a 1997 Quinta do Crasto VP, a 2001 Quinta do Crasto LBV, a Broadbent Auction Reserve, and the Ferreira 20 year old. I wish I could taste them all. Now the question is, what do I try first? No big gathering for Thanksgiving this year, so I'm thinking the LBV or Broadbent, since they are 375s, but maybe I'll go for the Tuke since I have several.

[Andy Velebil]

Cool deal!

I'd start with the Broadbent and then work my way up to the rest.