For The Love Of Port

While things are better than before, it still seems most economies are still struggling. I have a lot of wine friends who've cut back buying or have shifted their purchases to lesser priced bottles and are seeking out those wines that offer better QPR (Quality to price ratio) regardless of who makes it. I know Port is a pretty darn good bargain already, but how have your purchases changed, or not changed, this year. And what are your buying plans for the rest of the coming year?


As for me, this year I've cut way way back on buying due to a home renovation currently underway. But I also started cutting back last year as my focus started shifting toward buying more older bottles and less young ones since I'm now pretty well stocked on mid-aged and younger Ports. So my overall quantity of bottle purchases has dropped. As for the rest of year, I'll be on the same cut-back due to the remodel and vacation plans to the Douro. Which has a good side as now I can drink down some of my cellar to make way for new purchases starting next year.

I've cut back dramatically over the last 2 years primarily due to the economy. When I see a really great deal I still jump on it, but I just don't have the "mad money" that I used to have so I have to pick and choose where I'm going to spend.

I've slowed buy a little bit for a number of reasons:
1) Waiting to build out my cellar.
2) No new releases. I bought all the 2007 I need, and 2009 isn't out yet
3) Economy. If things were better, I might pre-order a little 2009.
4) I'm also trying to branch out into some white dessert wines.

I have never purchased much Port, as vintage Madeira has been my seductive mistress. But during the 2010 Fortification Tour, I did discover a passion for Colheitas. So if I happen to run across something old, interesting, and priced reasonably, I would probably pounce. Unless my wife stopped me!

Through the first half of this year my Port purchases have increased quite a bit. I have recently acquired a second house, so I anticipate that for the second half of the year my purchases will taper off as I get settled in.

I'm still building my collection so I've been purchasing steadily for the first half of this year. I'm pretty opportunistic so if I see something I like at a good price I'll buy it. We've got less economic worries in Australia at the moment and our dollar is higher than usual against other currencies, although I don't think that has translated to cheaper port for us. On a more personal note, I got through my own property purchase and kitchen renovation before I gained too much of an interest in aquiring port so that has made it a bit easier. I'm also doing crazy overtime hours at the moment and getting paid for it, so there is a bit of extra cash and some of that translates to extra port purchases. Last year I bought pretty much 2000 - 2005 and mostly at auction, but this year it has probably been more of the 90s witha few 80s added to the mix.

I don't plan to buy as much port (or any wines) in 2011 / 2012 as I have been doing. That's not so much driven by the economy as it is by storage space - I need to drink some more to make space for new purchases. I also need to buy to fill some specific gaps ('83, '80 and '63) but I won't ignore bargains from years before '63!

2007 is my vintage cut-off. I will continue to buy port, concentrating on 1990's and older. Really concentrating on 1970's and older even if that means bottles vs. cases. Always looking for QPR in any wine purchase, with Portugal, Italy, France and USA (in that order) in terms of where my money goes for dry wine.

The only reason why I possibly would cut back on buying VP is that I'm the only one drinking it in my family and among my friends. Other problem is that I've enough younger VP in my cellar and it's hard to find reasonably priced older VP in the Netherlands.

and I just found the dad's birthyear wine.

1947 cockburns!

woot!

but i've cut back alot too.

I've been cut back more due to space limitations (and spousal glare), but it's tough to avoid jumping on a deal when I spot it. I've been focusing mostly on filling holes, picking up halfs, and buying sure bets.

2/3rds of the collection is from the biggest years from 1980-2003, of which there are 2-4 cases in each. I figure on drinking about 1.5 bottles/mo, with 3 years between declarations, so i'm stocked for the foreseeable future. Everything I buy from here on has been tasting-specific, or because of the appeal of a particular bottle.

I've slowed up buying all wines mainly because I have a cellarfull already and need to drink up!

Eric Ifune wrote:I've slowed up buying all wines mainly because I have a cellarfull already and need to drink up!

+1

I'm still building my collection so I've been purchasing steadily for the first half of this year. I'm pretty opportunistic so if I see something I like at a good price I'll buy it.

Paul F.,

In light of your recent trip to Portugal, do you see your buyng habits changing in terms of style or category of Ports, compared to your purchases before you joined us?