For The Love Of Port

Visited a trusted local wine store and noticed 3 bottles of 2011 Vargellas Vinha Velha going for around $75Cdn apiece. When I asked for the price they mentioned that I may see another bottle on the shelves soon - a 2011 Vargellas made with "Old Vine" grapes that would ring in in the mid-$200's.

Not quite grasping this, I put down the bottle of Vinha Velha and decided to do some more research.

I can't find any indication that another form of Vargellas exists (besides the Vinha and the... non-Vinha?) - not on this Board or on the Taylor website. In fact, the indication I get is that Vinha Velha actually refers to the "old vine" wine.

Does my wine proprietor (and you guys) know something I do not?

Thanks!

There are a few vintages of Vargellas Vinha Velha made, I forget which years. If $75Cdn is the price and the label is quite clear that it is Vinha Velha (and not just Vargellas); buy all you can. That is a heck of price.

Take some pictures of the bottles if you are unsure.

Run back to store and buy all you can at that price. Vargellas Vinha Velha is dreadfully expensive and I think they miss priced it. But if they will sell it at that price, RUN NOW!

There is only the Vargellas Vinha Velha (VVV) and the regular Quinta d. Vargellas. The VVV has red script (as you probably saw on their website). If the labels at the store match true VVV, you've hit paydirt.

Vinha Velha is Portuguese for Old Vines, so that's a mis-priced bottle. VVV (Vargellas Vinha Velha) is typically at least in the $150+ range, and that's in the US. In Canada I'd be surprised to find it (correctly priced) for less than $250. Buy everything you can get from them at that price! I'd drive up to Vancouver to pick them up if they had them at that price in B.C.

Here's a link of a pic to confirm what is on the shelf is in fact VVV.

http://www.taylor.pt/en/catalogue/vinta ... elha/2011/

Link of the regular Quinta de Vargellas for comparison.
http://www.taylor.pt/en/catalogue/vinta ... llas/2008/

Well, looks like I'm buying all three. I'll go back tonight and let you all know if that price sticks. I'm certain it was labelled as Vinhas Velha, hence my confusion when they said there was another one coming.

Will report back soon.

Yeah... ask them if they have any more!

A couple of weeks ago had a somewhat similar situation w a store in NY. They had a 2005 VVV for stupid cheap online, and the pic on the website matched VVV. When I called them to make sure though, there was no Vinha Velha on the actual label...

Sounds like you may have hit jackpot... cash it in!

Miguel Simoes wrote:A couple of weeks ago had a somewhat similar situation w a store in NY. They had a 2005 VVV for stupid cheap online, and the pic on the website matched VVV. When I called them to make sure though, there was no Vinha Velha on the actual label...

That one has happened to me a few times. They say it says VVV and it's only Vargellas when I have them look at the bottle before checkout. At least he can go to the store and see for himself.

Well, it's a bit of a long story but I am the proud owner of two bottles of Vargellas.... Vinha Velha. As evidenced in the pictures below.

The price quoted, $75, was a mistake. It took two people plus a call to the guy who quoted me to figure that much out. We were both a little tipsy (read: drunk) at the end of an Italian wine festival when I got that number so fair enough... That happens. Well, the new quote after a whole bunch of price checking turned out to be $128. I was very disappointed; having prepared myself for $75.

I woke up from that delusion with only one bottle in front of me at the till. I quickly called out for a second one. They then asked if I also wanted the box (which held the three I was originally planning to purchase)... Haha my answer was obvious. It's a neat little souvenir... Might help me bide the next 25 years...

Thanks for your help guys! It was based on your responses that I was able to convince myself into two. Gotta strike while the price is ridiculous.

Chris

Great score, Chris, congratulations! That's still a huge bargain especially in Canada.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

Way to go! I think you really scored...and even at $125 you got a killer deal.

Glenn E. wrote:That's still a huge bargain especially in Canada.

+1

Fantastic!

Now all you have to do is wait 40 years to drink it! Fantastic score.

FYI: Winesearcher says something just over $200 per bottle in the US. There's one listing at $200, one at $225, and one at $230.

Which would normally be something like $400 in Canadian prices.

Chris,

Congratulations. I realize I am late to post my thoughts here, but having had this Port several times now, I can tell you that regardless of the mind blowing price you paid, this is one of the true greats of the 2011 vintage!

Glenn E. wrote:FYI: Winesearcher says something just over $200 per bottle in the US. There's one listing at $200, one at $225, and one at $230.

Which would normally be something like $400 in Canadian prices.

ehehe It was released a 250 in Ontario and sold out immediately!