For The Love Of Port

I'm looking for some wines to drink on my 30th birthday next year. A colheita or a sauturne seem to be my best bet, but the sauturnes are a little more than I want to spend.

Any ideas on a reasonably priced 1976 colheita? "Reasonably priced" being defined as less than $150 per bottle in this case.

You can probably find some Smith Woodhouse 1976 Colheita for under $60 -- try The Spanish Table. The Niepoort 1976 Colheita is more money, but it will certainly be under $150, probably +/- $125.

Cheers,
Jason

Last year in Portugal I saw Niepoort for 80 euros and Noval for 70 euros. I've drank the Noval at 2004/2005 new year celebration and it was very good!!

For Sauternes, this year is all about Yquem, in the top 5 of all the greatest Yquem of the 19th century. It sells around 300 us though.

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I'll try to track down the Niepoort or Noval 1976 Colheita. I was lookin on wine searcher for sauturne. 1976 Yquem seems to be around $600 to $700. I think I'll save my pennies and get a bottle of that for my 40th.

The '76 Noval Colheita is indeed a very good one.
Another option is of course German Riesling. 1976 was a classic vintage there. Last weekend I tasted a SA Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese Goldkap and it was a stunning wine. So young, so lively and so complex. Unbelievable.

I know just the feeling, Kris. My wife took me out to a wonderful Portuguese restaurant here in the city for my 30th this year. (Alfama - http://www.alfamarestaurant.com/ ) Since I had the fortune of being born in 1975 (See Roy's Vintage Chart) I was not exactly chock full of great options. But Alfama had a 1975 Royal Colheita that was really quite phenominal.

The 1976 Niepoort does seem to be a good option, as does the 1976 Noval Colheita. If you have the time you can get either (or both...you only turn 30 once) here:
http://www.garrafeiranacional.com/shop/ ... =3a&page=4

I've never purchased from this site but they've got some wonderful things...

Happy 30th!
--A

Kris, the best '76 I've ever had (including some classic Sauternes) is the Fonseca Guimaraens VP: for my taste this is just entering its prime. Hailing from an "off-vintage" you should be able to find it for a good price. Believe me, this is a wonderful VP, and worthy for a celebration!

Thanks for all the responses. garrafeiranacional.com certainly has some good things at fair prices but shipping is very expensive to Seattle, WA which makes the price not so attractive. My B-Day isn't till August so I have plenty of time to find some bottles.