For The Love Of Port

From my inbox this morning, available to PA residents. No idea if this is a good value or not, but passing along! Only 4 bottles available: http://www.finewineandgoodspirits.com/w ... tegory_rn=

That's expensive. Under $600 then it may capture my attention...

Seems like large format bottles are usually overpriced, but they also still seem to sell. I've never been able to figure it out.

Moses Botbol wrote:That's expensive. Under $600 then it may capture my attention...

Well, its Pennsy with their strange and archaic "state stores". If you look on line most of their port is higher priced than neighboring states...BUT they do have specials and then often have things no one else does (Like 2007 Quevedo VP for $33/bottle)

Glenn E. wrote:Seems like large format bottles are usually overpriced, but they also still seem to sell. I've never been able to figure it out.

Yes, they appear to be. But you have to consider the bottle costs go WAY up. IIRC, an empty 9L can be around 5-6 times or more than the cost of a 750ml bottle.

Andy Velebil wrote:

Glenn E. wrote:Seems like large format bottles are usually overpriced, but they also still seem to sell. I've never been able to figure it out.

Yes, they appear to be. But you have to consider the bottle costs go WAY up. IIRC, an empty 9L can be around 5-6 times or more than the cost of a 750ml bottle.

Sure, but it's 12 times the bottle.

In the case of this double magnum, they're effectively asking $170 per bottle for a wine that's available over the internet from a reputable dealer for $85. I don't think that's a result of the increased packaging costs.

Glenn E. wrote:

Andy Velebil wrote:

Glenn E. wrote:Seems like large format bottles are usually overpriced, but they also still seem to sell. I've never been able to figure it out.

Yes, they appear to be. But you have to consider the bottle costs go WAY up. IIRC, an empty 9L can be around 5-6 times or more than the cost of a 750ml bottle.

Sure, but it's 12 times the bottle.

In the case of this double magnum, they're effectively asking $170 per bottle for a wine that's available over the internet from a reputable dealer for $85. I don't think that's a result of the increased packaging costs.

That's the state store high prices. But your actual question is what I answered.


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Andy Velebil wrote:That's the state store high prices. But your actual question is what I answered.

What's a 9L actually cost compared to a 750?

I ask because you said it can be 5-6 times the cost of a 750. But a 9L contains 12 bottles of wine, not just 5-6. So if that's the case then a 9L should be cheaper than buying a case of the same wine because there's less packaging cost.

Or did you mean that it can be 5-6 times the cost of it's equivalent volume - in this case 12 bottles? So as much as 60-72 750ml bottles?

Large format bottle do sell for more than the equivalent volume of wine in 750ml bottles. Auctions over the past few years plus retail and on-release pricing all support the fact that this is a successful pricing strategy by the producers.

As to why, I guess that it is down to limited supply and perceived prestige / collector appeal. I've bought Tappit Hens and more than 3 times the price of a bottle of the same wine, but love the look of the bottle and to have the chance to bring a bottle out to share with friends at the right time. The Fonseca 1985 Imperial that JDAW opened in January just looked so impressive standing on the table. Perhaps I'm a sucker, but while the vast majority of my port is in bottle I do have some in magnum, tappit hen, double magnum and even two Imperials - but goodness knows when I am going to open an Imperial of 2011 vintage port! But that's enough, I really don't see me buying any more large format port unless it is of mature port and can be opened and enjoyed soon.

It's definitely not only a case on increased packaging costs (both in materials and labor, they've all got to be hand bottled and corked), but it's definitely a contributing factor. Empty bottles 6L and up are EXPENSIVE. Then, when you get to some of the silly sized ones, they're custom made, etc.


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I have about 20-30 1.5-3.0 L VP's, but little occasion to share them. I will only open one on the pretense that it will be gone that evening. Only double mag I have is '77 Taylor. I don't mind paying 1.25 the cost of a bottle on larger format. I don't even think I had a magnum that showed not as well as the 750 of the same bottle.