For The Love Of Port

Just purchased a case of 2013 Quinta do Noval VP (6 bottles), when the case arrived, it was still sealed, has not been opened since being packaged in Portugal

In 20+ years of purchasing VP I have never had this happen, which leads me to my question.
Will the bottles be worth more in 20+ years if I leave the box unopened?


Thoughts?


Thanks
Will

Hmm..

A few weeks ago I opened a previously unopened case of Offley 1966..

In general though, auction prices tend to drop when unopened cases over 40 years old are offered, for fear of what may lurk within; and one's own stock is best inspected before the age of 35 as that's about the time when weak corks start to show their hand..

I think a full case with OWC attracts a premium at auction. But being sealed? I think an auction house might appreciate that, but they'll want to inspect the bottles before sale. I would.

Sent from my XT1060 using Tapatalk

Great insights guys, thanks


Guessing the bottles will find a new home on my wine rack

Tom Archer wrote:Hmm..

A few weeks ago I opened a previously unopened case of Offley 1966..

WoW, that is amazing

What did you discover? Any pictures?

Will ONeil wrote:Guessing the bottles will find a new home on my wine rack

If you might sell the case in the future, keep the OWC.

If you might sell the case in the future, keep the OWC.

If..

I think, both on this site and the other port forum, there is a general acceptance that we buy to drink. We may buy to excess and sell the excess to our friends, we may occasionally conclude that a purchase has fallen far below expectations, and offload our remaining stock at auction or elsewhere, but if you buy stock with no intention of consuming any of it from the outset, this isn't really the place to be..

Eric Menchen wrote:

Will ONeil wrote:Guessing the bottles will find a new home on my wine rack

If you might sell the case in the future, keep the OWC.

Most definitely, thanks for the reminder

The 2013 Vintage Port by Noval is quite good and will only improve from here. I don't know if you'll care about my tasting note, but just for your perusal:

Noval's 2013 VP was tasted twice, a week apart during the 2015 harvest, from finished bottles. So I had worthy basic impressions of the Noval prior to this note, which is from my blind tasting late last year, over the course of three days. Purplish-black inky hue with full opacity. The beautiful bouquet was filled with fresh flowers, especially lavender, anise, a streak of black pepper, herbs & spices, and black and blue fruits. The palate was all about power and intensity, yet surprisingly good (for such a difficult vintage). Medium-bodied with initially sweet flavors of blackberry pie, grenadine and more of that peppery character. The dominant fruit overtook the soft subtle tannins and left an indelible mark of approachability, long length and a berry packed off-dry blackcurrant finish. Loaded with upside potential here, this 2013 Noval VP can be enjoyed now, but cellared patiently this will please Port purists for two to three decades. This is likely the very first time that Noval (not including Nacional) has ever declared 3 consecutive vintages, (2011, 2012, 2013) and it begs the question are they done with the old tradition of three distinct declarations per decade? 1,200 total cases produced.
94 Points

Thanks Roy