Buying Vintage Port

Buying Vintage Port for the first time can seem daunting. With so many vintages, producers and styles available, it is not always obvious which bottle to choose. Our team are always happy to help, so please contact us if you would like advice selecting the right wine.

All of our staff are trained and qualified by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, and many have spent time in Porto visiting producers and Port shippers. This allows us to offer practical advice based on experience as well as knowledge of the wines themselves.

Below are some of our key tips to consider when choosing Vintage Port.

Top Tips for Buying Port

• Tawny vs Vintage Port
  Tawny Ports mature for many years in oak casks, gradually developing the complex nutty, caramel and dried fruit characteristics associated with oxidative ageing. Once bottled they change very little and can usually be enjoyed straight from the bottle without decanting. Because they have already been exposed to oxygen during ageing, they will normally keep well for several weeks after opening.
  
  Vintage Ports are bottled much earlier - typically within two to three years of the harvest - and then mature slowly in the bottle. Over time they develop heavy sediment and therefore require careful decanting before serving. Once opened they should normally be consumed within a few days.
  
  The appeal of Vintage Port lies in its ability to evolve over time. In exceptional years these wines can develop extraordinary complexity and become some of the greatest wines in the world.
• Vintage vs Single Quinta Port
  Traditionally the major Port houses only declare a full Vintage Port in exceptional years - usually two or three times each decade.
  
  In other years they often release Single Quinta Vintage Ports, made from grapes grown on a single estate. Although these wines may not always reach the heights of the greatest declared vintages, they are often excellent value and tend to become approachable earlier. Because they come from one estate, they can also display distinctive vineyard character.
• Birth Year and Christening Gifts
  Buying Port from a birth year is a long-standing tradition and makes a particularly meaningful gift. As the child grows, the wine matures alongside them and may be ready to drink when they reach adulthood.
  
  For this purpose we normally recommend Vintage Port or Single Quinta Vintage Port, both of which are capable of developing over twenty years or more. LBV and Tawny Ports are generally not recommended for this purpose as they are designed to be enjoyed sooner rather than matured in bottle.
• Bottle Condition
  Provenance and bottle condition are very important when purchasing older wines. All of our bottles are sourced from trusted suppliers and stored in professionally controlled cellar conditions.
  
  Over long periods a small amount of evaporation through the cork is normal and does not necessarily affect the quality of the wine. However, the fill level remains an important indicator of condition.
  
  If the level falls below top shoulder this will always be clearly indicated in the product description. Once the level reaches mid shoulder or below there is a greater risk of oxidation. Bottles at this level are usually priced accordingly and may be excluded from our guarantee.
  
  The vintage year is normally marked on the label, capsule and cork. For very old bottles - particularly those produced before 1970 - it was common practice for wines to be stored without labels. While we prefer to ship bottles in their original condition, we can often provide a reproduction label for presentation purposes if required.
• Gift Boxes
  Many customers purchase Vintage Port as a gift. We therefore offer a range of presentation boxes to suit different occasions.
  
  Not everyone requires a gift box, so we also offer competitive pricing for the bottle alone. For customers wishing to present a gift, our selection of presentation boxes allows you to personalise the final presentation.

Buying En Primeur

En Primeur, sometimes referred to as wine futures, allows collectors to purchase wine before it has been bottled and released onto the market.

These wines are typically delivered two to three years after the vintage and are normally sold by the unmixed case (for example 12 bottles, 24 half bottles or 6 magnums).

Why Buy En Primeur?

The initial En Primeur price is often lower than the price once the wine is released onto the open market. In addition, En Primeur can be the only opportunity to secure wines produced in very limited quantities.

What Exactly Do I Pay?

En Primeur prices are quoted exclusive of UK duty and VAT. These charges only become payable if the wine is removed from bonded storage for delivery.

Duty and VAT

Duty and VAT are normally deferred while wines remain stored in bond within a bonded warehouse. These taxes become payable only when the wine is withdrawn for delivery.

Duty and VAT rates are determined by the UK government and may change over time.

What Does "In Bond" Mean?

When wines are stored in bond, they are held in a government-approved bonded warehouse where duty and VAT have not yet been paid.

If you later request delivery of the wine, these taxes will then become payable. Many collectors choose to keep wines in bond, particularly if they may wish to sell the wine in the future.