| Magnificent Wines, Dessert Wines and Port ...and fabled vintages |
The vineyards and winery are situated in the broad, somewhat arid, upland valley of the Duero in northern Spain. The river itself flows
west, its name changing to the more familiar Douro as it crosses the border with Portugal.
First produced in the the 1860’s, Vega Sicilia Unico gained an astonishing reputation, despite distribution being largely confined to a
wealthy private clientele and the top restaurants of Madrid. It is, or until recently was extremely idiosyncratic - a novel combination of red
Bordeaux grape varieties, exceptionally long aging in wooden vats and unusually high volatile acidity - once tasted, never forgotten.
west, its name changing to the more familiar Douro as it crosses the border with Portugal.
First produced in the the 1860’s, Vega Sicilia Unico gained an astonishing reputation, despite distribution being largely confined to a
wealthy private clientele and the top restaurants of Madrid. It is, or until recently was extremely idiosyncratic - a novel combination of red
Bordeaux grape varieties, exceptionally long aging in wooden vats and unusually high volatile acidity - once tasted, never forgotten.
Vega Sicilia - truly "Unico"
| Click here to EMAIL FINEST & RAREST |
Grand Constance - Cloete era, circa 1750 to early 1800's
Grand Constance 1821
Label states "Grand Constance 1821, Decante en 1883"
Label states "Grand Constance 1821, Decante en 1883"
Described by Michael Broadbent as "the Everest" of vintage ports.
Sandeman bottling, original green wax seal.
Level top shoulder.
A superbly preserved bottle.
Click on the images to see enlarged versions.
Email us for pricing and ordering details.
Level top shoulder.
A superbly preserved bottle.
Click on the images to see enlarged versions.
Email us for pricing and ordering details.
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Quinta do Noval 1931 - The ne plus ultra of vintage port.
Produced from Muscat grapes; the vineyards of "Groot Constantia" being established by Simon van der Stel, governor of the Cape of
Good Hope, in 1679. By 1711, South African wines were becoming known, the improvements in quality partly due to the arrival in the
Wynberg. In 1805 the English took possession of the Cape, and because of the Napoleonic Wars, promoted the export of South African
wines to Great Britain. By 1826, trade with Britain was flourishing and wine growers and merchants invested considerable capital in the
industry. This British influence is borne out by the anglicized version of the vineyard name seen on this label. The wine is mentioned in
the works of Jane Austen, and was also reportedly the favorite wine of Napoleon during his exile in St Helena.
A similar bottle (dated circa 1750) tasted in 1987 by Michael Broadbent was noted as being "distinctly spicy, gingery, rich, tangy....very
high acidity, almost burning finish".
We are urgently looking to purchase further examples of this wine. If you have a bottle for sale, please contact us.
Good Hope, in 1679. By 1711, South African wines were becoming known, the improvements in quality partly due to the arrival in the
Wynberg. In 1805 the English took possession of the Cape, and because of the Napoleonic Wars, promoted the export of South African
wines to Great Britain. By 1826, trade with Britain was flourishing and wine growers and merchants invested considerable capital in the
industry. This British influence is borne out by the anglicized version of the vineyard name seen on this label. The wine is mentioned in
the works of Jane Austen, and was also reportedly the favorite wine of Napoleon during his exile in St Helena.
A similar bottle (dated circa 1750) tasted in 1987 by Michael Broadbent was noted as being "distinctly spicy, gingery, rich, tangy....very
high acidity, almost burning finish".
We are urgently looking to purchase further examples of this wine. If you have a bottle for sale, please contact us.
Click on the button at right to order:
1 x Vega Sicilia Unico 1942 at £750, plus express courier shipping by FedEx at £35.
Total £785.
We guarantee safe arrival of all bottles, and will replace or refund any bottle lost in transit.
1 x Vega Sicilia Unico 1942 at £750, plus express courier shipping by FedEx at £35.
Total £785.
We guarantee safe arrival of all bottles, and will replace or refund any bottle lost in transit.
The Massandra Collection
The great dessert wines of Russia - Tsar Nicholas II's private vineyard in the Crimea
The great dessert wines of Russia - Tsar Nicholas II's private vineyard in the Crimea
The fortified and dessert wines of Massandra are legendary, with a distinctive, full flavour that sets them apart
from European and New World wines of similar ilk. More than that, the wines of Massandra occupy an important
place at the heart of Russia's Imperial and cultural history. The winery was built in the late 19th century in order to
supply wines for the Tsar's Summer Palace, called "Livadia", near Yalta. Over the next few decades, Massandra
produced wines to cater for the Tsar's every conceivable need, from wines for Church Communion to those for the
Court, for social functions and for the Tsar's own personal pleasure. The winery has continued to produce
first-class wines ever since and this, combined with the extraordinary architectural merit of its cellars and other
buildings, has earned it a position as one of Russia's most revered officially-designated sites of national
importance. Produced from vines that stretch almost the entire length of the South Coast of the Crimea,
Massandra wines embrace a huge range of sweet wine styles, from Sherry to Madeira, from Port to Marsala, as
well Tokays and Muscats. The tradition of wine-making in the Crimea goes back to the early 19th century - the
result of one extraordinarily rich man's passion for wine. Reputedly richer than the Tsars themselves, Mikhail
Vorontsov spared no expense in his quest to satisfy his insatiable thirst for good wine. To this end, he imported
and planted innumerable types of vine from Western Europe and from these he managed to produce a number of
successful wines.
In 1894, encouraged by Voronstov's success in the region, Tsar Nicholas II decided to build his own winery there.
It was an enormous undertaking. Work on the cellars took three years as miners dug deep into the mountainside
to create a labyrinth of 21 tunnels (each over 150 metres long) that to this day rank among the finest cellars in the
world. An ingenious feat of engineering (a series of carefully positioned air shafts ensures the temperature
remains constantly cool, and fresh spring water creates a natural humidity of 90-95%), the cellars are also
exceptionally solid and strong - when violent earthquakes caused widespread damage in the region in 1920, the
cellars of Massandra were completely unscathed.
In order to ensure that his wines were the best, the Tsar employed Prince Lev Sergervich Golitzin to oversee
production at the winery. An extremely accomplished winemaker, Golitzin devoted himself to developing the wines
that suited the region best, and it is these same wines that define Massandra's output today. Golitzin also had an
extraordinary talent for blending wines, and his "creations" are legendary. His note-keeping, however, was not so
consistent, and he took the recipe for many of his greatest blends with him to the grave. To this day, no one really
knows how he made his legendary "Honey of Altae Pastures" and "Seventh Heaven" wines.
When, in 1920, Stalin's troops stormed the gates of Massandra, the future of the winery hung in the balance. But
so impressed was Stalin with the wines he sampled, he decided to preserve both the winery and its historic
"Collection". Under the directorship of Alexander Alexandovich, production continued and Massandra maintained
its impeccable reputation for exceptional wines. The same traditions continue to this day.
from European and New World wines of similar ilk. More than that, the wines of Massandra occupy an important
place at the heart of Russia's Imperial and cultural history. The winery was built in the late 19th century in order to
supply wines for the Tsar's Summer Palace, called "Livadia", near Yalta. Over the next few decades, Massandra
produced wines to cater for the Tsar's every conceivable need, from wines for Church Communion to those for the
Court, for social functions and for the Tsar's own personal pleasure. The winery has continued to produce
first-class wines ever since and this, combined with the extraordinary architectural merit of its cellars and other
buildings, has earned it a position as one of Russia's most revered officially-designated sites of national
importance. Produced from vines that stretch almost the entire length of the South Coast of the Crimea,
Massandra wines embrace a huge range of sweet wine styles, from Sherry to Madeira, from Port to Marsala, as
well Tokays and Muscats. The tradition of wine-making in the Crimea goes back to the early 19th century - the
result of one extraordinarily rich man's passion for wine. Reputedly richer than the Tsars themselves, Mikhail
Vorontsov spared no expense in his quest to satisfy his insatiable thirst for good wine. To this end, he imported
and planted innumerable types of vine from Western Europe and from these he managed to produce a number of
successful wines.
In 1894, encouraged by Voronstov's success in the region, Tsar Nicholas II decided to build his own winery there.
It was an enormous undertaking. Work on the cellars took three years as miners dug deep into the mountainside
to create a labyrinth of 21 tunnels (each over 150 metres long) that to this day rank among the finest cellars in the
world. An ingenious feat of engineering (a series of carefully positioned air shafts ensures the temperature
remains constantly cool, and fresh spring water creates a natural humidity of 90-95%), the cellars are also
exceptionally solid and strong - when violent earthquakes caused widespread damage in the region in 1920, the
cellars of Massandra were completely unscathed.
In order to ensure that his wines were the best, the Tsar employed Prince Lev Sergervich Golitzin to oversee
production at the winery. An extremely accomplished winemaker, Golitzin devoted himself to developing the wines
that suited the region best, and it is these same wines that define Massandra's output today. Golitzin also had an
extraordinary talent for blending wines, and his "creations" are legendary. His note-keeping, however, was not so
consistent, and he took the recipe for many of his greatest blends with him to the grave. To this day, no one really
knows how he made his legendary "Honey of Altae Pastures" and "Seventh Heaven" wines.
When, in 1920, Stalin's troops stormed the gates of Massandra, the future of the winery hung in the balance. But
so impressed was Stalin with the wines he sampled, he decided to preserve both the winery and its historic
"Collection". Under the directorship of Alexander Alexandovich, production continued and Massandra maintained
its impeccable reputation for exceptional wines. The same traditions continue to this day.
Begun by Prince Golitzin in the late 19th century, the Massandra Collection comprises examples of every Massandra vintage, as well as
European wines from the personal collection of Golitzin himself. While the primary purpose of the collection was - and still is - for research
purposes (i.e. to allow for study of the ageing process.), in more recent times the collection has taken on a commercial function in that it is
used as a "deposit" in order to ensure that commercial quantities of mature wines are available for sale. To this end, some 10,000 bottles
are added to the collection each year. The Collection has had a remarkable history. In the years immediately following the Russian
Revolution, the Crimea was plunged into political turmoil as White Russians (aided and abetted by German invaders and Anglo-French
interventionists) struggled to maintain control of the area. In the midst of this, the Massandra Collection could easily have been looted, but
the entrances to the tunnels in which it was stored were bricked up so skillfully that it was never discovered. When the Red Army finally took
control of the area in late 1920, they discovered the collection but, rather than raid it, they added to it wines from the Tsar's palaces at
Moscow, St. Petersburg and Livadia. In the following years, wine-making at Massandra continued and the collection was further augmented.
In 1941, however, the charmed, tranquil life of the collection was brutally disrupted by the imminent threat of Nazi invasion. In an attempt to
avoid Nazi appropriation, the entire collection was packed up and taken out of Yalta to three secret locations. It was a monumental
undertaking: each bottle of wine was marked with an evacuation number and carefully crated before being transported to a safe place. The
only casualty in all of this was the 1941 vintage which could not be crated out because it was still in vats at the time. Rather than surrender it
to the Nazis, Aleksander Yegorov, the director of the winery, ordered that it be poured into the sea, and for the first (and possibly last) time
ever, the Black Sea turned red. The collection remained hidden until 1944, when it was returned to its original resting place.
European wines from the personal collection of Golitzin himself. While the primary purpose of the collection was - and still is - for research
purposes (i.e. to allow for study of the ageing process.), in more recent times the collection has taken on a commercial function in that it is
used as a "deposit" in order to ensure that commercial quantities of mature wines are available for sale. To this end, some 10,000 bottles
are added to the collection each year. The Collection has had a remarkable history. In the years immediately following the Russian
Revolution, the Crimea was plunged into political turmoil as White Russians (aided and abetted by German invaders and Anglo-French
interventionists) struggled to maintain control of the area. In the midst of this, the Massandra Collection could easily have been looted, but
the entrances to the tunnels in which it was stored were bricked up so skillfully that it was never discovered. When the Red Army finally took
control of the area in late 1920, they discovered the collection but, rather than raid it, they added to it wines from the Tsar's palaces at
Moscow, St. Petersburg and Livadia. In the following years, wine-making at Massandra continued and the collection was further augmented.
In 1941, however, the charmed, tranquil life of the collection was brutally disrupted by the imminent threat of Nazi invasion. In an attempt to
avoid Nazi appropriation, the entire collection was packed up and taken out of Yalta to three secret locations. It was a monumental
undertaking: each bottle of wine was marked with an evacuation number and carefully crated before being transported to a safe place. The
only casualty in all of this was the 1941 vintage which could not be crated out because it was still in vats at the time. Rather than surrender it
to the Nazis, Aleksander Yegorov, the director of the winery, ordered that it be poured into the sea, and for the first (and possibly last) time
ever, the Black Sea turned red. The collection remained hidden until 1944, when it was returned to its original resting place.
A selection of 19th century
Massandra wines, including from
left: Malaga Livadia 1891, White
Muscat 1896, Massandra Red Port
1893, Livadia Red Port 1892,
Livadia White Muscat 1891 and
Tokay ai Daniel 1892. Note the
distinctive "Imperial" shape bottle
used for several of the wines.
Click on the images to see
enlarged versions.
Massandra wines, including from
left: Malaga Livadia 1891, White
Muscat 1896, Massandra Red Port
1893, Livadia Red Port 1892,
Livadia White Muscat 1891 and
Tokay ai Daniel 1892. Note the
distinctive "Imperial" shape bottle
used for several of the wines.
Click on the images to see
enlarged versions.
Burmester Reserva Novidade 1890 Colheita Port
A very rare 1890 late-bottled vintage tawny port of superb quality, at a truly exceptional price.
A very rare 1890 late-bottled vintage tawny port of superb quality, at a truly exceptional price.
Click on the button to order ONE bottle of the Burmester 1890 Colheita Port at £495
(at current exchange rates this equates to approximately USD $790 or EUR €550).
The price of £495 INCLUDES worldwide airmail shipping, there are NO additional shipping costs.
We guarantee safe arrival of all bottles, and will replace or refund any parcel lost in transit
(at current exchange rates this equates to approximately USD $790 or EUR €550).
The price of £495 INCLUDES worldwide airmail shipping, there are NO additional shipping costs.
We guarantee safe arrival of all bottles, and will replace or refund any parcel lost in transit
Click on the button to order TWO bottles of the Burmester 1890 Colheita Port at £890, ie £445/bottle
(at current exchange rates this equates to approximately USD $1420 or EUR €990).
The price of £890 INCLUDES worldwide airmail shipping, there are NO additional shipping costs.
We guarantee safe arrival of all bottles, and will replace or refund any parcel lost in transit
(at current exchange rates this equates to approximately USD $1420 or EUR €990).
The price of £890 INCLUDES worldwide airmail shipping, there are NO additional shipping costs.
We guarantee safe arrival of all bottles, and will replace or refund any parcel lost in transit
We've just finalised the purchase of a truly remarkable cache of late-bottled colheita port from the 1890 vintage, from the famous house of
Burmester. This is an extremely unusual find - normally one might expect to find one or two bottles of this vintage every couple of years, to
find it in quantity - we have bought nearly a dozen cases, all in mint condition - is quite unprecedented. So much so in fact, that in
negotiating the purchase (from a private collector in Germany) we were actually competing with Burmester themselves, who have almost
none of this left in their private reserve, and were seeking to bolster their stocks!
With origins dating back to the 1730's, and a continuing shipping history of well over two centuries, Burmester is one of the greatest
names in port.
The great French authority, Francois Audouze, describes this port as follows:
Le Porto Burmester « Reserva Novidade » 1890 est un moment de plaisir pur, car c’est la séduction doucereuse comme une danse des
sept voiles. Le parfum de ce vin s’était manifesté avant même l’ouverture, puisqu’il transperçait le bouchon ! Des odeurs de poivre et de
réglisse me rappelaient mes vins de Chypre. En bouche il est beaucoup plus léger et l’alcool ne le marque pas trop. C’est un vin élégant
de pur plaisir, avec des évocations de fruits bruns de sucre roux et d’alcool léger. C’est un porto très charmeur.
"Pure pleasure", indeed! In this tasting, Audouze rated the 1890 Burmester AHEAD of a 1906 Chateau d'Yquem.
To taste an 1890 port, now about to celebrate its 120th birthday, is a rare opportunity - to be able to buy it at such an exceptional price is
doubly rare. As a quick Google search will confirm, our price for this bottle is around HALF the going rate. Because we have a reasonable
quantity, and because of the saving on shipping (remember, our prices all INCLUDE worldwide delivery), we are additionally able to offer
some significant EXTRA discounts for multiple bottle orders.
All bottles are in near mint condition, with fine intact labels, as per the photos above (click to enlarge).
Burmester. This is an extremely unusual find - normally one might expect to find one or two bottles of this vintage every couple of years, to
find it in quantity - we have bought nearly a dozen cases, all in mint condition - is quite unprecedented. So much so in fact, that in
negotiating the purchase (from a private collector in Germany) we were actually competing with Burmester themselves, who have almost
none of this left in their private reserve, and were seeking to bolster their stocks!
With origins dating back to the 1730's, and a continuing shipping history of well over two centuries, Burmester is one of the greatest
names in port.
The great French authority, Francois Audouze, describes this port as follows:
Le Porto Burmester « Reserva Novidade » 1890 est un moment de plaisir pur, car c’est la séduction doucereuse comme une danse des
sept voiles. Le parfum de ce vin s’était manifesté avant même l’ouverture, puisqu’il transperçait le bouchon ! Des odeurs de poivre et de
réglisse me rappelaient mes vins de Chypre. En bouche il est beaucoup plus léger et l’alcool ne le marque pas trop. C’est un vin élégant
de pur plaisir, avec des évocations de fruits bruns de sucre roux et d’alcool léger. C’est un porto très charmeur.
"Pure pleasure", indeed! In this tasting, Audouze rated the 1890 Burmester AHEAD of a 1906 Chateau d'Yquem.
To taste an 1890 port, now about to celebrate its 120th birthday, is a rare opportunity - to be able to buy it at such an exceptional price is
doubly rare. As a quick Google search will confirm, our price for this bottle is around HALF the going rate. Because we have a reasonable
quantity, and because of the saving on shipping (remember, our prices all INCLUDE worldwide delivery), we are additionally able to offer
some significant EXTRA discounts for multiple bottle orders.
All bottles are in near mint condition, with fine intact labels, as per the photos above (click to enlarge).
Click on the button to order THREE bottles of the Burmester 1890 Colheita Port at £1185, ie £395/bottle
(at current exchange rates this equates to approximately USD $1895 or EUR €1320).
The price of £1185 INCLUDES worldwide airmail shipping, there are NO additional shipping costs.
We guarantee safe arrival of all bottles, and will replace or refund any parcel lost in transit
(at current exchange rates this equates to approximately USD $1895 or EUR €1320).
The price of £1185 INCLUDES worldwide airmail shipping, there are NO additional shipping costs.
We guarantee safe arrival of all bottles, and will replace or refund any parcel lost in transit