Old KWV fortifieds 21 February 2007

A short while back, we carrried an enquiry and a few comments on an old 'Cavendish Port', from KWV's wonderful cellars of old fortified wines. Here's a further comment on that, plus a further enquiry.

From Peter Bishop:
So great of you to offer comment on rare old wine to folk; in this case 1963 Cavendish Port. I have a 1949. The KWV released 1948 and 1949 in the late 1970's and 1963 and 1966 a bit later. Quite obviously from their one-time stock. Good responding.

From Felicity Calverey:
I have the following 750 ml bottle of Muscadel in my possession. The unopened bottle's label reads as follows: KWV 1953 Muscadel, Jerepigo, Wine of Origin Boberg Superior, Liqueur Wine.Bottled by Ko-Operatiewe Wynbouwers, Vereniging van Zuid-Afrika Beperk, Paarl. Product of the Republic of South Africa. I would like to know what the bottle of Muscadel is worth and whether there are any collectors who may be interested in it. Would appreciate any comments from you.

I'm envious of Peter Bishop's old ports. I'm sure he will enjoy them. There are still innumerable Interesting things in KWV's vast cellars, I suspect. I know that Caroline Rillema of Caroline's Fine Wines in Cape Town, has recently shown some splendid initiative and arranged for a few of the KWV fortified wines to be bottled for her to sell exclusively. As well as a few young sherry-style wines, there's a 1979 LBV Port (extremely Late Bottled Vintage!) and a 1992 Muscadel. These have been bottled and are being labelled now, and should be available mid March – for less than R100 per bottle, says Caroline. I suspect that's a good bargain to be had.

Caroline was clearly very excited and intrigued by her tour of KWV's old vats with Bertus Fourie. She tells, for example, of a treacly 1947 port in barrel, and of an old vat whose tap Bertus had great trouble working out how to operate, so out-of-date was the design.... If the wines she has selected go down well with her customers, she hopes to have more bottled in the future – probably Peter Bishop and I, at least, will hope she does. I've never had any of these ports from before the 1960s, but I know that there are treasures there.