Expert: Paul Wagner - 4/28/2008

Question
Hi Paul,
I said that I would have more to ask you about...here are a few more.
1) A bottle of Marques de Irun (sherry grower & shipper)
   Jerez Spain; Spanish Muscatel.  It's a dark green bottle, about 12" tall, neck is about 3", label is tan.  There is a box on the bottom front that says Sole Agents for U.S.A. GIAVI COMPANY, INC., 100 Hudson Street, New York, N.Y.  I don't know when it was purchased, but it has a blue wine and mixed beverages stamp from Ohio (I know that they had state liquor stores) and the stamp says 6 cents. It says 18% alcohol.
There is more information on the bottle if more info would help in any way.

2) A Bottle of E. Martin V.S.P. Brandy Grande Reserve. Shipped by Sociedade Dos Vinhos F. Nogueira, vila nova de gaia, portugal (it has S.V.F.NOGUEIRA embossed on the bottle, along with OPORTO PORTUGAL. It also has an Ohio State stamp, but it is red with a little light blue and it has an eight digit number. At the bottom of the front label it has a description of the E Martin Brandy, ending with "...the contents of this bottle is as fine a Brandy as is possible to produce.  Imported by POPPER MORSON, C. Rockefeller Center, NY.  If you need more info, please let me know.  I had an aunt that loved Remy Martin Brandy.  Is this the predecessor or unrelated?

3) DuBouchett many blanc Vermouth, sweet, alcohol 18% by volume;  Bottled by Many, Blanc & CO., Inc.  Chicago, Illinois.  The bottle has a very ornate, colorful label, is dark green, and is about 12" tall.

Thank you in advance for all of your help!

Answer
Hi Janet

Sorry to be the bearer of sad news, but there are all relatively unknown, lesser producers.  

1.  Let's start with the Marques de Irun--it's sweet dessert wine from Spain.  It actually could be pretty darn pleasant to drink--a sort of dark, (almost black or brown) syrupy wine with loads of caramel and hazelnut in the nose.  But because it comes from this producers, and is so old ( ( would guess something like 35-50 years old) it won't have much value. HOWEVER:  This one I would open and drink with family or friends on a special occasion.  Yes, I would have a back-up bottle just in case, but this could be delicious.

2.  E. Martin is no relation to Remy Martin--this is inexpensive Brandy from Portugal, not expensive Cognac from France.  It should be fine to drink--the alcohol levels in this would preserve it--but I doubt that it will make anyone very excited.  Perfectly good Brandy, but not Remy Martin. Value?  I would guess at something like $35 for this one.

3.  The Vermouth is almost certainly over the hill.  This is a dry Vermouth, and its color will have already turned a bit brown.  IT probably tastes quite medicinal by now.  It won't hurt you to drink it, but there enough here to make 250 bad martinis...!

Let me know about the Moscatel when you open it.  I think that really might be something special.

Paul Wagner