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I should have added, if none of these dates are any good, please do say. I've just plucked some to get going in the hope we strike lucky with a date that fits for many of us.

I think getting a bit of a total makes sense. Even if they declare at say a lead of 400 or 500, ENG would have three new balls available to take 10 AUS wickets across 3 and a bit days! And what better taunting than allowing Root a double century if he can manage it.

A shipper I have had little opportunity to sample. Would love to attend please...can I confirm nearer the time what I bring? (=I have no Vesuvio right now, but that can be rectified in the next few months!)

I think England will be OK with the bat. I don't think there was so much going on this morning that the pitch was unplayable. This group of AUS batsmen simply can't handle the ball moving about a bit. That is a normal day for the ENG guys. Plus some of the first session dampness and moisture will be...

Well, at 38-7, Oz have bettered their worst ever test score of 36ao in 1902...

Stage 2 complete. Clarke gone, 29-6 in the 7th over.

England have yet to bat though... My approach now would be to get the Clarke and Voges wickets, then take it easy and let Oz occupy the crease until after lunch before skittling them. Hopefully the conditions will then have changed and the England openers can see off Starc and Johnson. Edit 2 minute...

Ashes @ Trent Bridge. What a toss to win! Australia 3 wickets down after 8 balls!

Sadly it looks like I can no longer make this. Something might shift and make it possible again nearer the time, but right now it is not possible. Stick me on the reserves and if things change then I can advise.

I can do any of these dates.

OK, can folks vote for dates above which work, and post a message saying which dates you gave a vote to.

First post updated with some details. We need to pick a date. I'll send some suggestions around shortly and see if we can find one that works for most of us.

So summarising the various thoughts above, seems like Croft, Niepoort and Messias are out. We could introduce Rebello Valente, Gonzalez M and another.

jdaw1 wrote:Flash owns this: does he want the tasting thus re-shaped?

Wow hold on there! From my opening post:

flash_uk wrote:Not that I am offering to organise it...

jdaw1 wrote:With the magnums, we have two chances of great T85 and F85. Should there be two bottles of G85?

Is the suggestion that we have both singles and magnums of T, F and G?

idj123 wrote:As for potential shippers, any reason why Ck should not be included- perhaps in preference to say Messias?

I had thought Ck was frequently spoiled by VA. Messias is probably a weak link though, I agree.

WS1 wrote:I think we should do a 2 session affair on a Saturday similar to when we did do the 1970 horicontal.

Two sessions I think is a definite. I'd prefer a Thursday, perhaps starting sometime after 1pm. Friday might involve working from home...

Yes as Julian mentioned, we talked about perhaps selecting roughly 24 ports and tasting in two flights of 12. Given the vintage, we could find that between say 3 and 6 ports might prove to be faulty, thus reducing the quantity tasted to something more manageable. As a starter, here is a list of 24 s...

Show your working. Why do you want Bairstow to open, and why Cook to face the first ball instead of his partner? And why Rashid right now? We have yet to determine who is the most suitable opening partner for Cook, and Bairstow is an option and also opens for his county, so put him in as an opener....

The morning session tomorrow could well decide this match. If Oz take a couple of wickets then a classic England collapse could easily follow, leaving a lead of maybe 120 or so at best. Will the Oz second innings be better than the first? They would have to hope so! Perhaps a lot better, and that c...

That was a dreadful batting display by Australia in both innings. Had the Oz tail not wagged in the second innings it would have been over before lunch on day 3.

I'd be interested. I can even arrange to leave something behind outside again this year.

The morning session tomorrow could well decide this match. If Oz take a couple of wickets then a classic England collapse could easily follow, leaving a lead of maybe 120 or so at best. Will the Oz second innings be better than the first? They would have to hope so! Perhaps a lot better, and that co...

I will be visiting London towards the end of August and am interested in learning (and tasting) more. Welcome Steve. Like you, I have only recently discovered the world of port, and am now hooked. Look forward to seeing you at a tasting sometime in the future! I'm on holiday last half of August so ...

A fine evening in very good company with very good port. No flaws in any of the bottles, and some tasty younger port thanks to Nick.