ThePortForum.com

Me:

Duck liver pate
Medium rare steak
Green beans
Peppercorn sauce

A very small stash of ex cellars Dow '62 was auctioned by Christies five years ago, I secured two bottles.

The labels say Dow - no mention of Bomfim

I've recently popped an SW85 - it was unimpressive for the first two days but then found composure, so a super long decant recommended..

Can I be added to the reserves list please..
(Have 23 97's available)

I've used hydrogen peroxide to good effect, although it's rather slow. It takes the natural colour of the cork almost to white, and also takes out dark surface decay on the cork. As it has no effect on the charcoal of the branding, the raised contrast makes reading the cork easier. Difficult corks a...

Reconfirming - have some wines, but not many

I recall, eighteen months ago, it being observed that there had never previously been an effective vaccine against any corona type virus. The confidence in finding a vaccine therefore seemed a tad optimistic. Then the first trial results appeared, and they were hailed, unequivocally, as being able t...

There's also the problem that I don't trust carbon dating to be sufficiently accurate at this time scale with this product. The amount of atmospheric carbon that has been absorbed by a Port can presumably vary considerably based on storage conditions. If the carbon date was derived from the sugars ...

The bottom line is that this issue has the potential to throw up a very damaging scandal. That port doesn't 'do' soleras is no justification for passing off some wines that appear to be essentially a solera as a dated colheita. Carbon dating is real - and caused the 1970s alcohol scandal - we really...

I have 26 different '85s, so let me know if any are proving hard to find

In with the new.. Whilst manning a very quiet pub today I have done the annual task of cutting neck tags for the year. I make these by guillotining down strung luggage tags, four at time on an old fashioned lever guillotine, 200 in total. These are then stored in a couple of Vesuvio single bottle bo...

Out with the old... My last bottle of port for home drinking in 2021 - the last bottle of T55 from a rough stash bought 11 years ago, is drinking nicely, if a little evolved. I have better stashes in the shadows for the future. Have also just finished a '64 claret from the Rosebery stash. Exact name...

That it is. Seeing VPs be more expensive here than in the UK, where purchasing power is twice as high (and never mind that the bloody thing is produced over here), really rubs me the wrong way. We had the same experience back in the 80's with British made cars being sold cheaply on the continent. S...

My experience of PV has been invariably good.

Their prices for VP are typically Portuguese and consequently out of kilter with prices more normally seen in the UK, but for all other ports and Portuguese wines they are an excellent source. Their product list is immense.

Churchill '82 - what a tease this wine is! Once my textbook example of a vintage port that was best before the age of 40 - but now firing on all cylinders to spite me! Graham '83 - good colour, light-ish on the palate, but really very well composed - a good quaff.. Niepoort '85 - after a run of VA r...

The best, but most tedious addition (traditionally) would be the inclusion of a master index - where every subject title and proper noun gets page referenced. Indexing used to be the curse chore of the junior in publishing houses, but I suspect there's some clever technology out there today that can...

One possibility would be small Post-it Index Sticky Notes, with neighbours having different colours. IIRC, Ottos uses those. However there seems to be self adhesive - and really self adhesive, for those who worry about price tags being switched. I'm not up to speed on the difference, technically, b...

A most satisfactory evening, now all cleared up and put away - no errant TN sheets found I'm afraid. The first time (I think) we've had a submariner amongst us - this glorious little monologue never grows stale: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0SICqoBevs Must try to remember to get stickers for gla...

Am tested and negative.

I can print. Don’t have port tongs though. Guessing Tom or Phil might have a pair?

Have tongs

I'll bring some cheese and digestives.

We already have Lincolnshire poacher, Somerset Brie and Cropwell Bishop - but please feel free to add to the selection.

I believe from Wed (and hence applying on Thu), venues including this one will be mandatory by law to ask for proof of covid vaccination

As far as I am aware, this only applies to large venues and not local pubs - but I stand to be corrected..

Steaks ordered!

I need to put the steak order in tomorrow - if anyone does not want a 14oz fillet, please let me know by 1pm Monday 13th

My first-ever trip to a Bookers was today

Only those with the greatest restraint emerge from their first trip to a cash and carry without some super-size formats of everyday items..