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Wokingham, Tuesday 20th May 2008

Posted: 19:15 Wed 06 Feb 2008
by jdaw1
I might need to be at a conference in London on Thursday 22nd May 2008. Might there be interest in a tasting about then? (Though, for obvious reasons, not on Wednesday 21st May.)

Given my general non-impressedness with Cockburn, this wouldn’t have to be that vertical.

Edit: on 3rd April title changed from “Penultimate week of May 2008† to “Wokingham, Tuesday 20th May 2008†.

Posted: 19:31 Wed 06 Feb 2008
by DRT
There would be interest from me. Which dates would you be here and available?

Derek

my arrangements could … be fitted around others’ plans

Posted: 19:43 Wed 06 Feb 2008
by jdaw1
As yet, all I know is that I might need to be at that conference on 22nd May. So, if I do need to be there, then my arrangements could, to some limited extent, be fitted around others’ plans.

Re: Penultimate week of May 2008

Posted: 17:27 Thu 07 Feb 2008
by jdaw1
jdaw1 wrote:I might need to be at a conference in London on Thursday 22nd May 2008. Might there be interest in a tasting about then? (Though, for obvious reasons, not on Wednesday 21st May.)
OK, I have just undertaken to be at the conference, so the “might† can be deleted.

Posted: 18:45 Thu 07 Feb 2008
by DRT
OK. I'm in.

Perhaps we need an interesting theme to attract others. Here are some suggestions:
  1. Bring a bottle of port wrapped in silver foil
  2. Single's Night (only SQVP's allowed)
  3. 1960 Horizontal
  4. 1980 Horizontal
  5. The G-Plan (Graham's Vertical)
  6. Rose Night
Derek

1980 horizontal

Posted: 20:30 Thu 07 Feb 2008
by jdaw1
A 1980 horizontal would be of great interest. Possible contributions from me include:
  • 1980 Fonseca (recently purchased from THRA);
  • 1980 Graham (I have 23 bottles remaining);
  • 1980 Nacional (excellent, and tasting of passion fruit, see TN);
  • 1980 Offley Boa Vista (recently purchased from THRA);
  • 1980 Taylor (various sources).
I’m willing to facilitate others adopting some of these.

Graham’s vertical

Posted: 20:35 Thu 07 Feb 2008
by jdaw1
A Graham’s vertical would be of even greater interest. Possible contributions from me include:
  • Graham’s 1927 (my only bottle, costing £268·20);
  • Graham’s 1945 (my only bottle, part of a mixed lot, and having similar cost);
  • Graham’s 1963 (my only bottle);
  • Graham’s 1977 (I have too much);
  • Graham’s 1980 (I have 23 bottles remaining);
  • Graham’s 1985 (a staple of my diet).
Some financial rebalancing might be required if the older bottles are to be brought into play.

Posted: 09:53 Fri 08 Feb 2008
by KillerB
I have a 1980 Warre and a 1980 Fonseca.

I have SQVPs.

I have alluminium foil, I can't afford silver.

Posted: 14:10 Fri 08 Feb 2008
by Ghandih
I like the idea of all of these, though the date may be tricky for me. I don't think I can make any port contribution, but could presumably find a bribable donor.

J, I like the fact that you have 23 bottles of G80, but too much G77. Is 'too much' more than 23 bottles, or is there a tacit consideration of quality within your assessment?

Sometime we should try a blind tasting. Put the Grahams in year order, or match the 80's against the shippers available. It is an extra logistical challenge, but could be done.

G77 not a favourite

Posted: 14:25 Fri 08 Feb 2008
by jdaw1
Ghandih wrote:or is there a tacit consideration of quality within your assessment?
Yes.

Posted: 16:34 Mon 11 Feb 2008
by Axel P
Hey guys,

dont forget me. May is a splendid month, but it has to be before the 21st. So the 14th and the 7th would suit me (if anyone would ask). As I just came back from a Grahams Vertical, its definitely worth organizing...

Axel

Posted: 16:36 Mon 11 Feb 2008
by Axel P
... for Cockburn I could bring a Canais 2005. My problem is that I do arrive that day, so standing upright for XX hours could be a bit of a problem. I do have 94 and 70s as well.

Axel

Posted: 18:32 Sat 23 Feb 2008
by Alex Bridgeman
I've just realised that I haven't replied to this post yet, so I am now remedying my oversight.

I like some of the themes that Derek has suggested. I've noticed that there seems to be a macro-theme developing this year.

On Feb 2 there was a 1963 horizontal
On Jan 28 there was a 1966 horizontal
On Feb 14 there was a 1970 horizontal
On Mar 29 there is planned a 1977 horizontal

If we continue this macro theme then a good theme for the end of May might be the 1980 horizontal (I have Fonseca and Smith Woodhouse).

That said, I like all of the other suggested themes. I'm a little light on Grahams, but could probably find a vintage to offer. I very much like the idea of a "silver foil" tasting where I can choose an interesting bottle and offer it blind. A singles night would be easy for me - guess which Quinta's wine Mr Vesuvio would bring along?

Perhaps we should leave the final choice of theme to Julian, since he is providing the excuse for the tasting. If we leave it open to democracy, I'll vote for the 1980 horizontal since I think 1980 is a significantly overlooked vintage.

Alex

1980 horizontal

Posted: 18:59 Sat 23 Feb 2008
by jdaw1
AHB wrote:Perhaps we should leave the final choice of theme to Julian, since he is providing the excuse for the tasting. If we leave it open to democracy, I'll vote for the 1980 horizontal since I think 1980 is a significantly overlooked vintage.
Dictatorship or democracy: I could mention Arrow’s Theorem. Anyway, my preference, already stated, is one of 1980 horizontal or Graham’s vertical. Given Alex’s vote it seems that there might be a consensus around a 1980 horizontal. What 1980s do we have?

Re: 1980 horizontal

Posted: 19:30 Sat 23 Feb 2008
by KillerB
jdaw1 wrote:
AHB wrote:Perhaps we should leave the final choice of theme to Julian, since he is providing the excuse for the tasting. If we leave it open to democracy, I'll vote for the 1980 horizontal since I think 1980 is a significantly overlooked vintage.
Dictatorship or democracy: I could mention Arrow’s Theorem. Anyway, my preference, already stated, is one of 1980 horizontal or Graham’s vertical. Given Alex’s vote it seems that there might be a consensus around a 1980 horizontal. What 1980s do we have?
Warre, heeurrghh, what is it good for? A 1980 horizontal, that's what.

Re: 1980 horizontal

Posted: 22:54 Sat 23 Feb 2008
by jdaw1
KillerB wrote:Warre, heeurrghh, what is it good for? A 1980 horizontal, that's what.
Very good.

Re: 1980 horizontal

Posted: 23:07 Sat 23 Feb 2008
by KillerB
jdaw1 wrote:
KillerB wrote:Warre, heeurrghh, what is it good for? A 1980 horizontal, that's what.
Very good.
I've got another, just as good:

Fonseca, heeurrghh, what is it good for? A 1980 horizontal, that's what.

Posted: 23:51 Sat 23 Feb 2008
by Alex Bridgeman
Doesn't work quite so well. :?

Posted: 00:40 Mon 25 Feb 2008
by Conky
Location is no good to me. I've done enough London Port trips for a while.

I'm sure you'll have a ball though.

Posted: 09:23 Mon 25 Feb 2008
by Alex Bridgeman
I'm happy to take the lead on organising the offline for the moment, but may not be able to be there in person as I have some problems with the dates - my other half is away on a residential course during the week so I am on child-watch duties Monday to Friday. Drinking port during the weekends of May 17/18 or of May 24/25/26 might work for me, subject to negotiations with the wife.

Do either of these weekends work for others?

Alex

Posted: 09:39 Mon 25 Feb 2008
by DRT
A weekend might be doable for me with enough notice to sort out other commitments.

Unfortunately, I only have one bottle of 1980 Vintage Port in my cellar. Fortunately, it's a Quinta do Noval Nacional which I am happy to add to the line-up.

If we are doing this at the weekend I would prefer not to do it in London but happy to go with the majority.

Derek

Posted: 09:47 Mon 25 Feb 2008
by DRT
AHB wrote:On Feb 2 there was a 1963 horizontal
On Jan 28 there was a 1966 horizontal
On Feb 14 there was a 1970 horizontal
On Mar 29 there is planned a 1977 horizontal
There was also a 1985 Horizontal in January

There is an urgent need to organise a Horizontal tasting in April :shock:

1960 anyone?

Derek

Posted: 10:09 Mon 25 Feb 2008
by Alex Bridgeman
If we do this on a weekend, I would like to be able to dedicate only a single day to drinking port so that I can spend the other day working on the house or garden.

Because of its rail services, an afternoon in London would work well for me but then so would a Saturday afternoon in Birmingham (2 hour journey, last direct train home leaves New Street at 9pm). Manchester on a Saturday afternoon would be on the absolute boundary of the possible as it is a 4 hour train journey from home with my earliest arrival time at Piccadilly being 10am and my latest departure time being 5:20pm. Believe it or not - this one wouldn't have to be in the South East as far as I'm concerned! I'm open to suggestions as to other possible venues for tastings provided they are reasonably accessible by train for a day trip in and out and also convenient for Julian and others.

Alex

Posted: 10:38 Mon 25 Feb 2008
by DRT
I think we need to wait and see what Julian's thoughts are on this as he may not be planning to be here on the weekends or may already have other plans.

Derek

Posted: 11:19 Mon 25 Feb 2008
by Alex Bridgeman
Derek T. wrote:I think we need to wait and see what Julian's thoughts are on this as he may not be planning to be here on the weekends or may already have other plans.

Derek
Agreed