ThePortForum.com

So time for a first posting in this forum.

Ronald mentioned my name as 'most likely to attend' and possible host for the tasting. Last week my son is born and every thing is going so very well, I am already now quit sure of my attendancy and hosting will not be any problem.

A dinner at my place is possible as well, but I don't think I will have enough inspiration and time to make a full dinner. But with some help and inspiration it won't be a problem...

I am not sure if I will have a '77 vintage port in my cellar, most of my Vintages are much younger...

Santé,
Joost

Hi Joost! Congratulations on your son!

Joost,

Hello and congratulations! My son is due in about 8 weeks so we share a common dilemma. The attached link may be of interest - collective thoughts on which vintage port to lay down for a child of 2008!

viewtopic.php?t=1577

Congratulations Joost! And good to hear that all went well.

I'm sure we'll manage to put together some sort of dinner, and I know for a fact that LadyR and I are craving for some good chunks of cheese!

If you don't manage to find a '77, just shoot me an e-mail, maybe we can work something out. But I also wouldn't mind a pirate in the line-up.

And now for a name for the boy. How about Graham? Sounds stylish doesn't it?

KillerB wrote:I may still be able to make it - hold a place for me.

Good! We will certainly keep your place open.

@ Ben,

Finding good 2008-wines will of course be the next part of the job, but I allready sceduled for the next years:
2009: Find good Loire and German 2008-wines
2011: Vintage Port, Bordeaux (Sauternes) and Rhone
2012-2015: Barolo
So there is plenty of time left to fill my cellar with 2008

Before thinking on wine, be sure you enjoy as much as possible during the birth and the week after. Your only task is to be there and open up the champagne... I am much more exited about the first week as I always might have thought. It is really great...

Santé,
Joost

@ Ronnie,

We didn't name the boy after a wine. I think it is a little too risky unless you also name him after the year as well . The boy is named Abel and you will find the card in your post one of these days...

I contact you about the Port I will bring in...

Santé,
Joost

A new, updated list, including the ports:

Theme: 1977

Confirmed attendees:
1. AHB (possibly Gould Campbell)
2. Rubby (?)
3. StevieCage (Dow / Niepoort)
4. LadyCage aka Marieke (Dow / Niepoort)
5. Joost (Taylor)
6. Mrs. Joost (with baby)
7. Jasper (?)
8. LadyRoots (Warre, Graham or Fonseca)
9. RonnieRoots (Warre, Graham or Fonseca)

Possible attendees:
- KillerB

Location:
- Utrecht (at Joost's house)

RonnieRoots wrote:And now for a name for the boy. How about Graham? Sounds stylish doesn't it?

...or how about:

Martin(ez) - 229th most popular in UK in 2007
Taylor - 88th
Warre(n) - 208th
Callum (Calem) - 22nd (A bit tenuous I know!)
(Quarles) Harris - 367th
(Gould) Campbell - 1056th
Morgan - 93rd
Robert(sons) - 84th
Adam - 26th
(Duff) Gordon - 1611st

Every one lifted from the tasting notes!

I doubt Mrs Joost will approve thogh, much as Mrs Read does not approve of any names I suggest with cricket themes! Maybe she would miss a port theme?!

I've edited the list to include Joost's contribution: Taylor.

Stevie, because the Taylor is the only '77 in Joost's cellar, I've put you and Marieke down for the Dow and Niepoort. Hope that's ok? It's been a very long time since I tasted the Dow, really looking forward to that!

Jasper is also now a member.

Uh ooh, the list of "reserved" bottles is getting longer. Time to hunt down a '77 quickly...

Jasper

Hi Jasper, welcome!

I've edited the list to add Jasper to the confirmed attendees. I've also added Fonseca to the possible ports that LadyR and I can bring. This broadens the possibilities for others on what to bring, and is perhaps a good way to secure the attendance of KillerB. You never know, this might just be the perfect bottle you've missed so far...

That is good news! In that case, please put me on the list for a Warre.

Jasper

OK, done! Here's another updated list:

Theme: 1977

Confirmed attendees:
1. AHB (possibly Gould Campbell)
2. Rubby (?)
3. StevieCage (Dow / Niepoort)
4. LadyCage aka Marieke (Dow / Niepoort)
5. Joost (Taylor)
6. Mrs. Joost (with baby)
7. Jasper (Warre)
8. LadyRoots (Graham / Fonseca)
9. RonnieRoots (Graham / Fonseca)

Possible attendees:
- KillerB (Smith Woodhouse)

Location:
- Utrecht (at Joost's house)

I like the line-up so far! Dow and Niepoort - check.

Pfff, I am not that expert on Vintage Port, but with:
Fonseca, Taylor, Dow, Graham, Niepoort, Gould Cambell, Warre, Smith Woodhouse

I assume we'll have 8 of the best 10 VP's of 1977, which top 10 VP's are missing?

Quarles Harris, Cockburn, Rebello Valente, Sandeman, Croft, Offley or Ferreira? Am I missing some? I thought this was a bad period for Noval...

I am looking forward to this great tasting...

Santé,
Joost

It seems my hopes of flying with hand luggage have been dashed

You can put me down as definite for the Gould Campbell 1977. That is what I shall bring with me.

This was a bad period for Noval, they preferred to declare 1978 for both Nacional and the regular wine.

In my opinion, the best wines that are missing are Croft and Ferreira, although I always enjoy and have a bit of a soft spot for Quarles Harris and haven't had one of those for a while.

Alex

This is the list of scores from James Suckling's recent 1977 retrospective. From the top 10 we are only missing Sandeman and Cockburn. The latter is incredibly difficult to find, because it was not officially declared. If anyone knows of a source, please let me know!

1. FONSECA - 100

2. GOULD CAMPBELL - 97

3. TAYLOR - 97

4. SMITH WOODHOUSE - 96

5. NIEPOORT - 94

6. WARRE - 93

7. DOW - 92

8. COCKBURN - 91

9. GRAHAM - 91

10. SANDEMAN - 91

11. CALEM - 87

12. CROFT - 87

13. QUARLES HARRIS - 87

14. FERREIRA - 86

15. DELAFORCE - 85

I've got no 1977 in my 'collection' either, so if there is anyone left with a spare bottle that they don't mind bringing along, I'll gladly buy it off you.
Thanks!

Rubby, take a look here. Uncle Tom may be able to help you. If you can arrange something today, he can hand the bottle over to KillerB or AHB tomorrow.

In the light of attempting to complete the 'top 10' a Sandeman would be most welcome but any other is very much appreciated too of course!

Thanks for the tip.

I had forgotten about that most recent article by JS...would be very cool if we could indeed get the entire top-10! We are in for a treat!
Ruddy, I have a (trusted) source for a Sandeman '77 - not to expensive either: PM me for details, should you like to get it.

Is it LadyR who was born in 1977? A 1977 Top 10 horizontal would be tremendous fun to do.

Alex

Indeed. A good excuse, isn't it?