Double horizontal of ’83 and ’85, Brooklyn, Sat 13 Sept ’08

[jdaw1]

Decanting Times?
Suggestion: all bottles should be decanted around 11am to midday. Objections?

• Fonseca:
  • 1983 Jeff;
  • 1985 Jeff;
• Gould Campbell:
  • 1983 Jay;
  • 1985 Jay;
• Nacional:
  • 1983 Eric; / Dave will chip in;
  • 1985 JDAW;
• Dow:
  • 1983 Subir Adopted;
  • 1985 SushiNorth;
• Graham:
  • 1983 TBird;
  • 1985 Subir Adopted.

[differentdave]

I usually taste blind so doing it sighted is a nice change for me
gman any time you want me in your neck of the woods?

[jdaw1]

• Sighted: JDAW, FF (2 votes as he is the host and agrees with me), MW, differentdave);
• Blind: SushiNorth, g-man (and, grudgingly, a half vote for DRT).

[g-man]

Jay is it okay if I bring some food over? (And save on some of the costs of ordering)

I was thinking of picking up a leg of lamb and roasting it in the morning to bring over?

[jfacciol]

Jeff, how can I refuse such a generous offer?

Please do bring over a leg of lamb (unless there are objections from the rest of attendees).

Jay

[jdaw1]

Lamb: yummy, yes please.

[differentdave]

If you want I can pick up a cheesecake or two (or three) again if you guys want, any preference on flavor? just a couple to choose from..

Classic Armeretto Banana Blueberry Cannoli Cream Caramel Swirl Chambord (Rasberry) Cherry Chocolate
Chocolate Chip Chocolate/Rasberry Chocolate Swirl Harvey's Bristol Cream Irish Cream Kahlua Keylime
Mango Milkyway Mint Chocolate Chip Oreo Cookie Peach Peanut Butter Pina Colada Pineapple
Praline Pumpkin (Seasonal) Reeses Peanut Butter Cup Snickers Strawberry Turtle 3 Musketeers Banana Strawberry

[jdaw1]

Mr. Bill's Cheesecakes? Plainer is better, for me please, but count that as only half a vote as I’m not that cheesecaketastic.

[g-man]

btw, the leg of lamb just told me it voted for a blind tasting.
And I might need two, each leg is only 5-8 pounds.

[jfacciol]

Do the cheesecakes get a vote also?

I also vote for a simpler cheesecake (they were delicious at the 1970 tasting).

[TBird]

cheesecake means nothing to me, as i'm watching my girlish figure...

[SushiNorth]

• Sighted: JDAW, FF (2 votes as he is the host and agrees with me), MW (is that the correct interpretation of the post?);
• Blind: SushiNorth, g-man (and, grudgingly, a half vote for DRT).

I think you've got my vote confused. I'd appreciate the bottles being bagged so I don't make a decision based purely on $$, but after the first sip & first impression, I'd like to promptly know what it is as guessing won't do me any good For me, one of the best things I hope to learn at this tasting is where my preferences fall in terms of house style.

So does that count as blind, sighted, or just dazed?

[SushiNorth]

Decanting Times?
Suggestion: all bottles should be decanted around 11am to midday. Objections?

Hmm, I'm fine with that but would point to this tasting note and ask -- are we looking for consistency in decanting times, or optimal? From your last 85 tasting, there seemed to be a preference to give Dow's more time.

G83 everyone seemed content with 8 hrs. TBird, as this is effectively your bottle, shall I decant for you using the paper coffee filter method around noon? Or do you have a different preference?

[jdaw1]

Quite right. Dow 1985 this afternoon, being Friday? Objections?

[g-man]

Festivities start at 6pm correct?

Preferences on the Fonseca 85 decant? I've noticed mentions of 8-10 hours.
The fonseca 83 I prefer it at 1-3 hours worth of decanting. Enough to blow off the nose and let it breathe, any more and I've always found it disjointed. Too long and I find it overly soft.

Does any one have any suggestions?

[jdaw1]

F85 in the early Saturday morning works for me.

[TBird]

thank you and please do what is best/consistant with the others.

Decanting Times?
TBird, as this is effectively your bottle, shall I decant for you using the paper coffee filter method around noon? Or do you have a different preference?

[SushiNorth]

I think this is all shaping up quite well -- could I ask that everyone keep track of when bottles are decanted as it will be insightful for the tasting notes. (also, and i doubt i have to ask, but could I encourage those of you who have had more port than I to consider whether bottles were decanted long enough/too-long/etc in your notes? Would be very helpful)

[jfacciol]

If this tasting is done blind, who plans to run all the pours and placement of glasses?

Remember that this is a comparison between 83 and 85 so someone needs to know which is Dow, etc. The person will also have to determine in what order each flight of two glasses is drunk.

I certainly do not plan to do any of this. It sounds boring and time consuming

Who is the volunteer?

[jdaw1]

Blind outvoted, so sighted. We will do an (easier) tasting blind on a subsequent date.

[g-man]

bad news on the leg of lamb.. my supermarket sold out!!!

I'll try another market tomorrow.

[jdaw1]

From the double-horizontal, 1983 and 1985, on Saturday 13 September 2008 at the home of jfacciol in Brooklyn.

• Planning and arrangements;
• Placemats;
• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 1983 Dow;
• 1985 Dow;
• 1983 Fonseca;
• 1985 Fonseca;
• 1983 Gould Campbell;
• 1985 Gould Campbell;
• 1983 Graham’s;
• 1985 Graham’s;
• 1983 Noval Nacional;
• 1985 Noval Nacional.

[g-man]

wow no leg of lamb anywhere..

Pork shoulder for you guys tonight.