are we going to have a totally sighted event for a change?
If we're drinking wines that we have little chance of identifying by taste, a sighted bash would seem more rational, but one or two mystery bottles would add a little to the amusement..
Tom
I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly - W.S. Churchill
uncle tom wrote:If we're drinking wines that we have little chance of identifying by taste, a sighted bash would seem more rational, but one or two mystery bottles would add a little to the amusement.
uncle tom wrote:If we're drinking wines that we have little chance of identifying by taste, a sighted bash would seem more rational, but one or two mystery bottles would add a little to the amusement.
Seconded.
So should the title be O&O|G (Partially Sighted)?
"The first duty of Port is to be red" Ernest H. Cockburn
AHB called me today to let me know that he has found an alternative venue for this tasting. This followed our experience at TCP last week when the lack of air conditioning spoiled some of the ports.
Alex has negotiated a table at the Portal restaurant in London. I am reliably informed that the food is excellent, that they have air con, and they have agreed to charge £20 corkage per bottle provided none of the wines we bring are on their wine list.
This will work out to be a slightly more expensive night than we would have at TCP but I think it is worth the extra to be able to enjoy the ports at a reasonable temperature.
Please post any objections here ASAP otherwise the booking will be confirmed on AHB's return from the Netheregions.
Derek
"The first duty of Port is to be red" Ernest H. Cockburn
Having eaten at Portal a few times, I can thoroughly recommend it (hence why it was high on the list for an alternative venue).
There should be no difficulty in not bringing a port that also appears on Portal's wine list, but please give me lots of warning if you do intend to.
A note of caution - Portal closes at 22:15. This is good for those of us with relatively early trains but may mean that two bottles per person is pushing our sensible drinking capacity. It will also be more expensive that TCP and I would suggest that we each budget for a cost of £80.
The table is booked for 5 people, being JDAW, DRT, AHB, THRA and CG. Others are welcome to join us provided I can have some advance warning in order to secure a larger table.
The owner of Portal may also join us later in the evening when the restaurant has quietened down a little.
Assuming that we are bringing 1 bottle each, I will bring the bottle mentioned before - unknown shipper from unknown vintage, believed to be Taylor 1963.
If we are going to stick to the original plan of bringing two bottles then I have a little more of a problem deciding what the second should be...
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
My preference, but that might be because I’m not scheduled to appear at the December tasting. Which, failing alternative instruction, I’ve added to the placemats.
I have revealed what I will bring - it will be the "Unknown Shipper of Unknown Vintage, thought to be Taylor 1963"
Unless someone wants to say "Oh no, not another Taylor '63" since he had one just a week or two ago. In which case I could bring a Gould Campbell '77 in the hope it's not corked, or a Martinez '67. Just let me know which.
Alex
PS - could someone please let Christopher know the change of venue
PPS - Yes, Jacob, the Quinta and the restaurant are connected. I seem to recall the family connection is one of cousins. The wine list of the restaurant is dominated by Quinta do Crasto's wines.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
My preference, but that might be because I’m not scheduled to appear at the December tasting. Which, failing alternative instruction, I’ve added to the placemats.
Since there have been no objections and Jdaw has added it to the placemats I have decided to bring the Unknown Shipper 1890. I may bring a contingency bottle. If Jdaw has not yet left home could he please allow for this possibility on the placemats?
Please advise on decanting strategy for the 1890. I am tempted to decant at the venue in case it has a 15 minute drinking window.
Derek
"The first duty of Port is to be red" Ernest H. Cockburn
jdaw1 wrote:1. Please look at the placemats and tell me what to add and what to delete.
If more than 7 won't fit on one (non-duplex) placemat then please leave as is. I suspect more than one additional bottle will turn up so we will have to cope in an off-piste fashion.
jdaw1 wrote:2. 1890 should be a last-minute decant.
Agreed.
jdaw1 wrote:3. I was going to decant the 1936 at the last moment, and the Skeffington 1991 in the morning before leaving home. Unless anybody disagrees.
I agree with both intentions.
"The first duty of Port is to be red" Ernest H. Cockburn