London, Friday 11 July 2008, Odd+Great (Partially Sighted)

[uncle tom]

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

[jdaw1]

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.

[DRT]

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)?

[Alex Bridgeman]

Christopher G has just confirmed to me that he will attend.

TCP's Boardroom has been booked at a corkage fee of £10 per bottle agreed.

Don't forget that on a Friday night, TCP run their full price menu and not the heavily discounted Theatre Dinner menu.

Can someone update the attendee and / or port list please. (Christopher is not yet sure what he will bring.)

[DRT]

How many bottles are we aiming at for this one?

I would suggest that no more than two each would be sufficient.

Derek

[Alex Bridgeman]

Two each! I had enough difficulty sorting out one bottle to bring!

Does this mean that I need to search out another partially sighted unknown?

[DRT]

Two each! I had enough difficulty sorting out one bottle to bring!

Does this mean that I need to search out another partially sighted unknown?

The scope of the off-line permits one to be a Known Great

[Alex Bridgeman]

Is there something you have in mind?

[DRT]

Is there something you have in mind?

Hmmm? Who mentioned Fonseca 1966?

[DRT]

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

[jdaw1]

OK with me.

Links: Portal Restaurant, 88 St John Street, EC1M 4EH (between Barbican and Farringdon tube stations). The wine list is too posh to mention prices.

Placemats updated, though still awaiting revelations from AHB ARK DRT.

[Alex Bridgeman]

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...

[jdaw1]

One bottle each, except me, because one of mine isn’t real port.

[JacobH]

Seeing as it carries pretty much the entire Quinta do Portal, is there any connection between the restaurant and Quinta beyond its name?

[edit to remove an offending apostrophe…]

[jdaw1]

A splendid theme. I shall reveal, but much nearer the time.

I leave for the UK in two days. My mother has no internet at all. Please reveal soon. As in, very soon.

Alex K. + Derek T.: you two too to reveal.

[DRT]

A splendid theme. I shall reveal, but much nearer the time.

I leave for the UK in two days. My mother has no internet at all. Please reveal soon. As in, very soon.

Alex K. + Derek T.: you two too to reveal.

can someone please confirm the current known line-up to inform my decision of what to bring.

I think Al-K may not be coming due to other things and that Christopher is coming but has not decided what to bring.

Derek

[jdaw1]

JDAW: 1991 Paxton & Whitfield BOB = Skeffington
JDAW: 1936 Massandra from Livadia, Ukraine
THRA: 1955? Taylor?
THRA: 1945 Ferreira
DRT: ?
AHB: ?
ARK: ?, if at all.

My list of people also includes a possible hello from JDAW’s chum MRZ. And BenRead.

[DRT]

Christopher G has just confirmed to me that he will attend.

[DRT]

JDAW: 1991 Paxton & Whitfield BOB = Skeffington
JDAW: 1936 Massandra from Livadia, Ukraine
THRA: 1955? Taylor?
THRA: 1945 Ferreira
DRT: ?
AHB: ?
ARK: ?, if at all.

I can't make my mind up. Current ideas are:

• 1965 Krohn Colheita
• 1964 Krohn White Colheita
• 1890 Unknown Shipper (my only US and tagged for the Xmas Bash)
• various VPs

Any preferences?

[jdaw1]

1890 Unknown Shipper

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.

[Alex Bridgeman]

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.

[DRT]

1890 Unknown Shipper

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

[jdaw1]

1. Please look at the placemats and tell me what to add and what to delete.

2. 1890 should be a last-minute decant.

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.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I would decant at the venue, and keep the bottle at cellar temperature when carrying it to the venue - if at all possible.

If an unknown 1890 is being brought, then I may change my bottle...but then again I may not.

[DRT]

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.

2. 1890 should be a last-minute decant.

Agreed.

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.