ThePortForum.com

In a thread here we have proposed an offline to be held in London, possibly at Portal, on 20th November. Attending so far are:

BenRead
AHB
Christopher
DRT
JacobH

Proposed themes are:

• Bring something blind
  1994
  Vesuvio Night
  Over 30 years old
  Colheitas R Us
  Anyone for a '63?
  Bring your initial. I would bring any port starting with B or R and I think there are options for the 3 of us. A slight variation on blind.

Additional guests and suggestions welcome.

Although not able to join, I'm more than happy to make a suggestion for a theme. How about: "Independent Day". Bring a bottle from an independent producer.

RonnieRoots wrote:Although not able to join, I'm more than happy to make a suggestion for a theme. How about: "Independent Day". Bring a bottle from an independent producer.

Does anyone have an easy list of independant producers? This could make a good theme.

Any of which you’ve never heard.

A quick (and not complete) list:
- Quinta do Portal
- Quinta do Vale D. Maria
- Quinta do Vale Meao
- Quinta do Vallado
- Quinta do Passadouro
- Pintas (Wine & Soul)
- Quinta do Infantado
- Quinta do Tedo
- Quinta do Javali
- Quinta de la Rosa
- Quinta de Baldias
- Quinta da Peça
- Quinta da Casa Amarela
- Quinta do Crasto

And there are more of course...

jdaw1 wrote:Any of which you’ve never heard.

...and do not own!

Nice list of themes for consideration.

My preference, in order of preference is:
Bring something blind - always a fun theme and I have a few bottles chosen specially for this sort of theme
Over 30 years old - over half of my bottles for the blind tasting would fit with this category, maybe "blind and over 30"?
Bring your initial - nice idea; as a variation and with four participants we could have a theme of PORT with each person bringing a designated letter from the word.
Anyone for a '63 - but I'm drinking one at the moment. However, I'm always happy to drink '63s. How about "bring a port from a participant's birth year".
1994 - I love these ports. I think they are just fabulous and well worth drinking now.

To be avoided (in my opinion only):
Colheitas-R-us - purely a personal preference, but colheitas just don't do it for me in the same way as bottle aged ports
Vesuvio Night - I've just (last Thursday) taken part in a complete vertical of Vesuvio 1989-2007 and would rather not do that again.

Alex

AHB wrote:Vesuvio Night - I've just (last Thursday) taken part in a complete vertical of Vesuvio 1989-2007 and would rather not do that again.

We do try to avoid a life of hardship.

AHB wrote:Nice list of themes for consideration.

My preference, in order of preference is:
Bring something blind - always a fun theme and I have a few bottles chosen specially for this sort of theme
Over 30 years old - over half of my bottles for the blind tasting would fit with this category, maybe "blind and over 30"?
Bring your initial - nice idea; as a variation and with four participants we could have a theme of PORT with each person bringing a designated letter from the word.
Anyone for a '63 - but I'm drinking one at the moment. However, I'm always happy to drink '63s. How about "bring a port from a participant's birth year".
1994 - I love these ports. I think they are just fabulous and well worth drinking now.

To be avoided (in my opinion only):
Colheitas-R-us - purely a personal preference, but colheitas just don't do it for me in the same way as bottle aged ports
Vesuvio Night - I've just (last Thursday) taken part in a complete vertical of Vesuvio 1989-2007 and would rather not do that again.

Alex

I get a sense that we are moving towards a ‟blind, over 30, preferably being an initial from your name” theme...

JacobH wrote: I get a sense that we are moving towards a ‟blind, over 30, preferably being an initial from your name” theme...

That does me

Souns like we have reasonable consensus on the theme! Title changed accordingly. I shall of course now be taking advantage of my full set of initials - BMHR!

Christopher will also be joining us

DRT wrote:Christopher will also be joining us

Christopher now noted. We are 5!

Has anyone booked the venue?

AHB wrote:Has anyone booked the venue?

On my task list for today!

The table is booked for 7.30pm in my name. They have agreed £15 per bottle corkage and to reduce this against 1 or 2 bottles of wine from their wine list.

Please note that they will not accept us bringing any port on their own wine list. (Note the port is at the end of the list and I can only see a Cockburns 1967 and a Nacional 1963 that might fit our theme!)

See you all next week.

Although I'm free on the 20th, Portal's menu does not inspire me, so I shall leave you in peace on this occasion.

Tom

benread wrote: (Note the port is at the end of the list and I can only see a Cockburns 1967 and a Nacional 1963 that might fit our theme!)

Drat, will have to save the Nacional for another occasion!

So let me make sure I understand the theme. On Thursday, I have to bring a bottle of port that fits the following categories:
(a) it is blind - easy, I'll buy some kitchen foil
(b) is made from grapes harvested at least 30 years ago - therefore 1978 or earlier
(c) must be from a shipper whose name begins with one of my initials (AHB)

Out of all the bottles in my cellar, there is only one which fulfils all these criteria!

Alex

AHB wrote:Out of all the bottles in my cellar, there is only one which fulfils all these criteria!

And I gave it to you.

At least thirty Blind Initials.

Alex,

It sounds like you may be OK, but I think Jacob has alread decided he will need some discretion with part c of the criteria! I may also need this following a request from Axel for help with our 30th January tasting!

See you Thursday.

Ben

benread wrote:Alex,

It sounds like you may be OK, but I think Jacob has alread decided he will need some discretion with part c of the criteria! I may also need this following a request from Axel for help with our 30th January tasting!

See you Thursday.

Ben

That was before I pondered the acquisition route and, after a little searching, it turns out that a wine merchant in the City has something which fulfils all three! However, some flexibility seems in order, especially as some attendees have more conducive initials than others:

B⁷M⁷H¹R¹⁰ = 25
D⁵R¹⁰T² = 17
A³H¹B⁷ = 11
C⁷G⁴ = 11
J¹G⁴H¹ = 7

(Based on the TN index rather than the full shippers list, including names of Quintas).

Also, I think Alex has the hardest set; at least I have a couple of major shippers in the G. The As and Bs seem more obscure!

-Jacob

If people a are struggling to find a shipper with the same initial as their own can I suggest that "N"(acional) be declared an acceptable wildcard entry

I will be bringing the numbered team bottle covers so foil isn't a necessary requirement.
Derek

jdaw1 wrote:

AHB wrote:Out of all the bottles in my cellar, there is only one which fulfils all these criteria!

And I gave it to you.

Although true that you did give one such choice to me, these are not at home and so not a choice open to me for an offline at relatively short notice.

benread wrote:The table is booked for 7.30pm in my name.

I shall probably be finished with meetings by about 5:30pm and so plan to be in the pub just up the road from Portal (the White Bear) with the pretty barmaid and the free wireless service, from about 6:00pm - possibly earlier if meetings finish early.

Alex