Re: London Offline on Feb 22 and/or March 10?

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 09:21 Mon 14 Feb 2011

I'm feeling deprived of port and of the company of like-minded fellows with whom to share some port. I was also alarmed to see that the next offline date in my diary is not until April 4.

Is anyone interested in an offline (or two) in what remains of February and / or the first half of March?

Would 22 February work for people?

I also have to be in London on Thursday 10th March. Would that date also work?

There have been a number of themes suggested recently. At the end of the LBV Offline (Part 2) it was suggested that the next theme be "Bring a bottle of vintage port that you'd like to share with a fellow port lover" (this would include Single Quinta vintage ports and second label vintage ports). The "Daily Drinker" theme is still open and might be a nice theme for March so that it could contrast with the Fonseca Guimaraens offline in early April. There has also been the suggested themes of "Which is the best Single Quinta then?" and Derek's Intersection theme - but perhaps these are better left until a major tasting event.

So, to get the organisation rolling and to offer some hope to me for some port and company, how about:
1) Tuesday Feb 22 - "Bring a bottle of vintage port wrapped in foil, to share with a fellow port lover" at TCP
2) Thursday Mar 10 - "Daily Drinker" at TCP (and depending on the number of people who attend, we might just throw in some ringers to compare the daily drinkers against).

Alex

JacobH · Post by **JacobH** » 09:49 Mon 14 Feb 2011

I'm afraid I can't make the 22nd but am keen for a "daily drinker" on the 10th!

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 10:42 Mon 14 Feb 2011

JacobH wrote:I'm afraid I can't make the 22nd but am keen for a "daily drinker" on the 10th!

Derek has requested a change to the March date to the 9th. Title and first post changed to reflect this. Would the 9th still work for you?

JacobH · Post by **JacobH** » 10:53 Mon 14 Feb 2011

AHB wrote:
JacobH wrote:I'm afraid I can't make the 22nd but am keen for a "daily drinker" on the 10th!
Derek has requested a change to the March date to the 9th. Title and first post changed to reflect this. Would the 9th still work for you?

Sorry, I'm afraid I have an orchestral rehearsal on the 9th. Do go ahead without me, though.

Post by **DRT** » 18:44 Mon 14 Feb 2011

My presence in London on 9th March is by no means certain so please switch back to the 10th.

Derek

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 22:28 Mon 14 Feb 2011

DRT wrote:My presence in London on 9th March is by no means certain so please switch back to the 10th.

Derek

OK, back to the 10th we are.

RAYC · Post by **RAYC** » 13:07 Tue 15 Feb 2011

Count me in for next Tuesday. Are we bringing in tin foil?

I must admit i would be more excited by the prospect of a VP tasting (even if it were a "value VP" tasting) than the "daily drinker" on the 10th, but if I am free i will be there either way.

JacobH · Post by **JacobH** » 14:58 Tue 15 Feb 2011

Caroline says she can make the 10th, too. Happy to bring some VP as well, if that's the consensus!

Post by **DRT** » 19:33 Tue 15 Feb 2011

For some unknown reason my meeting in London on 21st Feb has had to be inexplicably moved to the following day

I'm in.

Post by **jdaw1** » 10:26 Wed 16 Feb 2011

Praise be to DRT’s secretary!

(Yes, I know.)

And I’ll oblige with placemats after instructions are posted in this thread.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 22:08 Wed 16 Feb 2011

Summarising arrangements so far:

22nd Feb - DRT, RAYC and AHB attending; Crusting Pipe (will be) booked for 7pm; theme = bring a bottle of vintage port wrapped in kitchen foil (TCP will provide kitchen foil if asked very nicely or there is a Tesco Metro on the corner of King Street and Garrick Street). The alternative theme with only three of us attending is to bring two half bottles (or two full size bottles) of vintage port wrapped in foil.

10th Mar - AHB, JGH, CHR; RAYC and WS1 may attend; Crusting Pipe (will be) booked for 7pm; theme = bring a bottle of daily drinker (which might be vintage port) wrapped in kitchen foil.

Post by **jdaw1** » 22:38 Wed 16 Feb 2011

First draft of the placemats for Tuesday 22nd February 2011.

Are sticky labels (8 per A4) needed?
As ever, please check.

[I edited as DRT posted below.]

Post by **DRT** » 22:44 Wed 16 Feb 2011

jdaw1 wrote:First draft of the placemats for Tuesday 22nd February 2011. As ever, please check.

I like the two half bottles idea

benread · Post by **benread** » 18:17 Thu 17 Feb 2011

DRT wrote:For some unknown reason my meeting in London on 21st Feb has had to be inexplicably moved to the following day

I'm in.

You must have sent lots of positigve vibes. Strangely, and without any influence from me, a meeting booked for Thursday next week is now scheduled for 3pm on Tuesday in central London.

What should I do afterwards?

Would 1/2 bottles work with 4 of us?

Post by **jdaw1** » 21:30 Thu 17 Feb 2011

Updated draft of the placemats for Tuesday 22nd February 2011.

+BMHR; +‟?”.
Are sticky labels (8 per A4) needed?
As ever, please check.

Post by **DRT** » 22:34 Thu 17 Feb 2011

benread wrote:Would 1/2 bottles work with 4 of us?

1/2 bottles should work fine with up to 6 people. I'm bringing two halves.

Alex, the Boardroom would be ideal for this.

Derek

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 08:15 Fri 18 Feb 2011

I'll call TCP today and see if we can get the Boardroom.

Tasting mats look good - thank you Julian - and have been printed but more attendees are welcome, should an opportunity present itself.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 08:19 Fri 18 Feb 2011

Question:

Does the half bottle have to be an original half bottle (as in, a half bottle filled by the shipper or original bottler) or can it be a half bottle filled from a full bottle at home?

Post by **jdaw1** » 08:30 Fri 18 Feb 2011

AHB wrote:and have been printed

That was early. Did you manage to print the sticky bottle labels?

AHB wrote:Does the half bottle have to be an original half bottle (as in, a half bottle filled by the shipper or original bottler) or can it be a half bottle filled from a full bottle at home?

It may be a 750ml half bottle.

Post by **DRT** » 09:48 Fri 18 Feb 2011

AHB wrote:Question:

Does the half bottle have to be an original half bottle (as in, a half bottle filled by the shipper or original bottler) or can it be a half bottle filled from a full bottle at home?

I will be opening two 750ml bottles and bringing half of each to TCP.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 11:41 Fri 18 Feb 2011

jdaw1 wrote:
AHB wrote:and have been printed
That was early. Did you manage to print the sticky bottle labels?

It was early, but needs must.

I did print the labels - on both sides of the label sheet to make sure that they would be useable.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 11:42 Fri 18 Feb 2011

DRT wrote:
AHB wrote:Question:

Does the half bottle have to be an original half bottle (as in, a half bottle filled by the shipper or original bottler) or can it be a half bottle filled from a full bottle at home?
I will be opening two 750ml bottles and bringing half of each to TCP.

Noted. I shall probably bring two original half bottles, but that will be as much for convenience as for any other reason.

JacobH · Post by **JacobH** » 12:22 Fri 18 Feb 2011

AHB wrote:Does the half bottle have to be an original half bottle (as in, a half bottle filled by the shipper or original bottler) or can it be a half bottle filled from a full bottle at home?

If you are to do the later, then I hope at least one person will bring a third half-bottle, being a mixture of the other two

Post by **DRT** » 17:41 Mon 21 Feb 2011

I had a text from Cookie today to say he will be joining us tomorrow evening

Post by **jdaw1** » 18:01 Mon 21 Feb 2011

AHB has printed. If somebody will re-print, I will re-make.

Post by **jdaw1** » 22:34 Mon 21 Feb 2011

Updated draft of the placemats for Tuesday 22nd February 2011.

+RLC.

Please let me know which version was used (this latest, or that printed by AHB a few days ago), so that the ‘correct’ placemats can remain on my website after the tasting.

RAYC · Post by **RAYC** » 01:43 Tue 22 Feb 2011

Many thanks for updating - I can print this version, and will aim to arrive at 7ish.

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 11:46 Tue 22 Feb 2011

Enjoy tonight - count me in for March 10th..

Tom

Deleted_User_1 · Post by **Deleted_User_1** » 12:51 Tue 22 Feb 2011

Just decanted my contribution for tonight and I get a distinct smell of violets

...apologies if this changes to petrol before we drink it

Post by **DRT** » 21:44 Wed 23 Feb 2011

Review of the evening of 22nd February
Placemats

The Ports:

JacobH · Post by **JacobH** » 23:37 Wed 02 Mar 2011

What’s the theme for the 10th?

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 10:16 Thu 03 Mar 2011

JacobH wrote:What’s the theme for the 10th?

I suggest that we make it "Daily Drinkers, Which Could Include Vintage Port". If everyone brings 2 half bottles, as seemed to work very successfully last week, we could get a decent spread of styles and ports.

Post by **jdaw1** » 10:25 Thu 03 Mar 2011

Why not ‟More Half Bottles”?

Post by **jdaw1** » 10:37 Thu 03 Mar 2011

First draft of the placemats for Thursday 10th March 2011.

Header = ‟More Half Bottles”.
Are sticky labels (8 per A4) needed?
As ever, please check carefully.

RAYC · Post by **RAYC** » 13:47 Thu 03 Mar 2011

I hope to make this though will not be able to confirm until tuesday/wednesday next week unfortunately.

As with previous tasting, I will need to seek dispensation from the theme and bring regular bottles as I do not own halves.

Cheers

Rob

WS1 · Post by **WS1** » 16:12 Fri 04 Mar 2011

Hi Rob,

do you want to adopt some port halves from me? I have at the moment 7 different ones on offer

regards

WS1

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 08:24 Mon 07 Mar 2011

jdaw1 wrote:Why not ‟More Half Bottles”?

That's fine, but I want to emphasise that it is not Vintage Port in half bottles as it was on Feb 22. March 10th is much more open, with daily drinkers a real option.

I shall bring one current (if a little obscure) ruby and one vintage port.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 08:28 Mon 07 Mar 2011

New thread started specifically for the arrangements for March 10.

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