Sunday 3rd April, 2011 - Crusting Pipe

Post by **DRT** » 23:09 Mon 21 Mar 2011

Andy Velebil, jdaw1 and me will be at the Crusting Pipe on the evening of Sunday 3rd April for some pre-FG training.

If you would like to join us for an informal evening of port and dinner please post here.

The theme is "Bring a bottle of Vintage Port wrapped in foil".

Derek

JacobH · Post by **JacobH** » 12:37 Tue 22 Mar 2011

I will try to be there!

Jacob

RAYC · Post by **RAYC** » 17:08 Tue 22 Mar 2011

If you are planning evening (rather than late afternoon), I will be there.

I leave London early saturday morning (6.00-7.00a.m.) and arrive back at 5.00p.m(ish) on Sunday - I can be there by 6.00-6.30 but don't know if you had something earlier planned.

Of course, this throws up a decanting problem - has anyone tried leaving port ahead of time with the Crusted Pipe for them to decant on the day?

Other options:

- are any of the definite attendees able to accept my bottle on Friday? (eg: place of work/hotel)

- is anyone visitng BBR over the weekend (i can arrange for a nice bottle to be picked up...)?

- i can depart from theme and provide something interesting on the colheita/tawny side

- i can pop and pour

Post by **DRT** » 19:52 Tue 22 Mar 2011

JacobH wrote:I will try to be there!

Jacob

Splendid.

RAYC wrote:If you are planning evening (rather than late afternoon), I will be there.

I leave London early saturday morning (6.00-7.00a.m.) and arrive back at 5.00p.m(ish) on Sunday - I can be there by 6.00-6.30 but don't know if you had something earlier planned.

Of course, this throws up a decanting problem - has anyone tried leaving port ahead of time with the Crusted Pipe for them to decant on the day?

Other options:

- are any of the definite attendees able to accept my bottle on Friday? (eg: place of work/hotel)

- is anyone visitng BBR over the weekend (i can arrange for a nice bottle to be picked up...)?

- i can depart from theme and provide something interesting on the colheita/tawny side

- i can pop and pour

Lots of questions from RAYC!

This is an evening event so a 6:30 arrival is ideal.

I haven't tried leaving a bottle for TCP to decant but I know that Davy's Cellar would be happy for you to call ahead and buy one from them (at retail price) and have it delivered to TCP ready to be decanted. Andy, Julian and I are staying very close to the hotel so can cope with the decanting if TCP aren't prepared to do that for you.

Colheita/Tawny? NO!!!!

See you there.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 22:59 Tue 22 Mar 2011

Or I can collect a bottle from your office on Tuesday 29th March and hand it over to Derek along with other bottles for the main event.

Andy Velebil · Post by **Andy Velebil** » 23:33 Tue 22 Mar 2011

DRT wrote:
Colheita/Tawny? NO!!!!

You may never know for sure until the bag is removed

Post by **DRT** » 07:54 Wed 23 Mar 2011

DRT wrote:The theme is "Bring a bottle of Vintage Port wrapped in foil".

JacobH · Post by **JacobH** » 09:47 Wed 23 Mar 2011

DRT wrote:
DRT wrote:The theme is "Bring a bottle of Vintage Port wrapped in foil".

I guess I better put the Scion back in the cellar then

Andy Velebil · Post by **Andy Velebil** » 14:40 Wed 23 Mar 2011

JacobH wrote:
DRT wrote:
DRT wrote:The theme is "Bring a bottle of Vintage Port wrapped in foil".
I guess I better put the Scion back in the cellar then

A big negative on that, disregard those earlier instructions

RAYC · Post by **RAYC** » 12:14 Thu 24 Mar 2011

AHB wrote:Or I can collect a bottle from your office on Tuesday 29th March and hand it over to Derek along with other bottles for the main event.

If this works for Derek as well, that sounds like a great solution. I am not busy at work at the moment so can get out during the day to meet up anywhere in/around city - no need to trail over to my office.

Though Davy's do look like they have a nice price on RO '82 at the moment...perfectly stored since being shipped...will leave it to Derek to decide.

Post by **DRT** » 15:04 Thu 24 Mar 2011

RAYC wrote:Though Davy's do look like they have a nice price on RO '82 at the moment...perfectly stored since being shipped...will leave it to Derek to decide.

After carefully considering all of the options for about 15 seconds I think the best solution is for you to take a nice bottle of VP that is not RO82 over to AHB on Friday and I will collect it from him on Saturday

Derek

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 15:23 Thu 24 Mar 2011

DRT wrote:
RAYC wrote:Though Davy's do look like they have a nice price on RO '82 at the moment...perfectly stored since being shipped...will leave it to Derek to decide.
After carefully considering all of the options for about 15 seconds I think the best solution is for you to take a nice bottle of VP that is not RO82 over to AHB on Friday and I will collect it from him on Saturday

Derek

Please, Tuesday 29th and not Friday. Rob - I'll drop you an email with some thoughts of where and when.

RAYC · Post by **RAYC** » 16:26 Thu 24 Mar 2011

Alex - thanks

Derek - has the room/tunnel been booked? Would be happy to do so if not. Can I also highlight the following:

AHB wrote:I was reminded that if we want rib-eye on the bone we can order them in advance when we book the room!

Post by **DRT** » 16:53 Thu 24 Mar 2011

RAYC wrote:Alex - thanks

Derek - has the room/tunnel been booked? Would be happy to do so if not. Can I also highlight the following:

AHB wrote:I was reminded that if we want rib-eye on the bone we can order them in advance when we book the room!

Yes please and yes please!

I am quite confident that Julian will cope with an on-the-bone rib-eye as calmly and efficiently as I will.

I am equally confident that Jacob will not.

I am unsure whether or not health-conscious Californians are capable of eating enormous lumps of cow that are still attached to the skeletal remains so Andy will have to speak up for himself.

As there are only five of us I would suggest the Boardroom rather than a tunnel.

Andy Velebil · Post by **Andy Velebil** » 23:40 Thu 24 Mar 2011

Did I hear someone say Rib-Eye?? Sign me up

RAYC · Post by **RAYC** » 11:15 Fri 25 Mar 2011

Boardroom and rib-eye steaks booked. Tunnels currently available if more decide to join.

Post by **jdaw1** » 15:48 Sun 27 Mar 2011

DRT wrote:I am quite confident that Julian will cope with an on-the-bone rib-eye as calmly and efficiently as I will.

You set a high standard, but I will not fall short.

Placemats? Have people published what they are bringing? And will we be able to have a G70 versus G80 comparison?

RAYC · Post by **RAYC** » 17:16 Sun 27 Mar 2011

DRT wrote:The theme is "Bring a bottle of Vintage Port wrapped in foil".

jdaw1 wrote:Have people published what they are bringing? And will we be able to have a G70 versus G80 comparison?

Would make the silver foil redundant, but personally I am easy whether this is a "guess the bottle" tasting or something more co-ordinated. I would certainly never turn my nose up at either a G80 or a G70!

Since you and Andy are the ones travelling from overseas, would leave it to your collective call.

Post by **DRT** » 19:55 Sun 27 Mar 2011

If a G theme is preferred I can add a 77.

Post by **jdaw1** » 20:23 Sun 27 Mar 2011

I have G80, but not ’70. Indeed I’d be happy to have the G80 and G70 from multiple different sources. A micro-vertical, as it were.

Why Graham 1980 and 1970?

In a [url=http://malvedos.wordpress.com/2011/02/28/this-time-it-wasnt-about-the-port/#comments]comment on the Malvedos blog[/url] jdaw1 wrote:with one mature port from a light-ish vintage (G80)

In reply to which a the moderator (Cynthia, probably) wrote:Spoke with Charles and showed him this comment. He disagrees with your assessment of the 1980 ”“ he feels it is certainly NOT a lightweight, but actually a fantastic wine, better than the 77 and every bit as good as the 1970; a different profile, but similar weight.

Let’s test.

RAYC · Post by **RAYC** » 20:32 Sun 27 Mar 2011

I can certainly source a G'70 as had been looking to acquire one to hold in my cellar anyway.

Would we want a mini G'70 - G'85 line-up if we were going down this route? Davy's have the '83, and i seem to remember Jacob acquiring a G'75 as well, though that might have been polished off by now...!

I'm still open to the tin foil bring a bottle theme if a G vertical is a bit mainstream for anyone and/or we wanted a bit of variety before the monster vertical the next night.

EDIT: Graham and Gould Campbell double vertical might also be quite nice - 70, 77, 80 (g-man's recent review of the 1980 GC had me intrigued, the '70 and '77 GCs get good press and are wines i have never tried but that i do hold)

Post by **DRT** » 20:52 Sun 27 Mar 2011

My strong preference is complete informality on 3rd April.

Post by **jdaw1** » 21:01 Sun 27 Mar 2011

First draft of the placemats.

Title = Graham and Friends.
People:
- JDAW revealing G80;
- DRT;
- ADV;
- JGH;
- RAYC.

Andy Velebil · Post by **Andy Velebil** » 21:24 Sun 27 Mar 2011

DRT wrote:My strong preference is complete informality on 3rd April.

I second that.

JacobH · Post by **JacobH** » 09:59 Mon 28 Mar 2011

RAYC wrote:Davy's have the '83, and i seem to remember Jacob acquiring a G'75 as well, though that might have been polished off by now...!

A single bottle which was given as a Christmas present, I’m afraid, and now demised.

Post by **jdaw1** » 10:09 Mon 28 Mar 2011

My strong preference is very informal, with a G70 to compare to the G80.

Chris Doty · Post by **Chris Doty** » 13:03 Mon 28 Mar 2011

Yes, yes -- my strong preference is very informal, with a G70 to compare to the G80....plus CSD to bring a G? wrapped in foil...

Post by **DRT** » 16:07 Mon 28 Mar 2011

OK - here is a suggestion: bring a Graham's VP and DRT will bring the team bottle bags so that we taste them all blind?

Chris Doty · Post by **Chris Doty** » 17:09 Mon 28 Mar 2011

done & done

Post by **jdaw1** » 19:35 Mon 28 Mar 2011

Let’s be more informal. Bring a vintage port, Graham or something else. Bring it blind, or bring it sighted. But definitely bring a vintage port.

Updated draft of the placemats.

+CSD;
+CSD’s ‟G???”.

Any other revelations, whether whole or partial?

Post by **DRT** » 19:41 Mon 28 Mar 2011

jdaw1 wrote:Let’s be more informal. Bring a vintage port, Graham or something else.

Please clarify "a"? Is that singular or plural?

Post by **jdaw1** » 19:48 Mon 28 Mar 2011

DRT wrote:Please clarify "a"? Is that singular or plural?

It is singular, as in:

a bottle;
a double magnum;
a set of bottles;
a dozen bottles;
a pipe;
a quinta’s production over the last two centuries.

Is there anything wrong with that singular?

Post by **DRT** » 19:50 Mon 28 Mar 2011

jdaw1 wrote:Is there anything wrong with that singular?

That is a perfect clarification. Thank you.

RAYC · Post by **RAYC** » 17:12 Tue 29 Mar 2011

Chris - as mentioned somewhere up-thread, let me know if you would like to put a pre-order in for the rib-eye on the bone. Deadline for confirmation with TCP is tomorrow morning.

All - assuming we stay at 6, I think that means we can squeeze into the board room.

Post by **jdaw1** » 21:17 Tue 29 Mar 2011

Updated draft of the placemats.

No G70.
Restyled.

Last page to be printed on to labels.

Who is to print?

RAYC · Post by **RAYC** » 21:54 Tue 29 Mar 2011

jdaw1 wrote:Who is to print?

Can do, but internet cache problems mean i require .pdf version by email.

Post by **DRT** » 22:08 Tue 29 Mar 2011

RAYC wrote:
jdaw1 wrote:Who is to print?
Can do, but internet cache problems mean i require .pdf version by email.

Consider it done. When do you need the email by?

Post by **jdaw1** » 22:09 Tue 29 Mar 2011

RAYC wrote:Can do, but internet cache problems mean i require .pdf version by email.

It might be that items in your corporate cache expire after a day. So if the file has not been updated that recently before printing, you might be OK. Might.

RAYC · Post by **RAYC** » 10:45 Wed 30 Mar 2011

DRT wrote:Consider it done. When do you need the email by?

I think it would be tempting fate to print before Sunday afternoon! Therefore, any time before 4.30/5.00 p.m. on Sunday (both for this tasting and the FG/F tasting).

RAYC · Post by **RAYC** » 15:43 Thu 31 Mar 2011

+THRA
+RLC

Booking moved to tunnel.

Post by **jdaw1** » 17:32 Thu 31 Mar 2011

Updated draft of the placemats.

+THRA;
+RLC.

Last page to be printed on to labels.

JacobH · Post by **JacobH** » 17:47 Thu 31 Mar 2011

I note that the Crusting Pipe closes at 10pm on a Sunday. This may be a Good Thing, considering what we have planed for Monday, but it might be worth bearing in mind.

Post by **DRT** » 17:50 Thu 31 Mar 2011

JacobH wrote:I note that the Crusting Pipe closes at 10pm on a Sunday. This may be a Good Thing, considering what we have planed for Monday, but it might be worth bearing in mind.

But there are other places open late on a Sunday.

JacobH · Post by **JacobH** » 17:55 Thu 31 Mar 2011

DRT wrote:
JacobH wrote:I note that the Crusting Pipe closes at 10pm on a Sunday. This may be a Good Thing, considering what we have planed for Monday, but it might be worth bearing in mind.
But there are other places open late on a Sunday.

Hmm...I think you mean the other one... His fondness for Vintage Port is, as yet, undetermined...

Andy Velebil · Post by **Andy Velebil** » 01:02 Fri 01 Apr 2011

Additional troops noted, as such I will try and add a second bottle of Claret in my luggage for us to enjoy with our charred flesh.

Chris Doty · Post by **Chris Doty** » 16:14 Sun 03 Apr 2011

Did we set a kickoff time for tonight?

6? 6:30? 7?

RAYC · Post by **RAYC** » 16:17 Sun 03 Apr 2011

I aim to arrive between 6.00 and 6.30

Chris Doty · Post by **Chris Doty** » 11:45 Tue 05 Apr 2011

Oy -- what the deuce did we drink on Sunday?

Answers on a postcard

ta

RAYC · Post by **RAYC** » 12:09 Tue 05 Apr 2011

review thread here

Links in due course

RAYC · Post by **RAYC** » 12:54 Tue 05 Apr 2011

Links:

Review of the evening as a whole

2009 cask sample [RLC to confirm naming permitted]
1995 Vesuvio
1991 Quinta de la Rosa
1988 Dow Quinta do Bomfim
1985 Martinez
1985 Taylor
1978 Taylor Vargellas
1970 Ramos Pinto
1970 Royal Oporto quinta [Das Carvalhas] - t.b.c.
1963 Graham

2006 Niepoort Charme
2004 Crasto Vinha da Ponte

NV Tactical Nuclear Penguin

Planning and arrangements
Paperwork (tasting mats, note sheets and bottle labels)