The Great International Ruby Reserve Taste-off

[DRT]

Please see this thread on

A discussion about the respective merits of Graham's Six Grapes v Noval Black led to Roy and I discussing the possibility of a cross-pond taste-off of various reserve rubies.

If I organise an event in London is anyone interested in joining me?

If we have enough people we could perhaps have two flights - one flight of reserve rubies to be "tasted" and a flight of proper Port to wash down our steaks?

g-man/Sushi - would you be willing to drum-up interest in doing something similar in NYC?

[g-man]

Sure

but I dont think glenn would be too happy if we tasted a bunch of ruby's during his trip out to NY

[Glenn E.]

Yeah I don't think it would be worth flying to NYC for a Ruby taste-off!

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

[RAYC]

I'm trying to ration my port drinking - lower volume, better quality.

So my enthusiasm for this idea depends greatly on the balance that is struck between the two halves of your proposed tasting!

[Alex Bridgeman]

We have done something similar in the past, but I'm happy to be altruistic and do this again for the benefit of others. There are some very fine ruby reserves around these days - some of which are near to Crusted in quality and cellar worthy for 2-5 years making them ideal cellar defenders.

[RAYC]

We have done something similar in the past, but I'm happy to be altruistic and do this again for the benefit of others.

Ditto re: a Fonseca vertical or 70 horizontal...

[jdaw1]

thread entitled The Reserve Ruby Taste Off.

I’m on for this. The remnants of the CkSR were very satisfactory.

[g-man]

acutally

shall we think about doing a ruby taste off virtually?

alot of these rubies are easily affordable and would really be no pain to me if i had to pick up the same rubies you guys had

set a limit 15$ a bottle and we can do a tasting of 6? bottles

that'd be a very fair 90$ virtual tasting.

[DRT]

I've just ordered a half case of Six Grapes - one bottle is for this.

[jdaw1]

we can do a tasting of 6? bottles

Do we each have the same six bottles? Or should we have sixes with some overlap and some differences?

[DRT]

According to Wine Searcher, the other ruby reserves available here in the UK are!

Churchill Reserve
Cockburn Special Reserve
Croft Distinction
Croft Triple Crown
Delaforce Paramount
Dow Midnight
Dow Trademark
Fonseca Bin 27
Fonseca Terra Prima
Graham Six Grapes
Noval Black
de la Rosa Finest Reserve
Ramos Pinto Collector
Sandeman Founders Reserve
Taylor First Estate
Warre Warrior

The ports I would like to include are highlighted in red, but I'm not particularly wedded to any of them.

Could the guys in NYC, WA and CA (and anyone else thinking of doing this) please do a similar list so that we can match them up and come up with a list that we can all obtain?

we can do a tasting of 6? bottles

Do we each have the same six bottles? Or should we have sixes with some overlap and some differences?

The idea is that we have events in various locations where the same 6 (ish) wines are tasted by everyone. The tastings will probably not be held simultaneously, but will be spread over the course of a few days so that the synchronisation nightmare doesn't prevent it from happening.

[RAYC]

If you are including CkSR "the new improved version", it would be a pity not also to include CkSR "the old improved version" out of academic interest.

In terms of de la Rosa, Sandeman and Ramos, i guess the question is whether you want ones that are widely available in supermarkets or not.

The other question is whether you want to tie-in with the FTLOP selection (in which case you would need to check availability in US and present on the FTLOP thread)

In any event, I'd suggest The Port Society Reserve blended by Oscar's sister should probably have a seat at the table. And some VP....(I have another bottle of this, mistaken at a previous tasting for a ruby reserve, which might make an interesting outlier if we are tasting blind.)

[benread]

Derek,

To add to your list, Virgin wines have been regularly selling Odddisseia Ruby Special Reserve, a wine I have never otherwise heard of, but on last opening a week or two ago (and after not tasting for almost a year) it surprised me how much it had improved. A lot of sediment had accumulated over the last year too.

Ben

(PS - when I first saw this heading today, I thought it said Great International Rugby Reserve Tasting in deference to the 6 Nations starting today!

[jdaw1]

Let us not waste a tasting on this. Let us re-label it ‟homework”. There could even be ‘at home’ placemats (about which I have tried to be open-minded).

[DRT]

Let us not waste a tasting on this. Let us re-label it ‟homework”. There could even be ‘at home’ placemats.

Do you really think people here will want to spend circa £70-80 and open 6 bottles of ruby reserve on their own?

This could easily be done as Flight 1 at The Birthday Boys Tasting, followed by 14 Vintage Ports for the main course? That would mean a cost per person to participate in the Ruby Reserve review of <£5.

[RAYC]

Julian - if this is to be a standalone tasting, I would be happy to observe proceedings alongside you, perhaps with some Warre 70.

If Julian's proposal were adopted, we would not all need to buy - it would be easy to bring the bottles to a proper tasting and parcel out sample bottles to each attendee.

[jdaw1]

Both DRT’s and RAYC’s suggestions are excellent.

[DRT]

If Julian's proposal were adopted, we would not all need to buy - it would be easy to bring the bottles to a proper tasting and parcel out sample bottles to each attendee.

Both DRT’s and RAYC’s suggestions are excellent.

There is a fundamental flaw in RAYC's suggestion. Think of this scenario:

1. JDAW, DRT, RAYC + three or four others meet at The Bunghole at 18:30.
2. By 19:00 the Ruby Reserves have been poured into sample bottles and distributed.
3. At 19:01 we start drinking the VP we brought along to be tasted that evening
{do you see where this is going?}
4. At around 20:30 all VPs have been tasted and the food arrives.
5. It's 21:00, some of the VP decanters are empty and there are some worried looks around the table
{surely you've got the idea by now?}
6. At 21:30 two or three leave for a train.
7. At 21:45 thirst begins to become a problem.
8. At 22:00 all of the Ruby Reserves are in glasses being incompetently tasted.

It won't work.

[jdaw1]

Six ruby reserves, and say three of us remaining. Surely we could get by with tasting half of each bottle that evening perhaps not so competently and the other half, split three ways so still 125ml each, on a subsequent evening.

And even if wrong, under DRT’s scenario we would have had great value from the rubies.

[DRT]

Six ruby reserves, and say three of us remaining. Surely we could get by with tasting half of each bottle that evening perhaps not so competently and the other half, split three ways so still 125ml each, on a subsequent evening.

And even if wrong, under DRT’s scenario we would have had great value from the rubies.

I would rather tackle them competently, especially as people in at least three other cities plan to participate in the same virtual event.

Would anyone object if we went for the idea of having these as an amuse-bouche prior to the main event at the Birthday Boys Tasting?

[DRT]

The new plan (discussed here) is to not attempt to reach world-wide consensus on the six wines that will be tasted. The only two wines that are mandatory are Graham's Six Grapes and Noval Black, being those that sparked the idea.

I propose that our London line-up be:

Churchill Reserve - City Wine & Cigar Shop, 3 Fleet Street
Fonseca Terra Prima - The Whisky Exchange, Vinopolis (and other places)
Graham Six Grapes - DRT has purchased.
Noval Black - Check Wine Searcher
de la Rosa Finest Reserve - Berry Brothers
Ramos Pinto Collector - Penistone Wine Cellars, Sheffield

Please disagree and propose alternatives, or indicate agreement.

[jdaw1]

A possible apostrophe crime has been mentioned.

This could easily be done as Flight 1 at The Birthday Boys Tasting

Both DRT’s and RAYC’s suggestions are excellent.

Please disagree and propose alternatives, or indicate agreement.

Agreement re-indicated.

[DRT]

A possible apostrophe crime has been mentioned.

You missed a more obvious one from me (which is in your quote above).

[Alex Bridgeman]

I really don't mind which 6 ruby reserves we try. I have on this year's drinking list anyway - none of which are mentioned in the proposal above. I also like the idea of tasting these as an amuse bouche at the Birthday Boys' Tasting when we will be able to put some perspective on them by comparing them to the other ports.

[jdaw1]

A possible apostrophe crime has been mentioned.

You missed a more obvious one from me (which is in your quote above).

Ooops all round, though ‟The Birthday Boys Tasting” could have been a hyphenation crime.

[DRT]

This could easily be done as Flight 1 at The Birthday Boys Tasting

Both DRT’s and RAYC’s suggestions are excellent.

Please disagree and propose alternatives, or indicate agreement.

Agreement re-indicated.

I also like the idea of tasting these as an amuse bouche at the Birthday Boys' Tasting when we will be able to put some perspective on them by comparing them to the other ports.

Suggestion posted in the appropriate thread.

[g-man]

The new plan (discussed here) is to not attempt to reach world-wide consensus on the six wines that will be tasted. The only two wines that are mandatory are Graham's Six Grapes and Noval Black, being those that sparked the idea.

I propose that our London line-up be:

Churchill Reserve - City Wine & Cigar Shop, 3 Fleet Street
Fonseca Terra Prima - The Whisky Exchange, Vinopolis (and other places)
Graham Six Grapes - DRT has purchased.
Noval Black - Check Wine Searcher
de la Rosa Finest Reserve - Berry Brothers
Ramos Pinto Collector - Penistone Wine Cellars, Sheffield

Please disagree and propose alternatives, or indicate agreement.

I shall look for what ever may be availalbe

can the first post be updated to reflect recap of plan + wine?

[RAYC]

The new plan (discussed here) is to not attempt to reach world-wide consensus on the six wines that will be tasted. The only two wines that are mandatory are Graham's Six Grapes and Noval Black, being those that sparked the idea.

I propose that our London line-up be:

Churchill Reserve - City Wine & Cigar Shop, 3 Fleet Street
Fonseca Terra Prima - The Whisky Exchange, Vinopolis (and other places)
Graham Six Grapes - DRT has purchased.
Noval Black - Check Wine Searcher
de la Rosa Finest Reserve - Berry Brothers
Ramos Pinto Collector - Penistone Wine Cellars, Sheffield

Please disagree and propose alternatives, or indicate agreement.

I still think that The Port Society Finest Reserve should find its way into the line-up

[DRT]

I still think that The Port Society Finest Reserve should find its way into the line-up

I have no objection to this being added.

Does that mean we have 7, or do we drop one of the others? If dropping, what do we drop?

[DRT]

The new plan (discussed here) is to not attempt to reach world-wide consensus on the six wines that will be tasted. The only two wines that are mandatory are Graham's Six Grapes and Noval Black, being those that sparked the idea.

I propose that our London line-up be:

Churchill Reserve - City Wine & Cigar Shop, 3 Fleet Street
Fonseca Terra Prima - The Whisky Exchange, Vinopolis (and other places)
Graham Six Grapes - DRT has purchased.
Noval Black - Check Wine Searcher
de la Rosa Finest Reserve - Berry Brothers
Ramos Pinto Collector - Penistone Wine Cellars, Sheffield

Please disagree and propose alternatives, or indicate agreement.

I shall look for what ever may be availalbe

can the first post be updated to reflect recap of plan + wine?

Given that the plan is now that each location will decide what wines to drink (with GSG and NB being the only two mandatory inclusions), it might be better if you start a new thread, linked from here, to organise the NYC Chapter of TGIRRT-O? The London Chapter is now being organised from here.

[RAYC]

I still think that The Port Society Finest Reserve should find its way into the line-up

I have no objection to this being added.

Does that mean we have 7, or do we drop one of the others? If dropping, what do we drop?

We can stretch to a 7th, i am sure, but i am not too fussed. Lose Churchill Reserve, if anything?

[RAYC]

The new plan (discussed here) is to not attempt to reach world-wide consensus on the six wines that will be tasted. The only two wines that are mandatory are Graham's Six Grapes and Noval Black, being those that sparked the idea.

I propose that our London line-up be:

Churchill Reserve - City Wine & Cigar Shop, 3 Fleet Street
Fonseca Terra Prima - The Whisky Exchange, Vinopolis (and other places)
Graham Six Grapes - DRT has purchased.
Noval Black - Check Wine Searcher
de la Rosa Finest Reserve - Berry Brothers
Ramos Pinto Collector - Penistone Wine Cellars, Sheffield

Please disagree and propose alternatives, or indicate agreement.

I can volunteer to acquire Terra Prima from Waitrose and de la Rosa Finest Reserve from BBR, if that helps.

[DRT]

I still think that The Port Society Finest Reserve should find its way into the line-up

I have no objection to this being added.

Does that mean we have 7, or do we drop one of the others? If dropping, what do we drop?

We can stretch to a 7th, i am sure.

And so the "completion" begins

[RAYC]

I still think that The Port Society Finest Reserve should find its way into the line-up

I have no objection to this being added.

Does that mean we have 7, or do we drop one of the others? If dropping, what do we drop?

We can stretch to a 7th, i am sure.

And so the "completion" begins

Ha - you got there before i could get my edit in!

[DRT]

I can volunteer to acquire Terra Prima from Waitrose and de la Rosa Finest Reserve from BBR, if that helps.

Excellent. Thank you. I already have GSG and will pick-up the Ramos Pinto from Penistone Wine Cellars in Sheffield. I am in London Tue-Thu this week and might get to Fleet St to pick-up the Churchill, leaving only the Noval Black to acquire. Has anyone seen this in an easy to get to place?

[RAYC]

leaving only the Noval Black to acquire. Has anyone seen this in an easy to get to place?

Ocado. If you would like, i can also get this as i was about to put an order through.

[DRT]

leaving only the Noval Black to acquire. Has anyone seen this in an easy to get to place?

Ocado. If you would like, i can also get this as i was about to put an order through.

That would be great, thanks.

[DRT]

Organisation of the UK tasting connected with this event has now been officially moved here.

Any further questions, suggestions, comments or general drivel connected with the UK tasting posted in this thread is likely to be missed, but please feel free to ramble on about similar events in other locations here.