The Bell, Thursday 13 December, 2012

[AHB]

It has been suggested that we set 13th December as the date for our Christmas tasting this year, if this date works for The Bell and Uncle Tom. On the assumption that it does, the following people have expressed an interest in attending (in order of expression):

1) Dirk Niepoort
2) Industry guest 2
3) THRA
4) AHB
5) WS1
6) RAYC
7) CMAG
8) JDAW1
9) JGH
10) RLC
11) PW
12) AP

Reserves
1) DRT

numbers will need to be limited as In previous years due to the size of the venue

[PhilW]

I would like a spot this year if possible please, or reserve again if already full; thanks.

[Axel P]

Me, too, please

[jdaw1]

Thank you for adding me to the list.

[Axel P]

Thanks, Alex, is the date finally confirmed?

Axel

[AHB]

The date is subject to Tom and the Bell confirming. However, I have booked my room at the Saffron Hotel.

[Cookie]

I can confirm that The Bell is booked for the evening

[WS1]

just booked the Saffron Hotel

[Christopher]

Hi as I know longer live in London can I please go on the list, suspect a reserve now
Thanks

[AHB]

Hi as I know longer live in London can I please go on the list, suspect a reserve now
Thanks

Now on - as a reserve

[uncle tom]

For those needing to adopt, I have two interesting candidates:

1) Cockburn crusted port, bottled by Avery's in October 1928. Level: top shoulder

2) Unknown vintage port. This was part of an eight bottle stash sold by Christies as 'Believed Dow 1945' Six of the bottles are certainly Dow, and consistant in appearance with being 1945, but two others were different and looked much older, with no visible markings to reveal their ID.

Bottles have pale green glass with many defects in the glass itself, typical of that used 100+ years ago, but they could be re-used bottles. Level: mid shoulder

- Please PM me if interested.

[DRT]

Hi as I know longer live in London can I please go on the list, suspect a reserve now
Thanks

Now on - as a reserve

I gave my place to CMAG a couple of weeks ago due to my diary disaster. Please add me to the reserve list.

[AHB]

Dirk Niepoort has just confirmed that he will make his third successive (or is it fourth successive?) appearance at the Bell as a guest this Christmas, subject to nothing else cropping up in his diary that he is not able to reschedule.

[jdaw1]

First draft of the stickies, tasting-note and vote-recorder sheets.

• The new fashion is for the TN sheets to have a faded echo of the glasses’ circles. That echo is present, but not that being echoed. Should the echo be zapped?

[AHB]

...to have a faded echo of the glasses’ circles. That echo is present, but not that being echoed. Should the echo be zapped?

I don't understand the question.

But I do observe that 26 ports is likely to be a few more than we manage between the 10 of us.

[jdaw1]

I don't understand the question.

New-style TN sheets have a faded circle.

That faded circle is a copy, faded, of that on the glasses page.

But there isn’t a glasses page!

But I do observe that 26 ports is likely to be a few more than we manage between the 10 of us.

To simplify the distribution of stickies, I’m choosing a multiple of thirteen.

[AHB]

But there isn’t a glasses page!

Ah! Now I understand. I vote to keep the faded circle.

[WS1]

Hi,

I am terribly sorry but I have to opt out due to my mother being seriously sick.

regards

WS1

[AHB]

Hi,

I am terribly sorry but I have to opt out due to my mother being seriously sick.

regards

WS1

I'm very sorry to hear that. I do hope your mother recovers from her illness.

[DRT]

As intimated to some by email earlier this evening, I cannot commit to attending this event so please leave me on the reserve list and try to fill the vacant seat with someone else.

[jdaw1]

The target size is ten. We had twelve. So eleven remaining does not cause a need for a reserve.

[AHB]

I plan to print tasting mats (and labels) early next week.

Could someone (JDAW?) please remind me which Avery Label type I need to use.

Thanks.

[jdaw1]

Please check all OK.

The bottle labels are A4, 2×4. The glass labels are A4, 5×13.

[WS1]

Hello,

may I cheekily ask if there is any chance to get my seat for this tasting back? Since I am in London over this period and have to go to the dentist in Woodbridge, Suffolk on Friday the 14th I could stop over in Audley End.

Please let me know.

regards

WS1

[AHB]

Hello,

may I cheekily ask if there is any chance to get my seat for this tasting back? Since I am in London over this period and have to go to the dentist in Woodbridge, Suffolk on Friday the 14th I could stop over in Audley End.

Please let me know.

regards

WS1

There is still a vacancy at the table, so you would be very welcome.