ThePortForum.com

On Tuesday 31^st March 2015 we gathered in the Boot & Flogger for a tasting to say goodbye to Magnus, who is returning to Sweden. The theme was initially ‘Blind and informal’, to which DRT added some birthday 1965s.

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 1965 Graham Malvedos;
• 1965 Fonseca Guimaraens;
• 1965 Messias Quinta do Cachão;
• 1965 Sandeman;
• 1965 Taylor Quinta de Vargellas;
• 1966 Graham magnum (MW);
• 1966 Warre (MPM);
• 1980 Graham (JDAW);
• Food order;
• Placemats;
• Planning and arrangements.

Magnus: thank you for arranging a splendid evening, in the B&F, led by an excellent magnum of Graham 1966, and joined by other good bottles. Company, amusement, Port: what more could a boy want?

And how often does one taste five 1965s side-by-side? I think it was the first time I’ve tasted more than one ’65 in a sitting.

Upon reflection in the cold light of morning, we under-rated Mike’s very youthful Warre 1966, which has decades left in it.

Mike and Magnus: you have been emailed pictures of your TNs. Please acknowledge receipt.

On departure we found, abandoned and seemingly unloved, an unopened Offley 1985. It is in my care.

Farewell to Magnus! An evening of excellent company and very nice port.

jdaw1 wrote:Mike and Magnus: you have been emailed pictures of your TNs. Please acknowledge receipt.

Received - thank you.

jdaw1 wrote:On departure we found, abandoned and seemingly unloved, an unopened Offley 1985. It is in my care.

No guesses who left that behind Thank you for rescuing it.

A splendid evening indeed and thank you to Magnus for allowing me to hijack his farewell tasting.

Thanks to all who attended for helping me celebrate my 50th birthday. It was interesting to visit the 1965s side by side, which was a first for me. All of you are invited to my 100th birthday tasting.

The Malvedos was splendid. I need more of that in my lifetime.


PS: I must remember to tell my family what a proper birthday cake should consist of.

Is that a birthday sausage patty to go with your steak & egg?

Glenn E. wrote:Is that a birthday sausage patty to go with your steak & egg?

No. My steak was served with chips. That is my Savoury - gammon with fried egg and black pudding (hold the chips).

This was indeed an excellent evening!Entertaining tales, hearty laughter and good company combined with some rather stunning ports made this a very memorable event. A special thank you must go out to Derek who very kindly provided no less than five ports from 1965! *doffing hat*

For me it was a very close race between GM65, W66 and G66 with the latter just edging it past the other two, mostly on account of its completeness, silky and unctuous mouthfeel. Unfathomably almost, the W66 appeared to have some distance still to go before reaching perfect maturity. In a way the biggest praise ought to go to GM65, a wine which I have had the privilege to taste twice (both from Derek's fabled stash), and which has been stunning each time. For a non-declared vintage (SQVPs excluded), this wine not only holds its own (with some ease actually) against ports from more exalted years, but it also has the ability to outshine even the strongest of competition.

In the end I scored G66 as my WOTN, somewhat uncouthly perhaps having brought it myself, with GM65 and W66 tied in second place scoring them (i think) at 93, 92 and 92, which better reflects the hair's width margin by which G66 edged it.

As good as the ports were, the lingering memories will come from the attendees themselves such as: (i) Derek's odd choice of music venue, (ii) his rather nice looking birthday cake, (iii) CMAG's tales of restless legs and (iv) the grandiose future plans for the TPF XI (can i have a place as a fielder?)

It was also a real pleasure to meet TPF's resident pie-maker whose wares I hope to have the pleasure of sampling in the future - who knows?

On a final note, a big thank you to Kasha at B&F who went above and beyond in making us comfortable. Really excellent service I must say and I will definitely recommend B&F to everyone I know. It's a great bolt hole away from the hustle and bustle of the high street joints.

I will no doubt visit London again and it would be nice to meet up when in town.

Magnus

jdaw1 wrote:Mike and Magnus: you have been emailed pictures of your TNs. Please acknowledge receipt.

Acknowledged with thanks