ThePortForum.com

Surely they can put you up somewhere better than the Brussels cemetery?

Nice try. And effortlessly, charmingly humorous as always. But wrong.

The Metropole?

No

Not even half a mark for my working out?

Am I allowed to answer?

DRT wrote:Not even half a mark for my working out?

No

AHB wrote:Am I allowed to answer?

Yes

djewesbury wrote:

AHB wrote:Am I allowed to answer?

Yes

Ole Granddady's house was a Dominican Abbey which got messed about a bit until he moved into it in the early 1800s when he was exiled from France by the Bourbon Kings. Although strictly speaking he was offered a full pardon by Louis XVIII but chose to go into exile in Brussels instead of staying in Paris. Now his house is the Carlton Hotel, the Brussels Dominican or something; very swanky. If you get the chance to take a look inside the Jacques-Louis David suite it's well worth a peep.

According to the history he 'exiled himself'. Or 'ran away' as we say in these parts. He was then invited back to be a court painter, but turned it down on account of finding the suite with sunken bath and hot and cold running courtesans more appealing. This must be the first example of 'sexing up a dossier' 200 years after the event. Rather like Chilcot.

With apologies to Alex's antecedents, only messin.

Yes. Alex's turn. Rather nice here in The Dominican. But not looking forward to the day-long meeting tomorrow in which 6 people try to finish filling in a European Commission funding application for €5m.

Note to self: don't get taxis from the airport in future.

LGTrotter wrote:According to the history he 'exiled himself'. Or 'ran away' as we say in these parts. He was then invited back to be a court painter, but turned it down on account of finding the suite with sunken bath and hot and cold running courtesans more appealing. This must be the first example of 'sexing up a dossier' 200 years after the event. Rather like Chilcot.

With apologies to Alex's antecedents, only messin.

I would run away too if I'd signed the King's death warrant only to see another King come back a few years later. There is a time to recognise that pushing water uphill is a pointless exercise.

And are you suggesting that I'm illegitimate? Born from a liaison with a hot or cold running courtesan? The amusing thing is (if I remember correctly) when he was in Brussels he was back with his ex-wife from his days in Paris.

My quiz question: which port will I drink next? I won't know the answer until tomorrow, so guess away...

The same one as me?

OK. It's time for a serious guess.

Was it a bottle of Fonseca 1977 that was much better than the second one we ordered, which was also lovely but didn't knock our socks off, or was it the youngest-tasting but lovely Taylor 1985 that any of the three of us had encountered?

Cockburn '85. Not well regarded but you have a few to spare. Drink up!

Vesuvio 1991. Now coming into its 25th year

Unfortunately DRT won, with uncanny prophetic powers. It was, indeed, the same as he drank and it was a bottle of Fonseca 1977.

Things are too quiet so I'm asking a question. My question is "What Port am I about to open?"

Warre 1977. Obviously.

jdaw1 wrote:Warre 1977. Obviously.

Neither Warre nor 1977.

It's now in a decanter and looking rather good.

AHB wrote:Neither Warre nor 1977.

You sure? Third umpire please.

Gould Campbell 1960?

PhilW wrote:Gould Campbell 1960?

Nonsense. Cockburn 1967. What else could it be?

Not Gould Campbell, not Cockburn; not 1960, not 1967. It is a mainstream shipper and a recognised vintage.