New York, Saturday 29th March 2008

[jdaw1]

Today I have asked five other people whether they could and would join us on Saturday 29th March: let’s, at least tentatively and for the moment, assume that date.

[jdaw1]

Available bottles:

• JDAW:
  • 1977 Warre;
  • 1977 Fonseca;
  • 1977 Niepoort;
  • 1977 Smith Woodhouse;
  • 1977 Quinta do Cachão;
  • 1977 Ferreira;
• Jay:
  • 1977 Delaforce;
  • 1977 Grahams;
  • 1977 Taylor;
  • 1977 Quarles Harris;
  • 1977 Robertson's Rebello;
• Jeff:
  • 1977 Dow;
  • 1977 Croft;

My vote for eight bottles: Fonseca, Taylor and Graham’s (the big three, to compare); Delaforce and Niepoort (new friends I’m liking); and Quinta do Cachão (one recent and lightly favourable experience), Ferreira (which has a better reputation than my recent experiences), and Quarles Harris (never before passed my lips). But I’d happily swap one of these for a Gould Campbell, of which people have spoken well.

First draft of placemats.

[SushiNorth]

I've been trying (unsuccessfully) to plan a late march party for friends as an excuse to open a 77. I don't have any of the bottles on your "needs" list, though I've some 77 S&W and a 77 Warres. Oh, and Hi -- I'm new and in the NY area (and also start with a J -- see Intros).

[jdaw1]

1. Link to that introduction thread.

2. You mention “S&W”: is that really “SW” (being Smith Woodhouse), or is it something my brain can’t quite identify?

3. If you tell me your initials you’ll get a page on the placemats. Good trade!

[SushiNorth]

Lol, yes, SW/SWC, I always think of it as Smith & the Woodhouses, (thus S & W), but you're right -- no & in the name.
And as for initials, JS. Is it set for the 29th?

[DRT]

Lol, yes, SW/SWC, I always think of it as Smith & the Woodhouses, (thus S & W), but you're right -- no & in the name.
And as for initials, JS. Is it set for the 29th?

WARNING: our resident AR Pedant will complain bitterly that you have only provided 2 initials. Minimum of 3 required unless you have no middle name(s).

[jdaw1]

Is it set for the 29th?

A team decision: I’m good. Jay, Jeff: can we fix the date?

JS added to the placemats.

will complain bitterly that you have only provided 2 initials.

Derek meant, of course, “have provided only 2 initials”. Or even “have provided only two initials”.

[SushiNorth]

Or perhaps, more that they were those two particular initials
JES, then, if you prefer and prevents confusion with that "other" -- JS

[jfacciol]

I am also fine for 29 March and have penciled it into my date book (yes book and not pda).

[g-man]

I'm fine with the date too

[jdaw1]

1. Four is quorate: date fixed as Saturday 29th March 2008. Title of thread altered.

2. I offered the sommelier at Dovetail (star of thread The new woman in the life of jdaw1) a seat at the table, in return for a table sans corkage. She agreed: we can have table 60 which can seat, at a squeeze, ten. It is strongly suspected that bringing bonus glasses would be wise. This semi-reservation needs to be confirmed: explicit agreement or disagreement would be helpful.

3. I re-invite comment on my port selection (Fonseca, Taylor, Graham’s, Delaforce, Niepoort, Quinta do Cachão, Ferreira, and Quarles Harris).

[g-man]

1. Four is quorate: date fixed as Saturday 29th March 2008. Title of thread altered.

2. I offered the sommelier at Dovetail (star of thread The new woman in the life of jdaw1) a seat at the table, in return for a table sans corkage. She agreed: we can have table 60 which can seat, at a squeeze, ten. It is strongly suspected that bringing bonus glasses would be wise. This semi-reservation needs to be confirmed: explicit agreement or disagreement would be helpful.

3. I re-invite comment on my port selection (Fonseca, Taylor, Graham’s, Delaforce, Niepoort, Quinta do Cachão, Ferreira, and Quarles Harris).

I'd vote for the Dow
to have the top 4 first flights instead of something else.

[jdaw1]

OK, Fonseca, Taylor, Dow, Delaforce, Niepoort, Quinta do Cachão, Ferreira, and Quarles Harris. Works for me. Other objections?

Placemats updated.

[jfacciol]

Julian, well done. All sounds good to me. I gather that we are five so far.

[SushiNorth]

By the by -- Dovetail sounds like a fabulous place. Nice choice

[jdaw1]

Invitation extended to new TPF member joepm1.

To prevent things becoming too large, let’s say now eight people maximum. So far there are four (not counting people I have forgotten): JDAW, JG, FF, and JES. And maybe my wife. Who I hadn’t forgotten.

[jfacciol]

Plus the somelier or are you not counting the new woman in our life, Julian?

[jdaw1]

Oooh! But it is very important to remember the wife and not to remember the new woman. The other way about would be a cause of great awkwardness.

Yes, plus JL. She will be, I suspect, a part-time drinker, so let’s call it eight+one.

[AHB]

I strongly recommend the Smith Woodhouse being included in the line-up, if you can. This is almost as good as or perhaps better than the Gould Campbell. Perhaps instead of the Ferreira?

[SushiNorth]

It sounds like folks felt good about the lineup, but I do have some sw77

[jdaw1]

For a long time QH has been firmly at the bottom of the Symington list of port houses, and until recently was the company name in the small print on products such as Tesco own brand vintage port.

As far as I can make out, the Syms blend a respectable wine for QH labelled product, using the stocks available to them at the time - but do not saddle themselves with a house style for the brand.

SW in; QH out? Objections?

[g-man]

i'm getting parched just thinking about it.

line up looks great

[jfacciol]

No objection from me.

[SushiNorth]

Excellent. jdaw, shall I bring one of mine?

[EricD]

I'm in! I can make it for the 29th!

I would most likely adopt a bottle, as it looks like we've got the lineup covered, although I could contribute a Graham or a Warre.