June 25th - The London "After Cricket" offline

Organise events to meet up and drink Port.
User avatar
Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
Posts: 14880
Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

June 25th - The London "After Cricket" offline

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

It has been suggested that there may be an opportunity to get together on the evening of June 25th, at the Crusting Pipe, to share some port.

This could be in celebration, commiseration or complete indifference to England's attempts to win the One Day International against New Zealand at the Oval earlier in the day.

Of course, if the weather continues as it has been over the last few days, we could see the port "evening" starting fairly early in the day.

If anyone is interested in joining us, please let me know or post here. Any suggestions for themes would be welcome, and my contribution is "A Cheap and Cheerful Blind Tasting". Ports to be served blind and to cost no more than £15 per bottle. Vintage and Late Bottled Vintage only.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
User avatar
benread
Niepoort 1977
Posts: 1555
Joined: 21:36 Thu 17 Apr 2008
Location: Reigate, Surrey
Contact:

Re: June 25th - The London "After Cricket" offline

Post by benread »

AHB wrote:Any suggestions for themes would be welcome, and my contribution is "A Cheap and Cheerful Blind Tasting". Ports to be served blind and to cost no more than £15 per bottle. Vintage and Late Bottled Vintage only.
In deference to the fact that it is likely those of us going to the game may not have a clean palate by the evening?!

As you know, I am a definite for this! I am happy with the theme and have a few ideas. Would need the option to drop off at TCP the day before or morning of 25th though.
Ben
-------
Vintage 1970 and now proud owner of my first ever 'half-century'!
User avatar
Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
Posts: 14880
Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

I haven't asked TCP, but I am sure that they would be willing to look after a few bottles for the day. I plan to drop off first thing in the morning, before heading to the Oval.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
User avatar
benread
Niepoort 1977
Posts: 1555
Joined: 21:36 Thu 17 Apr 2008
Location: Reigate, Surrey
Contact:

Post by benread »

I did have one alternative thought for a theme - either for this or another day.

BOB bottles compared to their commercial bretheren. For example, we know the Tesco 1994 is bottled by Symmington / Quarles Harris. There is a 1994 QH commercially available as well - at around twice the price via BBR. How would the two compare?

Are there other similar connections known of?
Ben
-------
Vintage 1970 and now proud owner of my first ever 'half-century'!
User avatar
Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
Posts: 14880
Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

This tasting is now quorate with three confirmed attendees. More are welcome.

BOB theme is a good one, and perhaps one we should explore when we have more people around, so that we can try 2-3 different ports. Maybe an idea to carry forward to September?
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
User avatar
benread
Niepoort 1977
Posts: 1555
Joined: 21:36 Thu 17 Apr 2008
Location: Reigate, Surrey
Contact:

Post by benread »

It may take some planning as well. What other pairings exist?

Who else is joining us?
Ben
-------
Vintage 1970 and now proud owner of my first ever 'half-century'!
User avatar
KillerB
Taylor Quinta de Vargellas 1987
Posts: 2425
Joined: 22:09 Wed 20 Jun 2007
Location: Sky Blue City, England

Post by KillerB »

I can make it.

I can do cheap & cheerful, BOB's are limited.
Port is basically a red drink
User avatar
Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
Posts: 14880
Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

Cheap and cheerful could include BoBs, I would suggest.

Vintage port or late bottled vintage only, costing £15 or less per bottle when purchased or today.

Should we name the bottles we are bringing (to ensure that we don't end up with 4+ bottles of the same thing)? Or shall we just do this totally blind and hope for the best?

I'll post more details and a list of attendees in due course.

Alex
Last edited by Alex Bridgeman on 09:44 Thu 05 Jun 2008, edited 1 time in total.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
User avatar
benread
Niepoort 1977
Posts: 1555
Joined: 21:36 Thu 17 Apr 2008
Location: Reigate, Surrey
Contact:

Post by benread »

I am relaxed either way. If we do not name, I will at least try to surprise with something I have not talked about too obviously here!
Ben
-------
Vintage 1970 and now proud owner of my first ever 'half-century'!
User avatar
KillerB
Taylor Quinta de Vargellas 1987
Posts: 2425
Joined: 22:09 Wed 20 Jun 2007
Location: Sky Blue City, England

Post by KillerB »

If we did BOBs then we could all end up bringing the same bottles of Tesco 1994. I suggest revelations.
Port is basically a red drink
User avatar
benread
Niepoort 1977
Posts: 1555
Joined: 21:36 Thu 17 Apr 2008
Location: Reigate, Surrey
Contact:

Post by benread »

Just a thought should we make this "under GBP20"? It would give us just a bit more scope. Even the Tesco 1994 is normally GBP15.99 I think.

I am begining to favour an agreed line up as options at sub GBP15 make it likely we end up with mutiple bottles.
Ben
-------
Vintage 1970 and now proud owner of my first ever 'half-century'!
User avatar
Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
Posts: 14880
Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

I'm happy to go with:

- vintage or late bottled vintage port
- under £20 a bottle
- say what you're going to bring

Obvious choices to bring include:
* Morgan '91 (Christies - £8 per bottle)
* Martinez '97 (New York - currently £8 per bottle)
* Cruz '89 (Somerfields - currently £10 per bottle)
* Tesco '94 (Tesco - currently £14 per bottle)
* Tesco '95 (Tesco - currently £14 per bottle)
* Noval '01 Traditional LBV (Tesco - currently under £10 per bottle)
* Warre '95 Traditional LBV (Asda - £5 per bottle last year)
* Croft '02 Traditional LBV (Sainsbury - £7 per bottle last year)
* Crusted Ports (often around the £15-20 mark, but much better with some bottle age)
* Single Quinta Ports (careful shopping can reveal some good prices, like Quinta de Corte '87 for £17.50 per bottle)
* non Douro imposters, which are usually quite cheap

Even my Martinez '94s (which I am not going to bring!) would fall into the category of "under £20". Hell! I even acquired some of my Vesuvio '94 (which I am not going to bring!) for under £20!

Moving from "£15 or less" to "£20 or less" makes a big difference to what I can bring and makes the selection process much easier. Having written out the list above and having been through my cellar list, I'm not convinced that I do want to raise the bar. Any thoughts from others coming or thinking of coming to the tasting? It might be more fun to try a selection of the ports that are around but often overlooked.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
User avatar
benread
Niepoort 1977
Posts: 1555
Joined: 21:36 Thu 17 Apr 2008
Location: Reigate, Surrey
Contact:

Post by benread »

Under GBP20 is much easier. Under GBP15 is a challenge but one I can rise to.

Bring something under GBP15 could mean two things. Lets have a cheap port for a change or suprise me with something I would not normally try.

It sounds like the theme is "surprise me with something I would not normally try" - in which case it should be under GBP15.

:?: :?: :?: :?: :?:
Ben
-------
Vintage 1970 and now proud owner of my first ever 'half-century'!
User avatar
benread
Niepoort 1977
Posts: 1555
Joined: 21:36 Thu 17 Apr 2008
Location: Reigate, Surrey
Contact:

Post by benread »

....and my ticket for the cricket has just arrived!

:D 88) :P :wink:
Ben
-------
Vintage 1970 and now proud owner of my first ever 'half-century'!
User avatar
Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
Posts: 14880
Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

benread wrote:Bring something under GBP15 could mean two things. Lets have a cheap port for a change or suprise me with something I would not normally try.
It could even mean both of these. Of the ports that I listed above in the £15 or under category, I only regularly drink one of these and have only tasted 4 of the others.

I shall bring a Morgan '91 for Ben and Richard to try.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
User avatar
benread
Niepoort 1977
Posts: 1555
Joined: 21:36 Thu 17 Apr 2008
Location: Reigate, Surrey
Contact:

Post by benread »

AHB wrote:
benread wrote:Bring something under GBP15 could mean two things. Lets have a cheap port for a change or suprise me with something I would not normally try.
It could even mean both of these. Of the ports that I listed above in the £15 or under category, I only regularly drink one of these and have only tasted 4 of the others.

I shall bring a Morgan '91 for Ben and Richard to try.
Derek has been waxing lyrical about the Morgan '91 so I am very interested in trying that. In which case, I can supply without any shopping the following:
  • Tesco 1994
    Noval 2001 (LBV unfiltered)
    Fonseca 2000 (LBV unfiltered)
    Dows Trademark Finest Reserve
With the new customer discount I could claim the Quinta Da Corte 1987 I purchased averaged at about £14 but I think that may be cheating!

Not sure if any of these fall into your 'not tried' or 'tasted' category. The Fonseca was purchased in anticipation of being required for 20th June but I have a feeling I will be requiring a Taylors LBV by then! Let me know what appeals.
Ben
-------
Vintage 1970 and now proud owner of my first ever 'half-century'!
User avatar
KillerB
Taylor Quinta de Vargellas 1987
Posts: 2425
Joined: 22:09 Wed 20 Jun 2007
Location: Sky Blue City, England

Post by KillerB »

I can provide without shopping:

Tesco Vintage 1994
Sainsbury Vintage 1996
Malvedos 1996
Vargellas 1996, 1998
Bomfim 1996
Guimaraens 1986, 1988
Warre LBV 1992, 1995
Noval LBV 1997, 2001
Krohn LBV 1997
Croft LBV 2002
Port is basically a red drink
User avatar
Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
Posts: 14880
Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

If I'm allowed to choose, I'll choose for Ben to bring the 1994 Tesco and Alex K to bring the Warre '92 LBV.

I'll see if I can persuade Richard to bring the Tesco 1995 - it might be interesting to try the 1994 against the 1995.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
Conky
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1770
Joined: 23:51 Wed 20 Jun 2007

Post by Conky »

London, Cheap & Cheerful, Cricket, (or more likely precipitation stories)...

I'll keep saving up towards October. :D
User avatar
jdaw1
Cockburn 1851
Posts: 23613
Joined: 15:03 Thu 21 Jun 2007
Location: London
Contact:

When you have an decided on the list of ports, …

Post by jdaw1 »

When you have an decided on the list of ports, I’ll do the usual trick.
User avatar
benread
Niepoort 1977
Posts: 1555
Joined: 21:36 Thu 17 Apr 2008
Location: Reigate, Surrey
Contact:

Post by benread »

AHB wrote:If I'm allowed to choose, I'll choose for Ben to bring the 1994 Tesco and ...
Agreed. Consider one of my bottles duly marked for this. Will drop off at TCP first thing Wednesday - assuming they are open early enough.
Ben
-------
Vintage 1970 and now proud owner of my first ever 'half-century'!
User avatar
benread
Niepoort 1977
Posts: 1555
Joined: 21:36 Thu 17 Apr 2008
Location: Reigate, Surrey
Contact:

Post by benread »

PS - what is considered appropriate instructions for TCP in terms of decanting for a Tesco 1994? Any ideas out there in TPF land?
Ben
-------
Vintage 1970 and now proud owner of my first ever 'half-century'!
User avatar
Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
Posts: 14880
Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

I suggest that you just ask them to double decant as early as possible, ideally before lunch.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
User avatar
Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
Posts: 14880
Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

Conky wrote:London, Cheap & Cheerful, Cricket, (or more likely precipitation stories)...
The contingency plan, should it rain, is that we make it to the Crusting Pipe when they open at 11am and stay there until they close at 11pm. We will have several large wads of port vouchers in our pockets from the refunds that will be given on the tickets.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
User avatar
benread
Niepoort 1977
Posts: 1555
Joined: 21:36 Thu 17 Apr 2008
Location: Reigate, Surrey
Contact:

Post by benread »

AHB wrote:We will have several large wads of port vouchers in our pockets from the refunds that will be given on the tickets.

...but a lack of options in TCP! We may need to make a few reccies if that proves to be the case.

I just hope the home team play better cricket than was seen at the Oval tonight. Surrey were awful!
Ben
-------
Vintage 1970 and now proud owner of my first ever 'half-century'!
Post Reply