Little Ben's vurtual head wetting - 19th July 2008

[benread]

The eagle eyed amongst you will already have spotted confirmation of this event for tonight following the original uncertainty of the date.

You may also have spotted I have dropped the "1970" element of the theme in recognition of the fact that not everyone has had as much planning time as me for this event - I was fortunate enough to spot a small lot of mostly 1970 for sale some months ago, and recognise its potential for this occasion!

I would welcome any and all to join me in a glass of the red (or white) 'stuff'!

Pedantry is welcomed!

To start this thread, I have two options available to me tonight:

1987 Quinta da Corte - this is now +48 hours from original opening.
1970 Burmester Colheita - my first ever colheita. Decanted at 12pm today.

Any comments on these Ports welcomed.

[DRT]

Hi Ben,

I will be delighted to join you this evening to toast the health of your new son.

I have decanted a Royal Oporto 1970 to mark the occassion. All I can tell you at this point is that it is a slightly browny-red colour. I will post some pics soon. I also have a small sample of the 1890 that I contributed to the off-line in London last Friday. I will also toast Little Ben's health with that just for fun.

We also need to try to get a message to Andy V (formerly ADV) who is hosting a 1966 Horizontal tonight in LA. There is no reason why they can't raise a glass to Little Ben too although I suspect that time difference and an abundance of 1966 VP will prevent them from joining us in real-time.

Derek

[benread]

Interesting! I know he is being toasted in Sydney, Australia and Padre Island, Texas. LA would be a good addition. Perhaps we can keep a running total of cities he can be toasted in on 19th July (local time)? Could be entertaining!

[Andy Velebil]

Yes, we will most definitely raise a toast to the newest up-and-coming Port drinker, Little Ben. Wish we could do it in real time, but being 8 hours behind most of you will already be in bed by the time we start.

[benread]

Yes, we will most definitely raise a toast to the newest up-and-coming Port drinker, Little Ben. Wish we could do it in real time, but being 8 hours behind most of you will already be in bed by the time we start.

I would be honoured if you toasted him on 19th July your time. Would love to know what you toast him with.

Maybe I will try and put together a sampling for him of ports he was toasted with on his 'birth' day. Could be interesting.

Thank you.

[KillerB]

I had nothing sitting on death-row after giving a bottle of Morgan's to somebody to drink on their birthday (today and not Little Ben). This leaves me no option other than Tawny or LBV. I have Taylor, Dow and Warre for Tawny; Noval, Krohn or Warre for LBV.

Votes by 9PM or I will just have to make a decision myself, and you all know that means disaster and an hour in the cellar.

[benread]

This leaves me no option other than Tawny or LBV. I have Taylor, Dow and Warre for Tawny, Noval or Warre for LBV.

Votes by 9PM or I will just have to make a decision myself, and you all know that means disaster and an hour in the cellar.

My grandfather laid down Dow for me if that helps? It was 1960 VP but that is a minor point!

[jdaw1]

New York.

[KillerB]

OK, results so far:

Taylor Tawny - 0 votes
Dow Tawny - 1 vote
Warre Tawny - 0 votes
Warre LBV - 0 votes
Krohn LBV - 0 votes
Noval LBV - 0 votes

I declare the winner, Dow Tawny, I'll just go and open it.

[benread]

So far I think we have:

Reigate: 1970 Burmester Colheita
Chesterfield: 1970 Royal Oporto & 1890 Unknown Shipper
Coventry: Dow Tawny
New York: 1997 Sandeman Vau
London: Ramos Pinto 10 year Tawny
Utrecht: 2003 Croft LBV
Woking: 1991 Morgan
LA: 1966 Grahams
Sydney: not port drinkers (but the Aussies do produce a red imposter called 'Benjamin' tawny!)
Padre Island, Texas: Not port drinkers

I will update as I get further declarations!

Thank you.

[DRT]

Please add 1890 Unknown Shipper to the Chesterfield branch of the LBVHW.

[KillerB]

Waited until the watershed, just in case a resident pedant or contrarian wanted to debate the results. Dow 10yot has been opened and look svery shiny and brown with a candle behind it.

Lovely caramel nose with background raisins. In the mouth it is warm and unctuous with a good level of acidity, some citric notes and chocolatey finish. Very enjoyable and my last bottle. I will not mention again how much it cost, just that I really should have cleaned up.

[jdaw1]

Remnants of the 1997s that started yesterday. Sandeman Vau at the moment.

[DRT]

Decanted 2 hours (nearly)
A very attractive red/amber colour. Clear and bright, obviously well developed for a 1970. A distinct lack of fruit on the nose. A sweet, slightly floral smell. Very thick and syrupy in the mouth. Smooth entry. Sticky toffee pudding with a little heat in the mid-palate. The finish is quite long and warming.

This is a huge surprise to me. I bought this on Ebay about 4 years ago for not much more than nothing and feared it would be cooked and spoiled. It isn't, it is a very nice glass of mature VP. It has no long life ahead of it and has probably seen better days but today it is very nice indeed.

So, I raise a glass of Royal Oporto 1970 to Little Ben - all the best young lad, may your father leave you a decent cellar to enjoy

[JacobH]

Congratulations, Ben!

As I still have quite a lot of it left in the decanter, I hope you don’t mind me not opening anything new, and raising a glass of the Ramos Pinto 10 Year-Old Tawny. (Which might be enough to tip a theme towards wood-aged with KillerB’s Dow and your two colheitas).

As I said on , I’m not much of a tawny drinker: it just tastes like a tawny port to me

[Rubby]

I just raised a glass of Croft 2003 LBV on little Ben's long and happy life.

Tasting note to follow.

[benread]

So far I think we have:

Reigate: 1970 Burmester Colheita
Chesterfield: 1970 Royal Oporto & 1890 Unknown Shipper
Coventry: Dow Tawny
New York: 1997 Sandeman Vau
London: Ramos Pinto 10 year Tawny
Utrecht: 2003 Croft LBV
LA: to be declared
Sydney: not port drinkers (but the Aussies do produce a red imposter called 'Benjamin' tawny!)
Padre Island, Texas: Not port drinkers

I will update as I get further declarations!

Thank you.

Thank you all for toasting Edward tonight. My lack of sleep has now caught up with me and I am off to bed before I spill the Burmester all down me!

On the plus side, I have something to wlecome him to the house with on Sunday!

[JacobH]

Edward

An excellent choice! And it gives me an excuse to have another glass now that I can toast him properly!

[AHB]

Although very late in joining the party - just got back from seeing Mama Mia at the Palladium - welcome Baby Edward, congratulations to Mum and Dad and a toast to all three in Morgan 1991 (sorry, I opened the bottle and then started reading TPF).

Alex

[Glenn E.]

Sadly I did not log on in time to see the notice.

I did, however, have a very strong urge to open a bottle of Port last night. I can only imagine that it was caused by this international surge of warmth (and toasting with Port) for the newest member of the Port drinking family!

Congratulations to Mom, Dad, and little Edward!

[Andy Velebil]

we did raise a toast with the 1966 Graham's VP last night. A stunning bottle that should still be drinking fine when little Ben comes of age.

[benread]

we did raise a toast with the 1966 Graham's VP last night. A stunning bottle that should still be drinking fine when little Ben comes of age.

Thank you for that. I know he will appreciate this when he is older! He also has an interesting range of ports to consider himself having some connection with!

How many 12 hour old children have been toasted with the same styl of drink in as many different locations and countries?!

[jdaw1]

How many 12 hour old children have been toasted with the same styl of drink in as many different locations and countries?!

How many non-royal …

[benread]

How many 12 hour old children have been toasted with the same styl of drink in as many different locations and countries?!

How many non-royal …

His initials (short form) are ER...