The 20th November London "old (30+) blind initial" offline

Organise events to meet up and drink Port.
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benread
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The 20th November London "old (30+) blind initial" offline

Post by benread »

In a thread here we have proposed an offline to be held in London, possibly at Portal, on 20th November. Attending so far are:

BenRead
AHB
Christopher
DRT
JacobH

Proposed themes are:
  • Bring something blind
    1994
    Vesuvio Night
    Over 30 years old
    Colheitas R Us
    Anyone for a '63?
    Bring your initial. I would bring any port starting with B or R and I think there are options for the 3 of us. A slight variation on blind.
Additional guests and suggestions welcome.
Last edited by benread on 21:18 Thu 06 Nov 2008, edited 2 times in total.
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RonnieRoots
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Re: The 20th November London "still to be themed" offline

Post by RonnieRoots »

Although not able to join, I'm more than happy to make a suggestion for a theme. How about: "Independent Day". Bring a bottle from an independent producer.
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Re: The 20th November London "still to be themed" offline

Post by benread »

RonnieRoots wrote:Although not able to join, I'm more than happy to make a suggestion for a theme. How about: "Independent Day". Bring a bottle from an independent producer.
Does anyone have an easy list of independant producers? This could make a good theme.
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jdaw1
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Re: The 20th November London "still to be themed" offline

Post by jdaw1 »

Any of which you’ve never heard.
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Re: The 20th November London "still to be themed" offline

Post by RonnieRoots »

A quick (and not complete) list:
- Quinta do Portal
- Quinta do Vale D. Maria
- Quinta do Vale Meao
- Quinta do Vallado
- Quinta do Passadouro
- Pintas (Wine & Soul)
- Quinta do Infantado
- Quinta do Tedo
- Quinta do Javali
- Quinta de la Rosa
- Quinta de Baldias
- Quinta da Peça
- Quinta da Casa Amarela
- Quinta do Crasto

And there are more of course...
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benread
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Re: The 20th November London "still to be themed" offline

Post by benread »

jdaw1 wrote:Any of which you’ve never heard.
...and do not own!
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Alex Bridgeman
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Re: The 20th November London "still to be themed" offline

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

Nice list of themes for consideration.

My preference, in order of preference is:
Bring something blind - always a fun theme and I have a few bottles chosen specially for this sort of theme
Over 30 years old - over half of my bottles for the blind tasting would fit with this category, maybe "blind and over 30"?
Bring your initial - nice idea; as a variation and with four participants we could have a theme of PORT with each person bringing a designated letter from the word.
Anyone for a '63 - but I'm drinking one at the moment. However, I'm always happy to drink '63s. How about "bring a port from a participant's birth year".
1994 - I love these ports. I think they are just fabulous and well worth drinking now.

To be avoided (in my opinion only):
Colheitas-R-us - purely a personal preference, but colheitas just don't do it for me in the same way as bottle aged ports
Vesuvio Night - I've just (last Thursday) taken part in a complete vertical of Vesuvio 1989-2007 and would rather not do that again.

Alex
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
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Re: The 20th November London "still to be themed" offline

Post by jdaw1 »

AHB wrote:Vesuvio Night - I've just (last Thursday) taken part in a complete vertical of Vesuvio 1989-2007 and would rather not do that again.
We do try to avoid a life of hardship.
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JacobH
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Re: The 20th November London "still to be themed" offline

Post by JacobH »

AHB wrote:Nice list of themes for consideration.

My preference, in order of preference is:
Bring something blind - always a fun theme and I have a few bottles chosen specially for this sort of theme
Over 30 years old - over half of my bottles for the blind tasting would fit with this category, maybe "blind and over 30"?
Bring your initial - nice idea; as a variation and with four participants we could have a theme of PORT with each person bringing a designated letter from the word.
Anyone for a '63 - but I'm drinking one at the moment. However, I'm always happy to drink '63s. How about "bring a port from a participant's birth year".
1994 - I love these ports. I think they are just fabulous and well worth drinking now.

To be avoided (in my opinion only):
Colheitas-R-us - purely a personal preference, but colheitas just don't do it for me in the same way as bottle aged ports
Vesuvio Night - I've just (last Thursday) taken part in a complete vertical of Vesuvio 1989-2007 and would rather not do that again.

Alex
I get a sense that we are moving towards a ‟blind, over 30, preferably being an initial from your name” theme...
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Re: The 20th November London "still to be themed" offline

Post by DRT »

JacobH wrote: I get a sense that we are moving towards a ‟blind, over 30, preferably being an initial from your name” theme...
That does me :D
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
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Re: The 20th November London "old (30+) blind initial" offline

Post by benread »

Souns like we have reasonable consensus on the theme! Title changed accordingly. I shall of course now be taking advantage of my full set of initials - BMHR!
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Re: The 20th November London "old (30+) blind initial" offline

Post by DRT »

Christopher will also be joining us :D
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
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Re: The 20th November London "old (30+) blind initial" offline

Post by benread »

DRT wrote:Christopher will also be joining us :D
Christopher now noted. We are 5!
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Re: The 20th November London "old (30+) blind initial" offline

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

Has anyone booked the venue?
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
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Re: The 20th November London "old (30+) blind initial" offline

Post by benread »

AHB wrote:Has anyone booked the venue?
On my task list for today!
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Re: The 20th November London "old (30+) blind initial" offline

Post by benread »

The table is booked for 7.30pm in my name. They have agreed £15 per bottle corkage and to reduce this against 1 or 2 bottles of wine from their wine list.

Please note that they will not accept us bringing any port on their own wine list. (Note the port is at the end of the list and I can only see a Cockburns 1967 and a Nacional 1963 that might fit our theme!)

See you all next week.
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Re: The 20th November London "old (30+) blind initial" offline

Post by uncle tom »

Although I'm free on the 20th, Portal's menu does not inspire me, so I shall leave you in peace on this occasion.

Tom
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Re: The 20th November London "old (30+) blind initial" offline

Post by JacobH »

benread wrote: (Note the port is at the end of the list and I can only see a Cockburns 1967 and a Nacional 1963 that might fit our theme!)
Drat, will have to save the Nacional for another occasion! :)
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Re: The 20th November London "old (30+) blind initial" offline

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

So let me make sure I understand the theme. On Thursday, I have to bring a bottle of port that fits the following categories:
(a) it is blind - easy, I'll buy some kitchen foil
(b) is made from grapes harvested at least 30 years ago - therefore 1978 or earlier
(c) must be from a shipper whose name begins with one of my initials (AHB)

Out of all the bottles in my cellar, there is only one which fulfils all these criteria!

Alex
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
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Re: The 20th November London "old (30+) blind initial" offline

Post by jdaw1 »

AHB wrote:Out of all the bottles in my cellar, there is only one which fulfils all these criteria!
And I gave it to you.

At least thirty Blind Initials.
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Re: The 20th November London "old (30+) blind initial" offline

Post by benread »

Alex,

It sounds like you may be OK, but I think Jacob has alread decided he will need some discretion with part c of the criteria! I may also need this following a request from Axel for help with our 30th January tasting!

See you Thursday.

Ben
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Re: The 20th November London "old (30+) blind initial" offline

Post by JacobH »

benread wrote:Alex,

It sounds like you may be OK, but I think Jacob has alread decided he will need some discretion with part c of the criteria! I may also need this following a request from Axel for help with our 30th January tasting!

See you Thursday.

Ben
That was before I pondered the acquisition route and, after a little searching, it turns out that a wine merchant in the City has something which fulfils all three! However, some flexibility seems in order, especially as some attendees have more conducive initials than others:

B⁷M⁷H¹R¹⁰ = 25
D⁵R¹⁰T² = 17
A³H¹B⁷ = 11
C⁷G⁴ = 11
J¹G⁴H¹ = 7

(Based on the TN index rather than the full shippers list, including names of Quintas).

Also, I think Alex has the hardest set; at least I have a couple of major shippers in the G. The As and Bs seem more obscure!

-Jacob
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Re: The 20th November London "old (30+) blind initial" offline

Post by DRT »

If people a are struggling to find a shipper with the same initial as their own can I suggest that "N"(acional) be declared an acceptable wildcard entry :twisted:

I will be bringing the numbered team bottle covers so foil isn't a necessary requirement.
Derek
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Re: The 20th November London "old (30+) blind initial" offline

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

jdaw1 wrote:
AHB wrote:Out of all the bottles in my cellar, there is only one which fulfils all these criteria!
And I gave it to you.

Although true that you did give one such choice to me, these are not at home and so not a choice open to me for an offline at relatively short notice.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
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Re: The 20th November London "old (30+) blind initial" offline

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

benread wrote:The table is booked for 7.30pm in my name.
I shall probably be finished with meetings by about 5:30pm and so plan to be in the pub just up the road from Portal (the White Bear) with the pretty barmaid and the free wireless service, from about 6:00pm - possibly earlier if meetings finish early.

Alex
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
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