Weird Colheitas and Unusual Vintage Ports (all to be served blind)
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No, it isn't the gold statue that's coming to town, it's the real Oscar...
Oscar Quevedo emailed me today to ask if it was possible to have a Port tasting on the evening of 11th Feb as he will be in London that day and overnight.
By strange coincidence I happen to have a meeting in London that day so will be in town to meet up with Oscar to form a quorum. Would anyone like to join us?
Possibilities for a theme are:
1. Bring a bottle of Port to share with Oscar Quevedo
2. A re-scheduling of this tasting
Thoughts?
Derek
"The first duty of Port is to be red" Ernest H. Cockburn
I have a pass - unusual for a Thursday but Mrs R has to work from home so I am excused childcare duty! Bonus! TCP works for me. Can certainly work with "bring a bottle to share", or would welcome something more specific if anyone has a particular desire...
Ben
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Vintage 1970 and now proud owner of my first ever 'half-century'!
Great to see that we already have some confirmations. If we go to the 2nd option, this is, the rescheduling of the tasting for the 16th or 23rd, I suggest that we keep the theme and go for Vesuvios. Otherwise, why not to go for a theme like "Bring that weird Colheita"
oscar quevedo wrote:If we go to the 2nd option, this is, the rescheduling of the tasting for the 16th or 23rd, I suggest that we keep the theme and go for Vesuvios. Otherwise, why not to go for a theme like "Bring that weird Colheita"
Oscar,
The suggestion to re-schedule was in relation to the Vesuvio tasting - that is, to move the Vesuvio tasting to 11th February so that you could join in. However, we have decided to leave the Vesuvio tasting until 23rd February so we will choose a different theme for your visit on the 11th. Or, were you suggesting that you might come on the 23rd instead of the 11th?
Derek
"The first duty of Port is to be red" Ernest H. Cockburn
I didn't know that you have already decided to leave the Vesuvio tasting for the 23rd Derek. For me it works better the 11th. So we have to think about themes...
oscar quevedo wrote:a theme like "Bring that weird Colheita"
Hmm, that might be a little difficult for me. I only have one (known) colheita. Does only having one bottle of colheita make that a weird colheita?
Or I could bring a bottle of Croft Ruby port which was bottled to commemorate the coronation of Elizabeth II. That's not a colheita but would be pretty weird.
Or I could just bring a bottle of vintage or LBV port
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
oscar quevedo wrote:a theme like "Bring that weird Colheita"
Hmm, that might be a little difficult for me. I only have one (known) colheita. Does only having one bottle of colheita make that a weird colheita?
As we are all British (apart from Oscar, obviously): all Colheitas qualify as being "weird".
I think I only have 3 bottles of Colheita. Two of them are life-preservers and need to be drunk within 2 weeks either side of 28th March in a non-classic vintage year. The other is from a non-classic year from a non-conformist shipper, so I think it definitely qualifies. It is also one of 3 bottles in my cellar that I have owned for the longest time.
I will happily bring it along to keep Oscar's weird Colheita company.
Perhaps the theme could be "Weird Colheitas and Unusual Vintage Ports (all to be served blind)"?
"The first duty of Port is to be red" Ernest H. Cockburn
DRT wrote:As we are all British (apart from Oscar, obviously): all Colheitas qualify as being "weird".
Colheitas aren't weird. Brits drinking Colheitas is what's weird.
Oscar's Particular Colheita is a bit weird, but that's what makes it special. If you are very lucky (and his sister will let him), he might bring a bottle.
This might also be an opportunity to compare the '52 and '63 Dalva Golden White Colheitas if you can get some purchased in time for Oscar to pick them up and bring them with him.
I think I can almost meet the "weird colheita" theme. I have a bottle I believe dates from pre-war described as "matured in wood", albeit undated so possibly more strictly a tawny. Please sir, is that acceptable?!
Some of you may know what it is, having been asked for help wih identification some months ago!
Ben
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Vintage 1970 and now proud owner of my first ever 'half-century'!
However, I am at Gatwick waiting TAP flight 333 to Oporto at the delayed time of 2.30pm. The Ryanair flight from Stansted took off just as I was waking up on Tom's sofa at 6.30am. It seems Guinness, N58 and GM68 are not good things to have before an early flight.
However, I am at Gatwick waiting TAP flight 333 to Oporto at the delayed time of 2.30pm. The Ryanair flight from Stansted took off just as I was waking up on Tom's sofa at 6.30am. It seems Guinness, N58 and GM68 are not good things to have before an early flight.
OK. No Guinness for Oscar.
"The first duty of Port is to be red" Ernest H. Cockburn
However, I am at Gatwick waiting TAP flight 333 to Oporto at the delayed time of 2.30pm. The Ryanair flight from Stansted took off just as I was waking up on Tom's sofa at 6.30am. It seems Guinness, N58 and GM68 are not good things to have before an early flight.
OK. No Guinness for Oscar.
Water, I'll make sure I drink few pints of water!
Some few friends will join us for the tasting, maybe 3-4.
If there is any space available, I would be interested in joining. I don't know if it is obscure enough, but I've heard good things about the '76 Niepoort and figured this might be the appropriate time to give it a whirl.
If there is any space available, I would be interested in joining. I don't know if it is obscure enough, but I've heard good things about the '76 Niepoort and figured this might be the appropriate time to give it a whirl.
Hi Chris,
Welcome to
I have added your name to the list at the top of this thread. I am sure your suggested bottle will be most welcome
I have also added a number of Oscar's friends who will now be joining us.
If the two unconfirmed attendees decide to join us we will have a full compliment of 14 attendees. Any more volunteers will have to go on a reserve list otherwise we will not have enough port to taste from each bottle
Derek
"The first duty of Port is to be red" Ernest H. Cockburn
AHB wrote:Are we confirming that this is a blind tasting?[/url]Perhaps best not having this as a blind tasting given that lots of us would have no hope of working out one Colheita from another. Unblinded does me if others are OK with that?
[/url]Is there any guidance that we should follow other than "Weird colheitas and unusual ports"?
"No blind 1975s allowed"?
"The first duty of Port is to be red" Ernest H. Cockburn
The Crusting Pipe has been booked for 14 people from 6:30 - but if anyone is early then they will make you very welcome.
We have both the tunnels at the back of the restaurant, one for eating and one for the tasting.
We have confirmed the early evening menu @ £15 for 2 courses, £18 for 3 courses (+£5 if you want the highly recommended rib eye on the bone) and £10 per bottle corkage. So please bring £40-50 each to cover food, corkage and service. There is also a very tempting Sandeman 1982 on the wine list for £46...
Alex
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.