12 October - 55 @ 55 Tasting

Organise events to meet up and drink Port.
User avatar
DRT
Fonseca 1966
Posts: 15779
Joined: 23:51 Wed 20 Jun 2007
Location: Chesterfield, UK
Contact:

Re: 12 October - 55 @ 55 Tasting

Post by DRT »

I share jdaw's concerns about the Buckfast Blend but will refrain from any flipant comment for fear of being reprimanded by the organiser.

I would respectfully suggest that Cockburn, Quinta do Noval and perhaps Sandeman are worthy of inclusion in the pre-dinner flight. Moving one down and two or three up would give us an 8/7 or 7/8 split, which feels more balanced that the current 6/9.
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
User avatar
jdaw1
Cockburn 1851
Posts: 23613
Joined: 15:03 Thu 21 Jun 2007
Location: London
Contact:

Re: 12 October - 55 @ 55 Tasting

Post by jdaw1 »

Updated draft of placemats.
  • Glasses pages now on US Legal (8½″×14″).
  • Paginated and within-page flighted.
    • Pre-prandial:
      • D, W, G;
      • T, F;
      • C, N.
    • Post-prandial:
      • Fr, O, S;
      • Ad, BPFHB, GB, Mk, Mz.
User avatar
Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
Posts: 14880
Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

Re: 12 October - 55 @ 55 Tasting

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

I don't want to overload palates before dinner, nor do I mean to imply any slight as to the quality of the wines from any particular shipper. How about this as an alternative for three flights?

BEFORE DINNER
FLIGHT 1 - THE SYMINGTON FAMILY
Cockburn, Dow, Graham, Martinez, Warre

AFTER DINNER
FLIGHT 2 - TAYLOR FLADGATE & SOGRAPE
Fonseca, Taylor, Ferreira, Offley, Sandeman

FLIGHT 3 - THE HISTORIC
Adam, Buckingham Palace Blend, Gonzalez Byass, Mackenzie, Noval

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

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
Glenn E.
Graham’s 1977
Posts: 4174
Joined: 22:27 Wed 09 Jul 2008
Location: Seattle, WA, USA

Re: 12 October - 55 @ 55 Tasting

Post by Glenn E. »

I approve.
Glenn Elliott
User avatar
jdaw1
Cockburn 1851
Posts: 23613
Joined: 15:03 Thu 21 Jun 2007
Location: London
Contact:

Re: 12 October - 55 @ 55 Tasting

Post by jdaw1 »

I favoured Derek’s plan of a more even split. Could we have Symington + Sogrape before dinner, and the Not-S (Except Sandeman) Teams after?
User avatar
DRT
Fonseca 1966
Posts: 15779
Joined: 23:51 Wed 20 Jun 2007
Location: Chesterfield, UK
Contact:

Re: 12 October - 55 @ 55 Tasting

Post by DRT »

A suggestion: put all 15 wines on the table at the start of the evening, set out in alphabetical order; start the tasting with Adam, have a pause for dinner at the appropriate hour and then taste our way through to Warre.
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
User avatar
jdaw1
Cockburn 1851
Posts: 23613
Joined: 15:03 Thu 21 Jun 2007
Location: London
Contact:

Re: 12 October - 55 @ 55 Tasting

Post by jdaw1 »

So by dinner JDAW+DRT will have had two beer breaks, drunk all their port and be looking for more. Meanwhile, AHB will be nosing his third.

A more structured evening, by applying a light synchronising pressure, keeps things more sociable: we can discuss ports, have a wine-of-the-page (or sub-page), and the honoured guest can make on-topic observations to a wide audience.
User avatar
DRT
Fonseca 1966
Posts: 15779
Joined: 23:51 Wed 20 Jun 2007
Location: Chesterfield, UK
Contact:

Re: 12 October - 55 @ 55 Tasting

Post by DRT »

jdaw1 wrote:So by dinner JDAW+DRT will have had two beer breaks, drunk all their port and be looking for more. Meanwhile, AHB will be nosing his third.
I'm failing to see what is wrong with that. Would we not just start at W on AHB's placemat and work our way back to try to beat him to the Fonseca?
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Glenn E.
Graham’s 1977
Posts: 4174
Joined: 22:27 Wed 09 Jul 2008
Location: Seattle, WA, USA

Re: 12 October - 55 @ 55 Tasting

Post by Glenn E. »

Actually, given recent experience, I'd prefer to have 2 flights of 5 before dinner and 1 flight after. This is due to the fact that my palate seems to get rather annoyingly mixed up by any sort of food, so the only Ports that I am likely to be able to score clearly must be consumed before eating.

I would very much like to have at least the Graham, Fonseca, and Taylor before dinner so that I can give them a proper rating. Cockburn, Ferreira, Martinez, and Noval would be my second nomination for a before dinner flight. However, I can sacrifice Noval if the Symington, TFP, and Sogrape contingents are all moved to before dinner.

As always, I'll be happy to abide by whatever decision is made by the person or persons actually doing the work. :wink:
Glenn Elliott
Roy Hersh
Niepoort LBV
Posts: 283
Joined: 21:55 Mon 31 Dec 2007

Re: 12 October - 55 @ 55 Tasting

Post by Roy Hersh »

Thanks for the fun read. I needed it badly. Very humorous to say the least.

I am looking forward to seeing you all in less than a month!
User avatar
Axel P
Taylor Quinta de Vargellas 1987
Posts: 2027
Joined: 08:09 Wed 12 Sep 2007
Location: Langenfeld, near Cologne, Germany
Contact:

Re: 12 October - 55 @ 55 Tasting

Post by Axel P »

I am voting for Alex option to group the Ports by houses and seperate them around dinner. 5 prior dinner and the rest after. Will go with the flow on this though.

Happy to inform participants, that Dirk Niepoort donated a bottle of his rare 55 to our group, which I will be bringing with me. Thanks a lot, Dirk. Will bring this with me.

Best

Axel
worldofport.com
o-port-unidade.com
User avatar
jdaw1
Cockburn 1851
Posts: 23613
Joined: 15:03 Thu 21 Jun 2007
Location: London
Contact:

Re: 12 October - 55 @ 55 Tasting

Post by jdaw1 »

Updated draft of placemats.
  • Glasses pages on US Legal (8½″×14″).
  • Paginated and within-page flighted.
    • Pre-prandial:
      • D, W, G;
      • F, T;
      • C, Ni (thank you to Dirk Niepoort), N.
    • Post-prandial:
      • Fr, O, S;
      • Ad, BPFHB, GB, Mk, Mz.
I realise that the consensus on flighting is moving away from this plan. I will update when there is consensus about a specific plan.
Roy Hersh
Niepoort LBV
Posts: 283
Joined: 21:55 Mon 31 Dec 2007

Re: 12 October - 55 @ 55 Tasting

Post by Roy Hersh »

Please confirm time and location, thank you!
User avatar
DRT
Fonseca 1966
Posts: 15779
Joined: 23:51 Wed 20 Jun 2007
Location: Chesterfield, UK
Contact:

Re: 12 October - 55 @ 55 Tasting

Post by DRT »

Roy,

The tasting is at the RAF Club in Piccadilly. Taxi drivers will get you there with that description. If you are coming by Tube get yourself to Green Park station. When you come out of the station walk along Piccadilly with Green Park on your left. The RAF Club is a few hundred metres away from the station on the right hand side of the road.

If you get lost Nicos should have my phone number so can call me and I'll talk you in or come and find you.

Derek
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
User avatar
jdaw1
Cockburn 1851
Posts: 23613
Joined: 15:03 Thu 21 Jun 2007
Location: London
Contact:

Re: 12 October - 55 @ 55 Tasting

Post by jdaw1 »

Updated draft of placemats.
  • No decanter labels, as we’ll be pre-pouring.
  • AHB wrote:I propose to have Blockbusters before dinner and Elegance after dinner.
    This has been lightly re-interpreted as:
    • Preprandial:
        • D, W, G;
        • F, T;
    • Postprandial:
        • C, Ni, N;
        • Fr, O, S;
        • GB, Mz;
        • Ad, Mk, BPFHB.
Edit: maybe the Noval should be preprandial? Thoughts?
Roy Hersh
Niepoort LBV
Posts: 283
Joined: 21:55 Mon 31 Dec 2007

Re: 12 October - 55 @ 55 Tasting

Post by Roy Hersh »

Thanks Derek. I am sure we'll find it. Pvt. club ... does that mean a more conservative "dress code" is required?
User avatar
jdaw1
Cockburn 1851
Posts: 23613
Joined: 15:03 Thu 21 Jun 2007
Location: London
Contact:

Re: 12 October - 55 @ 55 Tasting

Post by jdaw1 »

Roy Hersh wrote:does that mean a more conservative "dress code" is required?
No suit requirement, but jeans and T would be excessively casual. ‘Business casual’, as it is called by today’s youth, would be excellent.
User avatar
Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
Posts: 14880
Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

Re: 12 October - 55 @ 55 Tasting

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

Final decisions are now being made.

Attendees and wines are as follows:
1) AHB (Buckingham Palace Blend and Noval)
2) THRA (Taylor)
3) AP (Offley and Niepoort, the latter through the generosity of Dirk Niepoort)
4) Industry Guest
5) RAH (Cockburn and Fonseca)
6) NN (Cockburn and Fonseca)
7) DRT (Martinez)
8) BMHR (Mackenzie)
9) GEE (Gonzales Byass)
10) CMAG (Graham)
11) CSD (Ferreira)
12) JDAW (Warre and Adam's (probably Royal Oporto))
13) RLC (Sandeman)
14) RAYC (who is right handed, bringing Dow)

Seizing executive powers and making the decision over flighting purely alphabetically, we will taste as follows:
Flight 1, starting at 18:30, dinner at 20:00
Adam's
Buckingham Palace Blend
Cockburn
Dow
Ferreira
Fonseca
Gonzales Byass
Graham

Flight 2, after dinner running roughly from 21:00 to 22:30
Martinez
Mackenzie
Niepoort
Noval
Offley
Sandeman
Taylor
Warre

We will pre-pour all the wines before the start of the evening so all are free to work their way through as many of the wines as they wish (and are able to) before dinner.

Dress code should be smart casual. Jeans and T shirts are not considered appropriate at the RAF Club. Please do not arrive any earlier than 18:00 - instead, you can wait in the pub round the corner.

The address of the RAF Club is 128 Piccadilly, London W1J 7PY.

I will send out emails later this week to advise people of the cost of the event and of any port which they are adopting. Please note that payment will need to be made to me either by bank transfer in advance of the event or in cash on the night.

If I've missed anything out then please post a query here.

Looking forward to seeing you all on the 12th.

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

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
User avatar
jdaw1
Cockburn 1851
Posts: 23613
Joined: 15:03 Thu 21 Jun 2007
Location: London
Contact:

Re: 12 October - 55 @ 55 Tasting

Post by jdaw1 »

Questions:
  • AHB wrote:13) RLC (Sandeman)
    14) RAYC (who is right handed, bringing Dow)
    Does ‟RAYC” = ‟RLC”?
  • [url=http://www.theportforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=37558#p37558]Here[/url] AHB wrote:
    jdaw1 wrote:What is the first name of MTD
    It is Markus
    Please confirm the deliberate omission of MTD = Markus.
  • By what name is ‟Industry Guest” more commonly known?
  • With-in page flight divisions to be deleted. Please confirm.
User avatar
Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
Posts: 14880
Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

Re: 12 October - 55 @ 55 Tasting

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

jdaw1 wrote:Questions:
  • AHB wrote:13) RLC (Sandeman)
    14) RAYC (who is right handed, bringing Dow)
    Does ‟RAYC” = ‟RLC”?
No. The two are different people.

[*]
[url=http://www.theportforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=37558#p37558]Here[/url] AHB wrote:
jdaw1 wrote:What is the first name of MTD
It is Markus
Please confirm the deliberate omission of MTD = Markus.
Confirmed. MTD has dropped out and been replaced by RAYC.

[*]By what name is ‟Industry Guest” more commonly known?
I will advise separately

[*]With-in page flight divisions to be deleted. Please confirm.[/list]
Confirmed.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
User avatar
jdaw1
Cockburn 1851
Posts: 23613
Joined: 15:03 Thu 21 Jun 2007
Location: London
Contact:

Re: 12 October - 55 @ 55 Tasting

Post by jdaw1 »

Updated draft of placemats.
  • Alphabetical.
  • Glasses pages again on US Legal (8½″×14″). The first thirty-two pages need to be printed onto 8½″×14″ US Legal.
  • RAYC = Rob C., who replaces MTD.
  • Within-page flight divisions deleted.
  • Also, the last two pages are to be printed onto labels (correct side thereof, please).
User avatar
uncle tom
Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
Posts: 3518
Joined: 23:43 Wed 20 Jun 2007
Location: Near Saffron Walden, England

Re: 12 October - 55 @ 55 Tasting

Post by uncle tom »

The Taylor, Sandeman, Graham, Offley, Dow & Cockburn have just been selected and stood up..

..all nicely cellared bottles with good levels.. :P

Tom
I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly - W.S. Churchill
User avatar
jdaw1
Cockburn 1851
Posts: 23613
Joined: 15:03 Thu 21 Jun 2007
Location: London
Contact:

Re: 12 October - 55 @ 55 Tasting

Post by jdaw1 »

As were the Warre and the presumed Adam yesterday. Warre 1mm below bottom neck; Adam 1mm above.
User avatar
Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
Posts: 14880
Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

Re: 12 October - 55 @ 55 Tasting

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

And I've just stood up the Buckingham Palace blend, the Fonseca and the Martinez.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

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