The Birthday Boys' Tasting, London - 29 Mar 2012

[DRT]

On the plus side, you do have all three of the Ports that tied for 4th.

[AHB]

But equally I thinks it's highly unlikely that the Seattle tasting will have included our wine of the night from our offline. That's likely to come from the second half of the evening!

[DRT]

But equally I thinks it's highly unlikely that the Seattle tasting will have included our wine of the night from our offline. That's likely to come from the second half of the evening!

[jdaw1]

Is Graham’s Finest Reserve eligible for this tasting?

Both colour and taste show some wood ageing, which isn’t my taste. But it is well-made port that is a pleasure to drink. I’m impressed.

€12ish from Monoprix.

[DRT]

Is Graham’s Finest Reserve eligible for this tasting?

Yes.

[Glenn E.]

But equally I thinks it's highly unlikely that the Seattle tasting will have included our wine of the night from our offline. That's likely to come from the second half of the evening!

Well yes, as our tasting was exclusively for ruby reserves.

Our POTN would have been the Romaneira 40-yr old that I opened for "dessert" except that it wasn't eligible because it wasn't a ruby reserve!

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

[jdaw1]

Placemats, or first drafts thereof, will be made Sunday evening. Is the first post sufficiently up to date that it can be used for this purpose?

¿?

[DRT]

Placemats, or first drafts thereof, will be made Sunday evening. Is the first post sufficiently up to date that it can be used for this purpose?

¿?

Yes, sorry, I missed your question.

[jdaw1]

First draft of the placemats.

• Please look and check.
• Who is “CSD’s +1”?

In the first post please repair name of Fonseca’s product.

[DRT]

First draft of the placemats.

• Please look and check.
• Who is “CSD’s +1”?

In the first post please repair name of Fonseca’s product.

I haven't had confirmation that CSD is coming, and strongly suspect not.

[jdaw1]

Is Axel coming?

My problems with reaching my port continue. Please may I adopt from somebody with a spare bottle?

• Fonseca Tera Prima

Please fix.

[DRT]

Axel has not confirmed one way or the other.

Sorry, my port not in the right place for adoption.

Fixed.

[jdaw1]

I’m sorry about this, but a work thing — an actually important work thing — has invaded the evening of 29th March. Damn! Double-damn!

If my no-show leaves the team out of pocket, please let me know and I will make you whole. The Graham’s Finest Reserve will be at TBH.

Triple-damn.

Also, by PM, neither CSD nor CSD’s +1. So three down in one post.

[AHB]

Date: Thursday 29th March 2012
Venue: The Bung Hole, London
Theme…

• Amuse-bouche: The Great International Ruby Reserve Taste-off, comprising…
  
  • Cockburn Special Reserve (RLC)
  • Fonseca Terra Prima (RAYC)
  • Graham's Six Grapes (DRT)
  • Noval Black (RAYC)
  • Ramos-Pinto Collector (RLC)
  • Quinta de la Rosa Reserve (RAYC)
  • The Port Society Ruby Reserve (RLC)
• Entrée: Beer break.
  
• Plat principal: Bring a Port to Drink on Your Birthday.

Attendees:

1. AHB;
2. BMHR;
3. CMAG;
4. RAYC;
5. RLC;
6. THRA;
7. DRT (t.b.c);
8. AP (t.b.c).

So is my amended list based on the first post correct? There are now 6-8 of us attending with 6-8 Reserve Rubies to sample and then a bottle of port each for the birthday bash element of the evening?

How much should the non-contributors to the Ruby Reserve part of the evening be budgeting to cover the costs incurred by those buying these ports?

[Axel P]

Unfortunately I am out, since on this date is my daughters birthday.

Axel

As I wrote on Dec 19 I am not coming. I wish you excellent bottles and much joy.

Best

Axel

[jdaw1]

Mine is a low-cost apology for non-attendance.

[jdaw1]

I reckon that you are seven: BMHR, CMAG, RAYC, THRA, AHB, DRT, RLC.

[jdaw1]

Updated draft of the placemats.

• –JDAW; –CSD; –Terry D.
• Formatting improvements, and slightly varying headers.

[AHB]

Place mats look good to me.

[DRT]

As I wrote on Dec 19 I am not coming. I wish you excellent bottles and much joy.

Apologies, Axel, I thought that post was in relation to the suggested move to 11th March.

I reckon that you are seven: BMHR, CMAG, RAYC, THRA, AHB, DRT, RLC.

First post updated.

[RAYC]

How much should the non-contributors to the Ruby Reserve part of the evening be budgeting to cover the costs incurred by those buying these ports?

Don't have exact details to hand but my three were about £14 - £15 per bottle. Was unimpressed by selections at Tesco/Waitrose on weekend so did not buy extra.

[DRT]

How much should the non-contributors to the Ruby Reserve part of the evening be budgeting to cover the costs incurred by those buying these ports?

Don't have exact details to hand but my three were about £14 - £15 per bottle. Was unimpressed by selections at Tesco/Waitrose on weekend so did not buy extra.

The GSG was £12.50.

[RAYC]

Am i decanting these Ruby Reserves? Or just opening them in advance? If so, when?

Or is this a true "carry, pop and pour" test?

[jdaw1]

I hope that this evening both the Graham’s Finest Reserve and the placemats can be delivered. Should the GFR be opened before delivery?

[AHB]

In my (limited) experience all the ruby reserves that I have drunk have improved with 24 hours in the decanter. My suggestion would be that where opportunity permits, these should be opened and sloshed from one bottle to another as soon as possible.