Graham 1980 case study - Wednesday 2nd April 2014

[PopulusTremula]

I have port which meets the criteria for additional port. I am unclear whether I should bring a bottle. Could someone clarify for me whether this is required?

Your offer is noted and much appreciated. However, currently we stand at an equal amount of bottles to participants. In the spirit of lent we should try and go about our daily business in a frugal manner and refrain from excess. Therefore, one bottle per person will have to suffice, hardship for which we will be amply rewarded in the afterlife. As it stands now you do not have to bring anything but please keep the bottle handy if MPM or CPR are forced to bow out with short notice.

Thanks

[jdaw1]

Magnus: your eloquent reply is delightful, but wrong. ThePortForum is not Lentful, indeed is much closer to the opposite. And not all of us are piously practising Christians (e.g., not me). So please could I, acting as a Amicus Curia, urge a different decision?

[flash_uk]

Magnus: your eloquent reply is delightful, but wrong. ThePortForum is not Lentful, indeed is much closer to the opposite. And not all of us are piously practising Christians (e.g., not me). So please could I, acting as a Amicus Curia, urge a different decision?

Seconded

[PopulusTremula]

Magnus: your eloquent reply is delightful, but wrong. ThePortForum is not Lentful, indeed is much closer to the opposite. And not all of us are piously practising Christians (e.g., not me). So please could I, acting as a Amicus Curia, urge a different decision?

Being an easily swayed non-practising Christian, your plea has found favour with the court and the previous decision which appears to lack precedent, is hereby repealed.

Alex: your offer is back in play if still valid.

/Magnus

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[jdaw1]

Hurray! (Placemats will be updated later this evening.)

I did like the “appears to lack precedent”.

[jdaw1]

Updated draft of the placemats.

• Extra spares: AHB, η, θ.

(This post edited.)

[flash_uk]

I've reread the thread and can't spot if a venue has been selected/booked. Are we planning to be in the usual place?

[jdaw1]

I've reread the thread and can't spot if a venue has been selected/booked. Are we planning to be in the usual place?

A phone call revealed that Magnus had already booked the Function Room in The Bung Hole (57 High Holborn, London WC1V 6DT, tel +44 20 7831 8365, streetmap.co.uk, maps.google.co.uk).

Helen will not be there: she will be in València, “thinking of [us]”.

[flash_uk]

I've reread the thread and can't spot if a venue has been selected/booked. Are we planning to be in the usual place?

A phone call revealed that Magnus had already booked the Function Room in The Bung Hole (57 High Holborn, London WC1V 6DT, tel +44 20 7831 8365, streetmap.co.uk, maps.google.co.uk).

Helen will not be there: she will be in València, “thinking of [us]”.

Splendid. All in order.

[DRT]

Please put me down for an extra bottle. Those who know me should know the year so only the shipper needs to be guessed.

[djewesbury]

Please put me down for an extra bottle. Those who know me should know the year so only the shipper needs to be guessed.

Taylor 70

[flash_uk]

Graham 70, if you are adhering to the thinking previously contrived for additional bottles

My suggestion was perhaps a bit vague I realise now! I was definitely not thinking more G80, but rather for additions either have more G, like a 77 or 83, offering an opportunity to compare and contrast a little older and a little younger to the case of 6, or, have more 80s which are not G, to offer a reference point to the same vintage. All serving to help with objectives 2 and 3. Could still do this blind.

Re-reading your post, no vagueness was found. My initial befuddlement is blamed on the early hour combined with standing room only on a Southeastern train.

Your suggestion is wholly endorsed, feel free to bring non-80 Grahams or other 80s. Let's keep these blind if possible.

[djewesbury]

I was going to guess G70. If Derek could only drink one port it might be G70. But the fact he asked us to guess suggested there was something to guess.

[DRT]

Not 1970.

one bottle per person will have to suffice, hardship for which we will be amply rewarded in the afterlife.

If the above rule was applied and I was not allowed to bring my extra bottle I might be rewarded sooner rather than later.

[Glenn E.]

GM65, of course

[DRT]

GM65, of course

I couldn't possibly comment as it is to be served blind

[Alex Bridgeman]

Has any thought been given to how the bottles will be decanted? Is decanting assistance required at lunchtime perhaps?

[djewesbury]

Gents, sorry, I've been asked to chair an event in the Film Festival here next week - I won't be able to make it over for this. Probably need to keep my powder dry for our tasting here on the 8th - and the various BFT-week events - anyway.

[PopulusTremula]

Daniel: Sorry to hear that you won't make it. Hope to see you at another tasting soon.

List of attendees has been amended in the initial post.

DRT: Your kind offer of an extra bottle is greatly appreciated and accepted.

AHB: Thanks for the offer of assistance. However, I am leaning towards decanting in the office where i can avail myself of kitchen facilities. With muslin the decanting process is fairly quick and provided each bottle is decanted with fresh cloth and a clean sieve and decanter, the only other exogenous variable is time. If the corks are pulled in batch, then all six bottles should be done within 15 minutes. Once done, I will get them to the Bung Hole sometime before lunch. I presume they have a cool space where the bottles can sit until evening?

JDAW: Please update the placemats.

Getting excited now.

[flash_uk]

Looking forward to this, and pondering how I will overcome a slight logistical challenge with bottle decant. I am in Belfast on Tuesday and overnight, arriving back on Wednesday in perfect time to stroll along to TBH. This makes things somewhat complex to decant my extra bottle with some useful lead time ahead of consumption. One option would be to leave it with another in advance if someone could kindly decant? Magnus - your plan to decant at work...are you anywhere roughly in central London for that?

[PopulusTremula]

Looking forward to this, and pondering how I will overcome a slight logistical challenge with bottle decant. I am in Belfast on Tuesday and overnight, arriving back on Wednesday in perfect time to stroll along to TBH. This makes things somewhat complex to decant my extra bottle with some useful lead time ahead of consumption. One option would be to leave it with another in advance if someone could kindly decant? Magnus - your plan to decant at work...are you anywhere roughly in central London for that?

I am based at St. Paul's and can decant your bottle on the day, although I am unlikely to be able to maintain "blindness" . Any chance you can bring it along to somewhere near me already tomorrow? I am out on Friday so if not, then Monday?

[flash_uk]

I am based at St. Paul's

Perfect. I am just by Ludgate Circus, so very handy. Not in London tomorrow, so looks like Monday is best. Will PM my number and we can work something out on Monday. And yes, blindness does become a bit of a challenge!

[PhilW]

I am based at St. Paul's

Perfect. I am just by Ludgate Circus, so very handy. Not in London tomorrow, so looks like Monday is best. Will PM my number and we can work something out on Monday. And yes, blindness does become a bit of a challenge!

perhaps cover in silver foil, and remove the capsule but not the cork, before delivering? Than Magnus would just have to not look at the cork sides on removal, which is viable.

Wish I could join you, but the date not possible for me.

[jdaw1]

All the cork sides will say Graham 1980. Why can’t he see them?

JDAW: Please update the placemats.

Will do. Please check them when done.

[djewesbury]

All the cork sides will say Graham 1980. Why can’t he see them?

The only one he can't look at is Flash's.

You're in Belfast two weeks in a row? Is that wise?

[flash_uk]

You're in Belfast two weeks in a row? Is that wise?

Indeed, and was mid-PM to you to see if you're around on the evening of the 1st and wanted to catch up?

[djewesbury]

I'll PM you now!

[jdaw1]

Updated draft of the placemats.

• +DRT;
• –DJ.

(It might be necessary to force the images to reload. Either command/control-R for the whole page, or one of the possibilities from right-clicking the images.)

[WS1]

Hi,

after having been back from my holiday at work yesterday the first day I sadly have to opt out of this event. Apologies for the short notice due to work comittments.

regards

WS1

[PopulusTremula]

Hi,

after having been back from my holiday at work yesterday the first day I sadly have to opt out of this event. Apologies for the short notice due to work comittments.

regards

WS1

Sorry to hear you can't make it. You'll be missed and i hope to see you at another event soon.

JDAW: can you please update the placemats?

Thanks

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[PopulusTremula]

For the avoidance of doubt; i'll be at the Bung Hole around 18:00 tomorrow evening to begin setup, aiming for an 18:30 start.

An extra pair of hands would be appreciated to help w pouring etc. Please let me know of availability.

Thanks

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[jdaw1]

Yes, I will update this evening. Who will print?

With only six people, will we really need to pre-pour?

[PopulusTremula]

Yes, I will update this evening. Who will print?

Assuming it's A4, i'll print.

With only six people, will we really need to pre-pour?

Good point, let's skip that. I'll lable the bottles instead.

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[flash_uk]

My flight lands at LHR at 1630, so all being well I'll be there around 1800.

[jdaw1]

Yes, I will update this evening.

Actually, now. Done.

Yes, A4. Please print at 100% — don’t allow your printer settings to shrink the pages. And not duplex.

[CPR 1]

If there is just 6 of us now, are we going to be able to do justice to all 10+ bottles we seem to have coming?

not meaning to be weak and feeble but I am not sure 10 bottles of port can count as my 10 portions of fruit and veg?

[jdaw1]

am not sure 10 bottles of port can count as my 10 portions of fruit and veg?

Heretic.

[djewesbury]

If there is just 6 of us now, are we going to be able to do justice to all 10+ bottles we seem to have coming?

not meaning to be weak and feeble but I am not sure 10 bottles of port can count as my 10 portions of fruit and veg?

It just means you'll have plenty of samples to send to the people who couldn't make it.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Given so few people are now able to attend, I will bravely face the scorn and announce that I will not bring the magnum of Graham 1880 to the tasting that I had planned to bring.

Now we are down to a mere 9 bottles for the 6 of us.

[djewesbury]

Given so few people are now able to attend, I will bravely face the scorn and announce that I will not bring the magnum of Graham 1880 to the tasting that I had planned to bring.

Now we are down to a mere 9 bottles for the 6 of us.

Oh dear, and Julian's already printed.

[jdaw1]

Oh dear, and Julian's already printed.

I haven’t. Indeed, it isn’t me to print. And AHB doesn’t own any magnums of Graham 1880.

[Alex Bridgeman]

And AHB doesn’t own any magnums of Graham 1880.

Damn! Don't I? Must be wishful thinking.

[PhilW]

And AHB doesn’t own any magnums of Graham 1880.

Damn! Don't I? Must be wishful thinking.

You must be thinking of your Jereboams.

[PopulusTremula]

And AHB doesn’t own any magnums of Graham 1880.

Damn! Don't I? Must be wishful thinking.

You must be thinking of your Jereboams.

Such an easy mistake to make when dealing w a cellar of AHB's complexity, all those Hens...

It might be worthwhile to bring some smaller bottles in case people want to continue sampling on subsequent days, or indeed as DJ suggested, act charitably by way of Royal Mail.

[djewesbury]

Oh dear, and Julian's already printed.

I haven’t. Indeed, it isn’t me to print.

Apologies. Misread earlier posts.
I think it is our patriotic duty to support Royal Mail. Just saying.

[DRT]

I think it is our patriotic duty to support Royal Mail. Just saying.

I supported Royal Mail to the tune of £750 and, like many other patriotic souls, made about £500 in 36 hours. I think I have done my duty.

Despite the late withdrawal I intend bringing my life-giving extra. If others feel it is surplus to requirements I will happily sit in the corner and sip my way through it. I would, of course, prefer to share the joy.

[djewesbury]

I think I have done my duty.

And yet, somehow, almost inexplicably, I feel that you owe me…

[DRT]

I think I have done my duty.

And yet, somehow, almost inexplicably, I feel that you owe me…

But I don't think I owe you postage.

[djewesbury]

I think I have done my duty.

And yet, somehow, almost inexplicably, I feel that you owe me…

But I don't think I owe you postage.

All these things are negotiable.
Humbly yours.

[DRT]

I think I have done my duty.

And yet, somehow, almost inexplicably, I feel that you owe me…

But I don't think I owe you postage.

All these things are negotiable.
Humbly yours.

Indeed.