The Port Forum Offline #2 - 1st Sep 2007

Conky · Post by **Conky** » 14:34 Tue 28 Aug 2007

F Planners.

A bit of bad news. The Glasses were not the correct ones. They were the right shape, but 4 ounces when the classic ones are 6 ounces. I made some panic enquiries to no avail. So I purchased 4 dozen of these smaller glasses for £35 (They should have been £60).

It was after consulting Derek, we decided it will give everyone a full placemat, but everyone will also have a few proper sized glasses for the nicer ones, or when they are wanting a fuller glass.

Apologies, left this one a bit late.

Alan

Post by **jdaw1** » 14:49 Tue 28 Aug 2007

jdaw1 wrote:∃ review thread and individual TN threads for each of Fonseca 1920, 1963, 1966, 1970, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1992, and 2000.

Quoted for ease of access of linked threads.

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 15:42 Tue 28 Aug 2007

Alan,

sounds perfect to me. I was going to drag my 8 glasses along anyway but I wouldn't be upset by smaller glasses, as long as I could keep refilling,

Alex

Conky · Post by **Conky** » 17:53 Tue 28 Aug 2007

A small bit of good news. My negotiations with the Big Fella seem to be bearing fruit.

This is the forecast.

A little bit early to be guaranteed, but a good sign. Just need it to warm up a tad.

Alan

Post by **jdaw1** » 18:00 Tue 28 Aug 2007

The expert interlocutor in these matters is the Fenland prelate. Do you know the Bishop of Norwich?

Post by **DRT** » 13:32 Wed 29 Aug 2007

I have now taken ownership of 5 Cohiba (Siglo II) cigars.

Each cigar comes in its own little yellow box made from recycled cardboard. These must therefore be environmentally friendly cigars

The girth:length ratio looks reasonable to me.

I would post a photo of them if I had a camera.

Derek

Conky · Post by **Conky** » 13:42 Wed 29 Aug 2007

That is the Siglo II. (The picture is life size)

A review.

A character amongst the Siglo family. This Petit Corona sometimes seems out of place amongst it's illustrious brothers. But Cohiba have worked extra hard to give this feisty fellow a character all of its own. A wonderful silky, oily wrapper encompasses a cigar fired up with spicy, woody flavors masterly combined, which makes this little cigar a real treat to the senses. I had the pleasure of being offered one of these by my work colleague, Rik,we had a glass of Cognac after work and chatted about the days events and the Siglo II really complimented the heady Cognac to perfection. Ring gauge: 42. Length: 12.90 CM / 5.0 inches

Looking forward to it/them.

Post by **jdaw1** » 13:42 Wed 29 Aug 2007

Cohiba Siglo II: looks entirely excellent.

Edit: near-simultaneous posts.

Ghandih · Post by **Ghandih** » 16:49 Wed 29 Aug 2007

Gents,

All the plans discussed above seem excellent, the bottles exciting, the cigars triffic - everything fab, really.

I am not able to join in the pre-whatsit excitement as much as I would like because of a ridiculous mountain of work (rubbish excuse, but that's the way of it). The mountain is so big I've just booked a train from Oxford to Wigan that arrives in Wigan at 16:23 Satdi afternoon, so that I can work on the way. I'd like to think I might work on the way home, too, but that may be a bit optimistic.

There seem to be trains from Wigan to St Helens, too, so I guess that is all OK. Could someone confirm I won't have missed anything by this travel plan, apart (perhaps) from the beer?

Thx,

Hgandi

Post by **jdaw1** » 17:24 Wed 29 Aug 2007

… and recuperative sip of 1940 Sercial, and our company. Surely that’s too much already.

Conky · Post by **Conky** » 17:50 Wed 29 Aug 2007

Gandhi,

There are regular cheap trains from Wigan to St.Helens, and I'll pick you up from St.Helens if you give me a time. Should I PM you with my mobile No. ?
If for some reason there's a delay, or a problem, we can pick you up from Wigan, but that would restrict my Bitter/Sercial intake! I'll happily do that, but it will result in me calling you a 'Dozy Bugger' all the way home!

Alan

Post by **jdaw1** » 19:29 Wed 29 Aug 2007

Would a taxi from St. Helens be blisteringly expensive?

Conky · Post by **Conky** » 20:13 Wed 29 Aug 2007

Only a few pounds. But I'm sure we can sort something out. See how you get on, but when you end up in a strange place, scratching your head, call me and we'll come to the rescue.

You Southern Jessies might be used to waiting patiently for all forms of Public Transport, but up here, we just phone friends, and cadge lifts.

Post by **jdaw1** » 20:40 Wed 29 Aug 2007

Presumably southern Jessies’ friends are drinking, whereas up north people are sipping cold water. Or something.

Conky · Post by **Conky** » 21:02 Wed 29 Aug 2007

KillerB,

What time can you make it? Sounds like Derek at 4-ish, Ghandi at 5-ish, Me and Jdaw1 all day, but your welcome whenever it suits you?

The full 'not missing anything' version, sounds like a couple of pints of Bitter in the Local, a glass of Julians Sercial 40, a steak and lager, then on to the Main Event. The Main Event only starts when everyones there, relaxed, and ready.

Alan

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 23:23 Wed 29 Aug 2007

I'll be training in the morning so won't start moving until after 1PM. Probably on the road for 2PM and with you by about 4PM. I will bring some TTL and some cheese.

Post by **jdaw1** » 23:47 Wed 29 Aug 2007

Please confirm that cheese nargs have consulted with other cheese nargs.

Post by **DRT** » 23:59 Wed 29 Aug 2007

I may be earlier than 4pm. Depends on state of speaking-with-the-Mrs-ness.

Earlier means bad news. Expect me to be there before jdaw!

Whatever happens, please remember that Sercial 40 arrives with me.

Ghandih, let's not talk about work schedules.

Derek

Post by **jdaw1** » 00:03 Thu 30 Aug 2007

Derek T. wrote:I may be earlier than 4pm. Depends on state of speaking-with-the-Mrs-ness.

Earlier means bad news.

… please remember that Sercial 40 arrives with me.

Earlier may be bad news for your marriage, but it’s good news for my drinking.

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 00:06 Thu 30 Aug 2007

As I am a flipping assistant again

I will state firstly that if Ghhanhhhndih has any of the Dutch cheese that I am bringing along I will be flabbergasted. I was going to pick up some Colston Basset stilton and sundry other local cheeses, maybe some Montgomery.

Post by **jdaw1** » 00:20 Thu 30 Aug 2007

Please, Cropwell Bishop far superior to Colston Basset.

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 00:24 Thu 30 Aug 2007

I can do both

Conky · Post by **Conky** » 00:25 Thu 30 Aug 2007

As far as cheese goes, I suspect I'll try a smidgeon of Blandwell Tasteless, and then move onto Dereks Cohiba, while you lot devour Putrid Sports Sock, or Dead Hedgehogs Stomach.

I presume your all familiar with these brands of cheese.

Alan

Post by **DRT** » 01:14 Thu 30 Aug 2007

Please, can we have some BabyBell and Kraft Triangles

Jdaw, marital bliss is not something I am holding out hope for. My wife and I have not lived together in 7 years so I don't think she minds whether I arrive at 2pm or 5pm.

The "Mrs" reference was in relation to my long-term Partner, Joanne. A whole different animal from "The Wife" but infinately more influencial in current arrangements. I'm sure she will see sense and agree that it is best that I leave early on Saturday

Derek

Post by **jdaw1** » 01:42 Thu 30 Aug 2007

Ahh, a complication of which I was unaware. Nothing more need be said. I won’t even comment on the spelling of ∞.

Post by **jdaw1** » 01:43 Thu 30 Aug 2007

jdaw1 wrote:∃ review thread and individual TN threads for each of Fonseca 1920, 1963, 1966, 1970, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1992, and 2000.

Quoted for ease of access of linked threads.

Post by **DRT** » 01:50 Thu 30 Aug 2007

TPF Offline #2 Checklist Update #3

Sercial 1940 - on Death Row - awaiting decanting advice
Fonseca 1920 - on Death Row, decant 15 minutes before serving
Fonseca 1963 - on Death Row, decant at T-6 Hours
Fonseca 1966 - on Death Row, decant at T-6 Hours
Fonseca 1970 - on Death Row, decant at T-6 Hours
Fonseca 1975 - on Death Row, decant at T-4 Hours
Fonseca 1977 - on Death Row, decant at T-6 Hours
Fonseca 1980 - on Death Row, decant at T-6 Hours
Fonseca 1983 - on Death Row, decant at T-6 Hours
Fonseca 1985 - on Death Row, decant at T-24hrs
Fonseca 1992 - on Death Row, decant at T-10 Hours
Fonseca 2000 - on Death Row, decant at T-24 Hours
Tatsing Mats Production - Jdaws Task (completed)
Tasting Mat Delivery - Jdaw's Task
T-shirts - Jdaw's Task
Glasses (39 available) - Conky has bought some thimbles to be sed as glasses
Accomodation - all doss down at Conky's - Derek & Ghandih to bring sleeping bags
Steaks & BBQ - Conky's Task
Cheese - Ghandih's Task
Cheese assistance - KillerB's Task - perhaps too much responsibility?
Cigars - Derek's Task (completed)
Camera - Derek's Task
Laptop with 3G/Wireless and http://www.flickr.com account - Derek's Task
Collecting Jdaw from Airport - Alan's Task
picking Ghanhhhhhhhdihh up from somewhere - task to be allocated
Visiting Orange with jdaw - Alan's Task
Lovely Debs Prezzie - Each guest to bring small token of appreciation, including Conky
Breakfast - Lovely Debs Task

Derek

Ghandih · Post by **Ghandih** » 07:39 Thu 30 Aug 2007

jdaw, of course KillerB and I have not consulted on cheese. However, I note that he has given me a clue as to what he may bring. I will bring a lower calibre cheddar that I think is nicer than Monty, which tends to blow my socks off and then sprout vegetation in them. He seems to have stilton in a bag, so I'll leave off (with the assumption that the promised Cropwell Bishop will appear).

I thought a goats cheese would be a good thing, and there seems to be an obvious hole in the market as quoted for something ewey, that would be magnificently plugged by Wigmore, if only I could obtain some. I will be visiting Paxton & Whitfield Jermyn St this morning ("A gentleman only buys his cheese from Paxton & Whitfield" - Sir Winston Churchill" says their website http://www.paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk/index.php), so we'll see what they can do.

An email with some local mobile numbers (I know that makes sense even though it doesn't sound like it does) would be handy.

Ghandih

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 17:20 Thu 30 Aug 2007

OK I have two stiltons (CB and CB), Monty, Berkeswell (ewe) and the Dutch stuff that the Rootses gave to me.

Post by **jdaw1** » 12:04 Fri 31 Aug 2007

OK I’ve got passport, boarding printout thingie, placemats, T shirts, Deb’s present and spare liver. Do I need anything else?

Conky · Post by **Conky** » 12:23 Fri 31 Aug 2007

Safe journey, and try bringing over some decent weather. The forecast changed overnight to 'changeable', possible showers.
Thats doing my head in, as the tasting was planned for the Patio on a lovely late Summers evening. Fingers crossed, and I'm sure we'll manage.

Ghandih · Post by **Ghandih** » 17:10 Fri 31 Aug 2007

Conky - at least you don't live in Manchester. It always rains there.

CU tomorrow...

Ghandih · Post by **Ghandih** » 19:16 Fri 31 Aug 2007

KillerB wrote:OK I have two stiltons (CB and CB), Monty, Berkeswell (ewe) and the Dutch stuff that the Rootses gave to me.

I can add a Chaource (disappointing the French couldn't squeeze an 'i' in), a Golden Cross, a cave-matured cheddar and Neufchatel. I still may get another cheddar if the urge takes me, but we may already have enough cheese, if such a thing is possible.

Gahndih

PS I'm prepared to stake my cheesy reputation that the CB will taste better than the CB. You see if it doesn't!

Conky · Post by **Conky** » 19:56 Fri 31 Aug 2007

Men of Cheese!

Not being a cheese person. Should I have one of those selection boxes of Crackers/Biscuits? I can easily russle them up if required.
I do have cigar cutters,etc.

Its rained enough for two days, today. So can we have a bit of Sun for tomorrow?

Alan.

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 20:25 Fri 31 Aug 2007

I have some Carr's water biscuits.

Conky - can you PM your address and Post code to me, please?

Post by **DRT** » 21:42 Fri 31 Aug 2007

The first cork is out. I can confirm that the F2000 is black, thick and smells of fruit

Post by **jdaw1** » 21:44 Fri 31 Aug 2007

Leaving in a moment; see some of you in about twelve hours, some of you later.

Post by **jdaw1** » 21:47 Fri 31 Aug 2007

Derek T. wrote:The first cork is out. I can confirm that the F2000 is black, thick and smells of fruit

Such observations belong here.

Conky · Post by **Conky** » 21:56 Fri 31 Aug 2007

Thats Pure Julian! In the airport, about to cross the continents, and he's correcting Derek on which Thread his comment should be in!

And the Big Fella is messing with my head! Look at the latest, and recently changed BBC Forecast.

Its throwing it down as we speak, rain is forecast for Sunday and Monday. But look at tomorrow! Is it a cruel joke by the Big Fella. (Or some spotty oink at the BBC Met Office who has changed his mind every day of this week)

Post by **jdaw1** » 22:03 Fri 31 Aug 2007

Not in airport. At home. About to leave, without a laptop, so leaving all the poor apostrophes in the hands of you known criminals.

Post by **DRT** » 23:56 Fri 31 Aug 2007

jdaw1 wrote:
Derek T. wrote:The first cork is out. I can confirm that the F2000 is black, thick and smells of fruit
Such observations belong here.

The photo is now where it should be, as planned. The informative rambling drivel was posted here as that is where it should be.

Safe flight. See you tomorrow.

Derek

Post by **DRT** » 01:15 Sat 01 Sep 2007

TPF Offline #2 Checklist Update #4

Sercial 1940 - on Death Row - awaiting decanting advice
Fonseca 1920 - on Death Row, decant 15 minutes before serving
Fonseca 1963 - on Death Row, decant at T-6 Hours
Fonseca 1966 - on Death Row, decant at T-6 Hours
Fonseca 1970 - on Death Row, decant at T-6 Hours
Fonseca 1975 - on Death Row, decant at T-4 Hours
Fonseca 1977 - on Death Row, decant at T-6 Hours
Fonseca 1980 - on Death Row, decant at T-6 Hours
Fonseca 1983 - on Death Row, decant at T-6 Hours
Fonseca 1985 - Decanted at 00:00 1 Sep 07
Fonseca 1992 - on Death Row, decant at T-10 Hours
Fonseca 2000 - Decanted at 21:30 on 31 Aug 07
Tatsing Mats Production - Jdaws Task (completed)
Tasting Mat Delivery - Jdaw's Task - en route
T-shirts - Jdaw's Task en route
Glasses (39 available) - Conky has bought some thimbles to be used as glasses
Accomodation - all doss down at Conky's - Derek & Ghandih to bring sleeping bags
Steaks & BBQ - Conky's Task
Cheese - Ghandih's Task
Cheese assistance - KillerB's Task - perhaps too much responsibility?
Cigars - Derek's Task (completed)
Camera - Derek's Task
Laptop with 3G/Wireless and http://www.flickr.com account - Derek's Task
Collecting Jdaw from Airport - Alan's Task
picking Ghanhhhhhhhdihh up from somewhere - task to be allocated
Visiting Orange with jdaw - Alan's Task
Lovely Debs Prezzie - Each guest to bring small token of appreciation, including Conky
Breakfast - Lovely Debs Task

Derek[/quote]

Post by **DRT** » 11:41 Sat 01 Sep 2007

Below are 2 posts created by BirD and Jdaw1 in the Fonseca 66 TN thread. As I couldn't find a way to move the posts here I copied the text into this post as quotes and deleted the posts so that the TN thread remains clean.

I hope you are OK with this guys.

Derek

BirDungy wrote:Is it usual on this forum to lay out the TN that you will be posting in advance of tasting? What a tease!

I own 1 '66 Fonseca and have been saving for a special occasion so am looking forward to seeing the note.

Thanks in advance.

BirD

jdaw1 wrote:Because this is a collabaratively arranged tasting of several bottles, we thought it easier to build the cross-linked threads in advance.

We’re trying to keep these TN threads reasonably on-subject (that is, about the wine in the title) by directing chit-chat to this thread (which is currently 11 pages long).

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 14:28 Sat 01 Sep 2007

Not being able to be with you in person, I can assure you that I am eagerly awaiting regular updates, photographs and tasting notes (on the appropriate threads, of course). I am also relying on the fact that since Julian will be with you in person that all such notes and postings will be perfectly punctuated.

I decanted a Cockburn 1983 this morning and will be joining you in spirit and vicariously through the night.

Have fun and drink a toast to those of us who can't be with you.

Alex

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 20:26 Sat 01 Sep 2007

Hello..anybody out there?

What time does the F plan diet start?

Has St Helens been cut off from the rest of the internet?

Alex

Conky · Post by **Conky** » 21:36 Sat 01 Sep 2007

Alex,

To give you a flavour...

Would you like more???

The 63 is astounding, and the 20 was interesting but weak and watery.

Good fun, and the night is sooo young!

Alan

Post by **jdaw1** » 21:51 Sat 01 Sep 2007

… which belongs here.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 21:57 Sat 01 Sep 2007

I'm very pleased to see that the sun is shining and that you are all studiously taking notes. I'm looking forward to seeing them posted as I sip what's left of my Cockburn '83.

Any early clues as to what you rate as the wine of the night? How did the weak (your descriptor, not mine) vintages of Fonseca hold up to their more illustrious siblings?

Alex

Conky · Post by **Conky** » 23:22 Sat 01 Sep 2007

As you said, all will be confirmed later. The overall winner was the 1963. It was followed by 70, 77, 66 and 85.
The weaker years were ok, but not a patch on the big years.

Most have been scribing away, so lots of details to follow. We're now at the Off-Topic stage of the night. Derek is convinced we should impose British names on Foriegners. Julian is keen to order Black Pudding for tomorrows Breakfast. Alex is talking receipes, and Simon is remarkably coherent (But it cant last), and I am wondering how long I can continue to blag that I know a bit about Port. The Gorgeous Deborah is just shaking her head. I'm not sure what that means.

Happy Days!

Alan

Conky · Post by **Conky** » 01:09 Sun 02 Sep 2007

Oh Dear!

As much fun as we're having. The odd bloke couldn't keep the pace.

For those who cant make it out. It's a Forum member who decided to bed down in the kitchen!

Alan

ThePortForum.com

The Port Forum Offline #2 - 1st Sep 2007

Links to TN threads

expert interlocutor in weather matters

Cohiba Siglo II

Ghandih Travel Plans

What Simon will miss

Would a taxi from St. Helens be blisteringly expensive?

Presumably southern Jessies’ friends are drinking

cheese nargs

Goods news; bad news

Cropwell Bishop far superior to Colston Basset

Ahh, a complication of which I was unaware.

List of F-plan threads

Cheeses!

Do I need anything else?

Leaving in a moment; see some of you in about twelve hours

Please post in correct thread

Not in airport. At home.

Re: Please post in correct thread

… which belongs here