Short notice virtual offline

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 20:42 Thu 17 Apr 2008

Tomorrow night is our friend and colleague's last night in the UK before he leaves for his sojourn in Oporto.

To celebrate his cheap flight, should we hold a short notice, emergency visrtual offline tomorrow night? I understand that he is calling in at his Uncle's house on his way to the airport and will be helping his Uncle to drink through a bottle of Noval 1958.

Should we join in and have a virtual offline? I have a bottle of Cockburn 1967 that will be opened tomorow night and could be opened at around the same time.

Any takers?

Alex

Post by **DRT** » 22:17 Thu 17 Apr 2008

AHB wrote:Tomorrow night is our friend and colleague's last night in the UK before he leaves for his sojourn in Oporto.

To celebrate his cheap flight, should we hold a short notice, emergency visrtual offline tomorrow night? I understand that he is calling in at his Uncle's house on his way to the airport and will be helping his Uncle to drink through a bottle of Noval 1958.

Should we join in and have a virtual offline? I have a bottle of Cockburn 1967 that will be opened tomorow night and could be opened at around the same time.

Any takers?

Alex

Tom and I will be there. Won't we, Tom

Derek

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 07:06 Fri 18 Apr 2008

Looks like it will be just the three of us...

Post by **DRT** » 08:29 Fri 18 Apr 2008

AHB wrote:Looks like it will be just the three of us...

That is a quorum.

Derek

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 09:43 Fri 18 Apr 2008

Derek T. wrote:
AHB wrote:Looks like it will be just the three of us...
That is a quorum.

Derek

I'll take you up on this. I will have to decant something, right now. Ermmmmm... what though? Just going to have a look. I will not be joining until about 9:00PM, got something to do before that.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 09:47 Fri 18 Apr 2008

I haven't decanted yet, I'll do that when I get home. I'm not sure what the optimum decanting window is for the Cockburn '67 so part of what I intend to do tonight is to experiment and see when the port is at its best.

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 09:48 Fri 18 Apr 2008

Taylor's Quinta de Terra Feita 1988 - how does that sound?

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 11:32 Fri 18 Apr 2008

Sounds good. I'll be interested to know how it performs since I have been very impressed with the Madalena '88, quite impressed by the Cavadinha and very unimpressed with the Vargellas.

Alex

Post by **jdaw1** » 12:00 Fri 18 Apr 2008

Derek T. wrote:That is a quorum.

Article Sixteen of the Constitution of the Cambridge University Tiddlywinks Club wrote:A quorum shall be the number present.

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 12:56 Fri 18 Apr 2008

AHB wrote:Sounds good. I'll be interested to know how it performs since I have been very impressed with the Madalena '88, quite impressed by the Cavadinha and very unimpressed with the Vargellas.

Alex

Been decanted. It is a fabulous vibrant maroon colour and the smell coming from it was high on blackcurrants. I look forward to tasting later. I now admit to being a wuss: I decanted half the bottle back into an old Dow 1983 half and vacuvinned it. I have things that I have to do tomorrow and I disappear to Utrecht on Sunday so will enjoy the rest next week.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 19:51 Fri 18 Apr 2008

I'm online and now ready for the offline. I have my glass in hand, having decanted the Cockburn 1967 at 5:45. When I decanted it was a very pale rose colour - quite alluring in its delicacy - and smelling beautifully of roses and redcurrants.

It tasted pretty good too. I can't believe this is a '67 - really nice straight from the bottle.

I decided that I wanted to keep the cork, so I pushed the cork into the bottle and decanted round it. The intention was to use a bag to get the cork out. Once the bottle was empty (apart from lots of thick flakes of sediment), the tesco bag got pushed in, hooked around the cork and pull...

I managed to snap the cork into three pieces, so the glue came out and it is currently sitting on the worktop in the garage to set.

Hey ho. More later.

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 20:14 Fri 18 Apr 2008

AHB wrote:I decided that I wanted to keep the cork, so I pushed the cork into the bottle and decanted round it. The intention was to use a bag to get the cork out. Once the bottle was empty (apart from lots of thick flakes of sediment), the tesco bag got pushed in, hooked around the cork and pull...

I managed to snap the cork into three pieces, so the glue came out and it is currently sitting on the worktop in the garage to set.

Hey ho. More later.

I decided to try the rabbity thing to see if it would work with a twenty year old cork - it failed miserably. I will bring it (all components) to Wokingham to be reconstructed.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 20:14 Fri 18 Apr 2008

3½ hours after decanting, this is damned good stuff - pity I'm drinking on my own, I thought we had a quorum.

This smells of rose hips, dust and redcurrants. The alcohol that was apparent on the nose immediately after decanting, has now gone. Quite dry when first entering the mouth, but wonderful layers of redcurrants and all spice. Absolutely delicious and with the faintest of tannins still around but most of the structure comes from the very ripe acidity.

The aftertaste is stunning. Warm, mouthfilling and full of raisins and redcurrants. Lasts a long time. This is great stuff and shows no signs of fading. 8/8 or 93/100.

And I don't have to share this with anyone else!

Note to self - buy more of this!

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 20:15 Fri 18 Apr 2008

I am currently digesting a pizza but will be with you very shortly.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 20:25 Fri 18 Apr 2008

I had Chinese take-away earlier. There's still some left for later, when I get hungry after half a bottle of port.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 20:27 Fri 18 Apr 2008

I've taken some pics of the bottle and port in my glass to go with my tasting notes - but how do I post a picture onto the forum like what Alan did with his pics of Porto?

Conky · Post by **Conky** » 20:37 Fri 18 Apr 2008

AHB wrote:I've taken some pics of the bottle and port in my glass to go with my tasting notes - but how do I post a picture onto the forum like what Alan did with his pics of Porto?

Sadly it cant be done quickly unless you have an internet account. Try Photobucket, or Flickr. They will show you how to open an account, and you download your photo's from your PC onto there. It's private, and when thats done, you just copy the URL and highlight that long number that usually ends in .jpg, and you wrap it in those Img tags you see near the bold, italics, underline boxes.

Once you've done it once its a breeze.

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 20:41 Fri 18 Apr 2008

OK, slugging now.

Still a fairly deep cherry but has paled a little. Nose of blackcurrants and a good hit of alcohol. Nice, full mouthfeel, plenty of black fruits - blackcurrant, black cherry, plums and brambles. Sharp acid tang at the end. Generally very nice but the finish mars it a bit. Good stuff that should mellow with age.

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 20:56 Fri 18 Apr 2008

as it has warmed up it is packed out with raisins.

BTW - where's Turnblad?

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 20:57 Fri 18 Apr 2008

OK, here's an attempt to try and load some photos onto the site.

This is the picture of the bottle opened and decanted, the capsule before it was ripped off and the port in the glass - and it tastes as good as it looks!

Alex

PS - it works!! I'm almost as excited as Derek!! Thanks Alan!!

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 21:04 Fri 18 Apr 2008

KillerB wrote:OK, slugging now.

So that makes it about 8 hours of time in the decanter?

Tracey appears to be offline, not sure why. Perhaps her Uncle is still making her work in the kitchen to prepare the cow that they will no doubt have been planning to eat.

Or perhaps she's so excited about her trip tomorrow that she couldn't wait in Cambridge and has decided to make sure she catches her flight by sleeping overnight at the airport.

Alex

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 21:12 Fri 18 Apr 2008

AHB wrote:So that makes it about 8 hours of time in the decanter?

Sounds about right. I suspect that it would have been fruitier and sharper if I drank it straight away.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 21:17 Fri 18 Apr 2008

I must say, it seems rather bad manners not to turn up to your own offline. I hope nothing's wrong and it's simply that she's too pissed to remember how to use the big red button to switch on the computer.

Post by **jdaw1** » 21:31 Fri 18 Apr 2008

AHB wrote:pity I'm drinking on my own, I thought we had a quorum.

Please explain the problem.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 21:34 Fri 18 Apr 2008

I've just found out that Tracey Turnblat is on a pub crawl with her Uncle and will be back around 30 minutes after the lock-in ends.

jdaw1 wrote:
AHB wrote:pity I'm drinking on my own, I thought we had a quorum.
Please explain the problem.

I can't have an offline on my own - I need at least two people. Is 5:30pm too early for you to start?

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 21:36 Fri 18 Apr 2008

AHB wrote:I've just found out that Tracey Turnblat is on a pub crawl with her Uncle and will be back around 30 minutes after the lock-in ends.

jdaw1 wrote:
AHB wrote:pity I'm drinking on my own, I thought we had a quorum.
Please explain the problem.
I can't have an offline on my own - I need at least two people. Is 5:30pm too early for you to start?

'Scuse me - I'm here, that's two, or do you need two others.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 21:44 Fri 18 Apr 2008

Ah. You're back. You seemed to have disappeared for a while.

OK. Offline recommences. Mind you, I might have given up and gone to bed before Tracey gets back from her pub crawl around Cambridgeshire.

How's the Terra Feita now? The Cockburn is still absolutely scrummy.

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 21:52 Fri 18 Apr 2008

AHB wrote:Ah. You're back. You seemed to have disappeared for a while.

OK. Offline recommences. Mind you, I might have given up and gone to bed before Tracey gets back from her pub crawl around Cambridgeshire.

How's the Terra Feita now? The Cockburn is still absolutely scrummy.

No, I was hanging. I will be gone by the time he gets back as well.

The Terra Feita is fine, the acid is abating, possibly due to me getting used to it. I'm going to get some chocolate and see what happens.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 22:03 Fri 18 Apr 2008

Either I'm getting used to this port, or it's getting better and better.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 22:03 Fri 18 Apr 2008

Yayy. As if by magic, DRT and THRA appear. How are you chaps?

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 22:05 Fri 18 Apr 2008

Ok we're live on stage - well at least semi vertical..

Tracy 'n' me have just had a reasonably good steak, but we needed to test drive three pubs first, and then there was the little matter of clearing one bottle and a decanter before we set out, not to mention test driving two we had set aside for later..

So we are now stone cold sober [not..] and Tracy has to get to the airport at about 5 past sparrow-fart..

Anyway, the remains of the Vargellas '67 were great, so was the Q. Pulga tawny, so was the Guinness, so was the Adnams, so was the Woodfordes, so was the Malv '68 - now we're going to test drive the Noval '58..

I'm sure Tracy will be sober enough to drive to the airport in the morning - honest offisher...

Tom

Post by **DRT** » 22:07 Fri 18 Apr 2008

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 22:12 Fri 18 Apr 2008

Derek T. wrote:

Is that all you can manage?! Fat lot of good you're going to be in Portugal.

In fact, tell you what, I'll go instead of you. That way you don't have to get up so early tomorrow. Whaddya think?

Scores for the Vargellas '67 or Malvedos '68 (or Noval '58)?

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 22:12 Fri 18 Apr 2008

Hello Uncle Tom.

Now eating Lindt Madagascar 70% Dark Chocolate. Soft entry with a nice fruity finish, not powerful but very smooth.

The Terra Feita has subsequently lost the acid in the mouth but it returns for a grandstand finish. Cherries are now prominent and it now resembles the chocolate - cool.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 22:15 Fri 18 Apr 2008

uncle tom wrote:...so was the Adnams...

I've had the Adnams 1963 and weren't we going to have the Adnams 1966 at the Deeper Underground offline?

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 22:17 Fri 18 Apr 2008

AHB wrote:
uncle tom wrote:...so was the Adnams...
I've had the Adnams 1963 and weren't we going to have the Adnams 1966 at the Deeper Underground offline?

Hey, we've got exactly the same post count.

D'oh!

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 22:25 Fri 18 Apr 2008

No we haven't. You've got 1153 and I've only got 1152!

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 22:30 Fri 18 Apr 2008

AHB wrote:No we haven't. You've got 1153 and I've only got 1152!

Now you've got 1153, so we're the same.

D'oh

Post by **DRT** » 22:31 Fri 18 Apr 2008

Vargellas 67 - 7-6

Malvedos 68
- 6-5

Noval 58 - 4-3

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 22:55 Fri 18 Apr 2008

And with that I draw the virtual offline to a close. Night all.

Have a great time in Portugal, piginpoo.

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 23:06 Fri 18 Apr 2008

Have fun in Portugal Miss Turnblad

Post by **DRT** » 11:41 Sat 19 Apr 2008

Can I blame the three of you for missing my flight?

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 12:41 Sat 19 Apr 2008

Derek T. wrote:Can I blame the three of you for missing my flight?

No - how did you manage that?

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 13:32 Sat 19 Apr 2008

Derek T. wrote:Can I blame the three of you for missing my flight?

No. There were at least 6 hours between our last post and the scheduled departure from Stansted. Plenty of time for you to have phoned a cab company and said something along the lines of
"Cannnnii 'avar cab pleezz. Gorn frum Wen..Wen..Wen..Tom's Arse t'Stannnn-std. As sssooon as posssZzzzzzz."

I'm afraid that we will have to chalk this public humiliation down to a lack of self control. Never mix Adnams, Guinness, Malvedos, Noval and Uncle Tom. It's clearly a fatal combination.

Post by **DRT** » 14:04 Sat 19 Apr 2008

So at least we are agreed its toms fault!

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