Oscar Night Port Tasting - London - 11th Feb 2010

[DRT]

When: Thursday, 11th February 2010

Where: Crusting Pipe?

Attendees:

1. Oscar Quevedo;
2. DRT;
3. AHB
4. Benread;
5. Christopher;
6. Chris Doty;
7. Denise Medrano;
8. Emily Monsell;
9. Gemma Crocker;
10. Richard Giner;
11. Godfrey Spence;
12. Muriel;
13. Robert McIntosh (not yet confirmed);
14. jdaw1 (not yet confirmed).

Ports:

• Weird Colheitas and Unusual Vintage Ports (all to be served blind)

--------Original message...

No, it isn't the gold statue that's coming to town, it's the real Oscar...

Oscar Quevedo emailed me today to ask if it was possible to have a Port tasting on the evening of 11th Feb as he will be in London that day and overnight.

By strange coincidence I happen to have a meeting in London that day so will be in town to meet up with Oscar to form a quorum. Would anyone like to join us?

Possibilities for a theme are:

1. Bring a bottle of Port to share with Oscar Quevedo
2. A re-scheduling of this tasting

Thoughts?

Derek

[AHB]

I'm free on the night of the 11th - I'd be happy to meet up with you and Oscar and anyone else who's free. Do you have a venue in mind?

[DRT]

Do you have a venue in mind?

Crusting Pipe?

[benread]

I have a pass - unusual for a Thursday but Mrs R has to work from home so I am excused childcare duty! Bonus! TCP works for me. Can certainly work with "bring a bottle to share", or would welcome something more specific if anyone has a particular desire...

[DRT]

Attendee list updated to include Ben and Christopher.

[oscar quevedo]

Great to see that we already have some confirmations. If we go to the 2nd option, this is, the rescheduling of the tasting for the 16th or 23rd, I suggest that we keep the theme and go for Vesuvios. Otherwise, why not to go for a theme like "Bring that weird Colheita"

Looking forward to hear your thoughts!

Oscar

[DRT]

If we go to the 2nd option, this is, the rescheduling of the tasting for the 16th or 23rd, I suggest that we keep the theme and go for Vesuvios. Otherwise, why not to go for a theme like "Bring that weird Colheita"

Oscar,

The suggestion to re-schedule was in relation to the Vesuvio tasting - that is, to move the Vesuvio tasting to 11th February so that you could join in. However, we have decided to leave the Vesuvio tasting until 23rd February so we will choose a different theme for your visit on the 11th. Or, were you suggesting that you might come on the 23rd instead of the 11th?

Derek

[oscar quevedo]

I didn't know that you have already decided to leave the Vesuvio tasting for the 23rd Derek. For me it works better the 11th. So we have to think about themes...

[AHB]

a theme like "Bring that weird Colheita"

Hmm, that might be a little difficult for me. I only have one (known) colheita. Does only having one bottle of colheita make that a weird colheita?

Or I could bring a bottle of Croft Ruby port which was bottled to commemorate the coronation of Elizabeth II. That's not a colheita but would be pretty weird.

Or I could just bring a bottle of vintage or LBV port

[DRT]

a theme like "Bring that weird Colheita"

Hmm, that might be a little difficult for me. I only have one (known) colheita. Does only having one bottle of colheita make that a weird colheita?

As we are all British (apart from Oscar, obviously): all Colheitas qualify as being "weird".

I think I only have 3 bottles of Colheita. Two of them are life-preservers and need to be drunk within 2 weeks either side of 28th March in a non-classic vintage year. The other is from a non-classic year from a non-conformist shipper, so I think it definitely qualifies. It is also one of 3 bottles in my cellar that I have owned for the longest time.

I will happily bring it along to keep Oscar's weird Colheita company.

Perhaps the theme could be "Weird Colheitas and Unusual Vintage Ports (all to be served blind)"?

[Glenn E.]

As we are all British (apart from Oscar, obviously): all Colheitas qualify as being "weird".

Colheitas aren't weird. Brits drinking Colheitas is what's weird.

Oscar's Particular Colheita is a bit weird, but that's what makes it special. If you are very lucky (and his sister will let him), he might bring a bottle.

This might also be an opportunity to compare the '52 and '63 Dalva Golden White Colheitas if you can get some purchased in time for Oscar to pick them up and bring them with him.

*sigh* I really wish I could attend.

[benread]

I think I can almost meet the "weird colheita" theme. I have a bottle I believe dates from pre-war described as "matured in wood", albeit undated so possibly more strictly a tawny. Please sir, is that acceptable?!

Some of you may know what it is, having been asked for help wih identification some months ago!

[oscar quevedo]

Of course it is acceptable Ben, I think this can be fun!

I like the idea of weird Colheitas and unusual Vintage Port all served blind We can all learn a lot!

[DRT]

Of course it is acceptable Ben, I think this can be fun!

I like the idea of weird Colheitas and unusual Vintage Port all served blind We can all learn a lot!

The theme is now confirmed and the details of the tasting have been updated.

[Axel P]

Please let Oscar live to the next day, because his presence is needed on the continent then.

Axel

[DRT]

Please let Oscar live to the next day, because his presence is needed on the continent then.

Axel

We will make sure he drinks no more than 3 bottles of port and is in bed by 1am so that he can be sure of catching the 06:30 flight from Stansted

[jdaw1]

Day 1

It is raining in Oporto.

However, I am at Gatwick waiting TAP flight 333 to Oporto at the delayed time of 2.30pm. The Ryanair flight from Stansted took off just as I was waking up on Tom's sofa at 6.30am. It seems Guinness, N58 and GM68 are not good things to have before an early flight.

[DRT]

Day 1

It is raining in Oporto.

However, I am at Gatwick waiting TAP flight 333 to Oporto at the delayed time of 2.30pm. The Ryanair flight from Stansted took off just as I was waking up on Tom's sofa at 6.30am. It seems Guinness, N58 and GM68 are not good things to have before an early flight.

OK. No Guinness for Oscar.

[oscar quevedo]

Day 1

It is raining in Oporto.

However, I am at Gatwick waiting TAP flight 333 to Oporto at the delayed time of 2.30pm. The Ryanair flight from Stansted took off just as I was waking up on Tom's sofa at 6.30am. It seems Guinness, N58 and GM68 are not good things to have before an early flight.

OK. No Guinness for Oscar.

Water, I'll make sure I drink few pints of water!

Some few friends will join us for the tasting, maybe 3-4.

[DRT]

Some few friends will join us for the tasting, maybe 3-4.

Team Alert!!!!! - we need to ensure there is sufficient Port for our guests

[Chris Doty]

Hi there!

If there is any space available, I would be interested in joining. I don't know if it is obscure enough, but I've heard good things about the '76 Niepoort and figured this might be the appropriate time to give it a whirl.

[DRT]

Hi there!

If there is any space available, I would be interested in joining. I don't know if it is obscure enough, but I've heard good things about the '76 Niepoort and figured this might be the appropriate time to give it a whirl.

Hi Chris,

Welcome to

I have added your name to the list at the top of this thread. I am sure your suggested bottle will be most welcome

I have also added a number of Oscar's friends who will now be joining us.

If the two unconfirmed attendees decide to join us we will have a full compliment of 14 attendees. Any more volunteers will have to go on a reserve list otherwise we will not have enough port to taste from each bottle

Derek

[AHB]

Are we confirming that this is a blind tasting? Is there any guidance that we should follow other than "Weird colheitas and unusual ports"?

[DRT]

Are we confirming that this is a blind tasting?[/url]Perhaps best not having this as a blind tasting given that lots of us would have no hope of working out one Colheita from another. Unblinded does me if others are OK with that?

[/url]Is there any guidance that we should follow other than "Weird colheitas and unusual ports"?

"No blind 1975s allowed"?

[AHB]

The Crusting Pipe has been booked for 14 people from 6:30 - but if anyone is early then they will make you very welcome.

We have both the tunnels at the back of the restaurant, one for eating and one for the tasting.

We have confirmed the early evening menu @ £15 for 2 courses, £18 for 3 courses (+£5 if you want the highly recommended rib eye on the bone) and £10 per bottle corkage. So please bring £40-50 each to cover food, corkage and service. There is also a very tempting Sandeman 1982 on the wine list for £46...

Alex