The Birthday Boys' Tasting, London - 29 Mar 2012

[DRT]

New first post…

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. DRT;
5. RAYC;
6. RLC;
7. THRA.

Original first post…

Ben reminded me last week that we have an established tradition of having a tasting around the end of March / beginning of April to hold a joint celebration of the birthdays of Ben, Ray, Axel and me. (I think that is the correct list but please correct me if not)
Once again I will issue a plea that this event be held +/- 7 days from 28 March so that, if the theme allows, I can pop a 1965 VP to ensure my continued survival.
So, the proposed time window is Wed 21 March to Wed 4 April.
Theme: suggestions please.
Venue: suggestions please.
In/out? Executive decision: the birthday boys are in unless they say they are out.

[jdaw1]

Count me in as well.

[DRT]

Date: Thursday, 29th March 2012

Venue: Somewhere in London

Suggested Theme

1. Bring a vintage port from your birth year;
2. Delaforce Vertical;
3. Port to drink on your birthday;
4. Desert Island Ports? (5 from 90s, 5 from 80s, 5 from 70s, 5 from 60s, 5 pre-60s);
5. 66 horizontal (with a 65 comparison).

Attendees

1. Industry Guest;
2. ADV (t.b.c);
3. AHB;
4. AP (t.b.c);
5. BMHR;
6. CMAG;
7. CSD (t.b.c.);
8. CSD's +1 (t.b.c.);
9. DRT;
10. JDAW;
11. JGH (t.b.c);
12. RAYC;
13. RLC.

Note: Those marked "(t.b.c.)" must confirm attendance no later than 31 January 2012 otherwise they might have to forfeit their place for someone on a reserve list, should such a list form between now and then.

Edits to this post:

1. CMAG added by DRT following confirmation by SMS.
2. AHB and his suggestions added by DRT.
3. RAYC and his suggestions added by DRT.
4. RLC removed at his request by DRT.
5. ADV added by DRT.
6. Space for industry guest reserved by DRT.
7. Date confirmed by DRT following suggestions from those willing to provide suggestions.
8. CSD & CSD's +1 added by DRT.
9. JGH added by DRT.
10 RLC re-added at his request by DRT.

[AHB]

Oh, all right then. Force me to drink port if you must. I'm in.

Suggested theme - birthday year vintage port (everyone attending has to bring a vintage port from their birth year - or at least connected with their birth year in some way that can be explained on the night); or a Delaforce vertical.

[DRT]

I like your first suggestion more than your second, for obvious reasons.

[jdaw1]

My birth year is of little interest to port, and of no more interest to me.

[RAYC]

I would love to come.

Desert Island Ports? (5 from 90s, 5 from 80s, 5 from 70s, 5 from 60s, 5 pre-60s)?

66 horizontal (with a 65 comparison)?!

Suggested theme - birthday year vintage port (everyone attending has to bring a vintage port from their birth year - or at least connected with their birth year in some way that can be explained on the night)

My birth year is also tricky and of little interest to anybody. I did get a rather nice 80 for my christening though...good enough connection?

[DRT]

My birth year is of little interest to port, and of no more interest to me.

Noted. Also noted is the fact that I have been lucky to have three previous years in succession where I was able to incorporate a 1965 into the lineup. I am therefore more than happy to go for a theme that excludes 1965 as I can easily drink one on another evening around that time.

[RAYC]

I now realise the '66 has been done already, 3 years ago (before my time), so feel free to withdraw.

Though might be interesting to see whether DRT's impressions of that tasting still hold true today...

Quite simply the best offline of my career.

Oh my God.

[DRT]

This was early in my career but still stands out as the best horizontal I have tasted from a consistency of quality point of view. I am struggling to think of anything I have been involved in that would trump that line-up. Worth doing again.

[benread]

I am, of course, very keen on this! I have no preference on theme, although if it is loose (bring a bottle connected to your birth) we may need a 'director' to officiate, whether the tasting is blind or not. It would also probably dictate the tasting being less formal than last year - difficult to find a guest with such a loose theme! (I am quite happy with that approach as well.)

[AHB]

My birth year is of little interest to port, and of no more interest to me.

Your birth year is of great importance to port, for the following reasons:
(i) port consumption is higher in the years after your birth than before your birth
(ii) port was not available commercially in large format before the year of your birth
(iii) your birth year was the year in which the 1966 vintage was bottled - an event which we should all celebrate at least once per year

[jdaw1]

Perhaps the theme could be “Port to drink on your birthday”?

[jdaw1]

(ii) port was not available commercially in large format before the year of your birth

Perhaps I have a failure of scale, but methinks 112 gallons is ‘large format’ enough for a host and several chums.

[AHB]

Perhaps the theme could be “Port to drink on your birthday”?

That's a theme I like!

Perhaps I have a failure of scale, but methinks 112 gallons is ‘large format’ enough for a host and several chums.

I have to concede on that point. A 112 gallon container of vintage port would likely outlast even a weekend visit to Paris by Derek. Perhaps I should have been more accurate and said, "(ii) port was not available commercially in large format glass containers before the year of your birth".

[DRT]

Perhaps I have a failure of scale, but methinks 112 gallons is ‘large format’ enough for a host and several chums.

I have to concede on that point. A 112 gallon container of vintage port would likely outlast even a weekend visit to Paris by Derek. Perhaps I should have been more accurate and said, "(ii) port was not available commercially in large format glass containers before the year of your birth".

That's incorrect, too. How else do we explain the well-known mags of Sandeman 1935?

[AHB]

That's incorrect, too. How else do we explain the well-known mags of Sandeman 1935?

Are you describing a magnum as large format?! That's barely a night's drinking when filled with Martinez 1985, for example.

[Andy Velebil]

Since I seem to have a pattern of flying over there around this time for said Port drinking and as my Bday is the middle of April as well, can you add me to the tentative list.

[DRT]

Since I seem to have a pattern of flying over there around this time for said Port drinking and as my Bday is the middle of April as well, can you add me to the tentative list.

Done. As a birthday boy and serial attendee you are on the list until you say you can't make it.

[jdaw1]

A birthday boy should suggest a list possible dates, possibly a long list. Other BBs should eliminate those known not to work. That would advance the ‘when?’ question. Separately, the ‘what?’ problem needs work.

[DRT]

The following note has been added to the main organisation post above in the interest of fairness:

Note: "Birthday Boys" have been added to the confirmed list of attendees by default but must confirm attendance no later than 31 January 2012 otherwise they might have to forfeit their place for someone on a reserve list, should such a list form between now and then.

[DRT]

A birthday boy should suggest a list possible dates, possibly a long list. Other BBs should eliminate those known not to work. That would advance the ‘when?’ question.

In hand via email.

Separately, the ‘what?’ problem needs work.

Agreed. Do you have a suggestion?

[jdaw1]

Separately, the ‘what?’ problem needs work.

Agreed. Do you have a suggestion?

Perhaps the theme could be “Port to drink on your birthday”?

[DRT]

Following consultation with others by email I would propose that this tasting takes place on one of Thursday 22nd, Tuesday 27th or Thursday 29th March.

The UK School Easter Holidays begin on 30th March so it is probably best to avoid the following week.

Does anyone who is already "in" have a definite preference for any one of those dates or, more importantly, is there any of them that you cannot do?

Derek

[jdaw1]

I couldn’t attend the Malvedos vertical, which was on 22 March 2010. Similar reasoning might prevent my attending a tasting on 22 March 2012.