Ideas for tastings

Organise events to meet up and drink Port.
User avatar
DRT
Fonseca 1966
Posts: 15779
Joined: 23:51 Wed 20 Jun 2007
Location: Chesterfield, UK
Contact:

Re: Ideas for tastings

Post by DRT »

jdaw1 wrote: 15:38 Mon 16 Dec 2019
Christopher wrote: 13:57 Mon 16 Dec 2019I would rather like to do the Matrix tasting of 2005 again. Would be great to compare 63,66 and 70.
Of 2005? Pre-TPF, and pre my meeting any of you. Please say more.
In early October 2005 there was a tasting at The Crusting Pipe where a group of like-minded souls from both sides of the Atlantic tasted Dow, Fonseca, Taylor and Sandeman 1963, 1966 and 1970. From memory the attendees were Alex B, Alex K, Christopher, Nick, Nicos, Linden, Roy, Mario, Andy, Stewart, myself and Jo.

All of the Ports were terrible. You would have hated it. We should do it again.
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
User avatar
jdaw1
Cockburn 1851
Posts: 23613
Joined: 15:03 Thu 21 Jun 2007
Location: London
Contact:

Re: Ideas for tastings

Post by jdaw1 »

DRT wrote: 00:12 Fri 17 Jan 2020You would have hated it.
Only because there were no placemats. Next time there will be placemats, so I’m in.
PhilW
Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
Posts: 3503
Joined: 14:22 Wed 15 Dec 2010
Location: Near Cambridge, UK

Re: RE: Re: Ideas for tastings

Post by PhilW »

nac wrote:Warre vertical?

Potentially including some different shippers for the same vintage.

I'd be happy to organise this one if it was of interest...
I would love to do a full Warre vertical.
User avatar
Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
Posts: 14879
Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

Re: RE: Re: Ideas for tastings

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

PhilW wrote: 10:15 Fri 17 Jan 2020
nac wrote:Warre vertical?

Potentially including some different shippers for the same vintage.

I'd be happy to organise this one if it was of interest...
I would love to do a full Warre vertical.
I believe this year is Warre's 350th anniversary. It would seem a good year to do a Warre vertical - although we might struggle to make it a full vertical with every vintage going back to 1670. We could make our lives easier by only going back to 1729 when the company became named "Warre".
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
User avatar
nac
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1808
Joined: 14:21 Fri 16 Dec 2016
Location: Kent & London
Contact:

Re: RE: Re: Ideas for tastings

Post by nac »

AHB wrote: 12:41 Mon 20 Jan 2020
I believe this year is Warre's 350th anniversary. It would seem a good year to do a Warre vertical - although we might struggle to make it a full vertical with every vintage going back to 1670. We could make our lives easier by only going back to 1729 when the company became named "Warre".
As a starter how about going for pre-1990 vintages?
Suspect that as a group we'll be able to offer up a fairly deep selection.

Who's the best contact at B&F to check room availability? Once I've got some date options I'll open up the list...
User avatar
flash_uk
Graham’s 1977
Posts: 4081
Joined: 20:02 Thu 13 Feb 2014
Location: London

Re: RE: Re: Ideas for tastings

Post by flash_uk »

nac wrote: 14:52 Mon 20 Jan 2020 Who's the best contact at B&F to check room availability? Once I've got some date options I'll open up the list...
I usually just dial the main number and say I'd like to check a date for a Port Forum booking. Invariably it's one of the managers or shift supervisors that picks up. Best to call between 3 and 5 when the lunchtime rush has passed.
User avatar
flash_uk
Graham’s 1977
Posts: 4081
Joined: 20:02 Thu 13 Feb 2014
Location: London

Re: Ideas for tastings

Post by flash_uk »

I have updated the first post, moving suggestions into time windows. Comments welcome.
User avatar
flash_uk
Graham’s 1977
Posts: 4081
Joined: 20:02 Thu 13 Feb 2014
Location: London

Re: Ideas for tastings

Post by flash_uk »

Top post updated with scheduled events.
User avatar
nac
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1808
Joined: 14:21 Fri 16 Dec 2016
Location: Kent & London
Contact:

Re: Ideas for tastings

Post by nac »

Having recently enjoyed a couple of 97s (W and GC - which was particularly fine), think that a 97@25 tasting should go onto the list for 2022.

I'll volunteer to organise.
User avatar
flash_uk
Graham’s 1977
Posts: 4081
Joined: 20:02 Thu 13 Feb 2014
Location: London

Re: Ideas for tastings

Post by flash_uk »

nac wrote: 15:37 Sat 22 Feb 2020 Having recently enjoyed a couple of 97s (W and GC - which was particularly fine), think that a 97@25 tasting should go onto the list for 2022.

I'll volunteer to organise.
List updated.
User avatar
nac
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1808
Joined: 14:21 Fri 16 Dec 2016
Location: Kent & London
Contact:

Re: Ideas for tastings

Post by nac »

flash_uk wrote: 20:55 Sat 22 Feb 2020
nac wrote: 15:37 Sat 22 Feb 2020 Having recently enjoyed a couple of 97s (W and GC - which was particularly fine), think that a 97@25 tasting should go onto the list for 2022.

I'll volunteer to organise.
List updated.
Might it be useful to include dates (where known) on the list?
Alternatively could the "Organising..." thread have a pinned item listing all the arranged events?
User avatar
nac
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1808
Joined: 14:21 Fri 16 Dec 2016
Location: Kent & London
Contact:

Re: Ideas for tastings

Post by nac »

Also discussed and possibilities for this year (potentially as a single tasting if only limited bottles are available):
  • Mackenzie vertical
  • 50 @ 70
Probably worth people saying what they have available for these to determine viability.
winesecretary
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1900
Joined: 15:35 Mon 13 May 2019

Re: Ideas for tastings

Post by winesecretary »

I have only Mackenzie 1955
I have only Dow 1950

That was easy...
User avatar
nac
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1808
Joined: 14:21 Fri 16 Dec 2016
Location: Kent & London
Contact:

Re: Ideas for tastings

Post by nac »

...and I have only
Mackenzie 1948
Offley Boa Vista 1950
forest26
Warre’s Otima 10 year old Tawny
Posts: 530
Joined: 19:32 Tue 25 Mar 2014

Re: Ideas for tastings

Post by forest26 »

Port legends - Iconic ports of the 20th C (or even 19th). E.g. Ck12, Cr45, T48, N31, F66, F27 etc. Small gathering... perhaps 8 max??
User avatar
flash_uk
Graham’s 1977
Posts: 4081
Joined: 20:02 Thu 13 Feb 2014
Location: London

Re: Ideas for tastings

Post by flash_uk »

forest26 wrote: 19:45 Wed 11 Mar 2020 Port legends - Iconic ports of the 20th C (or even 19th). E.g. Ck12, Cr45, T48, N31, F66, F27 etc. Small gathering... perhaps 8 max??
I was hoping not to break into my cases of these?
User avatar
jdaw1
Cockburn 1851
Posts: 23613
Joined: 15:03 Thu 21 Jun 2007
Location: London
Contact:

Re: Ideas for tastings

Post by jdaw1 »

flash_uk wrote: 20:07 Wed 11 Mar 2020
forest26 wrote: 19:45 Wed 11 Mar 2020Port legends - Iconic ports of the 20th C (or even 19th). E.g. Ck12, Cr45, T48, N31, F66, F27 etc. Small gathering... perhaps 8 max??
I was hoping not to break into my cases of these?
Really? You didn’t inherit most of a pipe? Nebs.
PhilW
Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
Posts: 3503
Joined: 14:22 Wed 15 Dec 2010
Location: Near Cambridge, UK

Re: Ideas for tastings

Post by PhilW »

Not that this is the best time to try and organise it for obvious reasons, but just to record it while I think of it: I think it would be very interesting to do an '03 vs '05 tasting at some point. I realise that '03 is the generally accepted best year, but have been very impressed with several '05s; it may well be that they are earlier maturing, but at least for those/some of the producers who did release an '05 I think it would be an interesting comparison, both now-ish and in another 5/10 years time.
winesecretary
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1900
Joined: 15:35 Mon 13 May 2019

Re: Ideas for tastings

Post by winesecretary »

As I pack my suitcase with port from the cellar to bring back to town, I contemplate with pleasure the well-stocked diary of tastings for the next three months.

BBR - 22/9/20
VE Day - 28/9/20
1970 (3rd tranche) - 8/10/20
1970 (1st and 2nd tranches) - 9/10/20
Warre Sesq. - 20/10/20
No Tasting Note - 12/11/20
1980 - 24/11/20

While I am making sure I have the materiel I am contributing immediately to hand, perhaps we should ask the organisers in each case to confirm that these are expected to take place.

NAC has already done so for the VE Day. NAC, what's the view on the Warre Sesq? I fully intend for the no-tasting-note and 1980 to take place. The BBR is quite soon and AHB has already asked the question on that one. What's the view on the 1970 ones? They involve quite a few non-UK people.
Justin K
Niepoort LBV
Posts: 251
Joined: 19:19 Mon 15 Dec 2008

Re: Ideas for tastings

Post by Justin K »

Just thought that as I have a couple of leakers in my cellar that that would make for a good online tasting because if it(they) are not drinkable only one person suffers! I’m assuming most of us have a couple.
winesecretary
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1900
Joined: 15:35 Mon 13 May 2019

Re: Ideas for tastings

Post by winesecretary »

'Leakers' is a great idea for an online tasting!
User avatar
nac
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1808
Joined: 14:21 Fri 16 Dec 2016
Location: Kent & London
Contact:

Re: Ideas for tastings

Post by nac »

winesecretary wrote: 14:45 Mon 31 Aug 2020 NAC has already done so for the VE Day. NAC, what's the view on the Warre Sesq? I fully intend for the no-tasting-note and 1980 to take place. The BBR is quite soon and AHB has already asked the question on that one. What's the view on the 1970 ones? They involve quite a few non-UK people.
VE Day tasting on 28/9 currently proceeding as planned, but have decided to postpone Warre 350. Individual threads have been updated.
User avatar
nac
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1808
Joined: 14:21 Fri 16 Dec 2016
Location: Kent & London
Contact:

Re: Ideas for tastings

Post by nac »

Right, back to Mackenzie...

I still have some 48 and newly acquired 55. Who has anything else for a smallish vertical?
User avatar
Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
Posts: 14879
Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

Re: Ideas for tastings

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

nac wrote: 20:07 Sun 23 Oct 2022 Right, back to Mackenzie...

I still have some 48 and newly acquired 55. Who has anything else for a smallish vertical?
I might have a bottle of 1963.

I do. According to my spreadsheet I have one bottle remaining.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
Post Reply