Cockburn Vertical, Tue 2nd Oct 2018

[DRT]

I now have enough data to suggest that the cost will be in the region of £240 per person, excluding food.

When do you want to be paid? Soon has the advantage of compelling decision by the indecisive.

Soon, but I have one more (WS1) to re-confirm and give me prices. I have PM'd and emailed with no reply. If someone has another form of contact please use it to point out latest British citizen in this direction.

[DRT]

Gents,

I have an option on two very old bottles that would take the cost per person from £240 to £300 including Port and tip for our friends at B&F. Food would be on top at cost.

I await condition reports on the bottles in question but if they look good my intention it to include both. Neither of these vintages have tasting notes on TPF.

If there is any serious objection to this please PM or email me or post in this thread. I am not trying to drive the cost up here, just trying to put a fabulous line-up on the table at reasonable cost. If there is a Brexit-style revolt I will happily "do a May" and change my mind

[jdaw1]

If there is a Brexit-style revolt I will happily "do a May" and change my mind

Jeremy was a serial rebeller, and May causes same. Instead my behaviour will be obedient in the style of the SNP. Is that what you want?

[idj123]

No objection here-if it's worth doing then it's worth doing well!

[Axel P]

I have an option on two very old bottles that would take the cost per person from £240 to £300 including Port and tip for our friends at B&F. Food would be on top at cost.

Yes, please...

[uncle tom]

obedient in the style of the SNP

I sense an oxymoron coming on..

[Alex Bridgeman]

Gents,

I have an option on two very old bottles that would take the cost per person from £240 to £300 including Port and tip for our friends at B&F. Food would be on top at cost.

I await condition reports on the bottles in question but if they look good my intention it to include both. Neither of these vintages have tasting notes on TPF.

If there is any serious objection to this please PM or email me or post in this thread. I am not trying to drive the cost up here, just trying to put a fabulous line-up on the table at reasonable cost. If there is a Brexit-style revolt I will happily "do a May" and change my mind

Oh no! Who put the completist in charge...

If there's no tasting note on TPF then I haven't tasted it before. Which means I'm up for the extra bottle(s).

[WS1]

Hi,

I am happy the completist is in charge! Following the "stay on winner strategy" we can look FWD to a great tasting similar to the Malvedos tasting that some mistakenly thought it was Graham's tasting

Regards
WS1

[DRT]

Oh no! Who put the completist in charge...

Is that a challenge?

Assuming by "complete" you simply mean filling the gaps between 1896 and 1977, we only have a few more to find: 1897, 1900, 1904, 1912, 1917, 1924, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1945, 1958 & 1966.

[g-man]

Wait, did Cockburn declare a 1966?

I thought they skipped and went for the 67' instead.

[jdaw1]

Wait, did Cockburn declare a 1966?

I thought they skipped and went for the 67' instead.

Declare, or make?

[PhilW]

Wait, did Cockburn declare a 1966?

I thought they skipped and went for the 67' instead.

Declare, or make?

They most certainly made Ck66.

[jdaw1]

Assuming by "complete" you simply mean filling the gaps between 1896 and 1977, we only have a few more to find: 1897, 1900, 1904, 1912, 1917, 1924, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1945, 1958 & 1966.

Please donʼt omit ʼ34, ʼ47, ʼ51, and ʼ78.

[PhilW]

Assuming by "complete" you simply mean filling the gaps between 1896 and 1977, we only have a few more to find: 1897, 1900, 1904, 1912, 1917, 1924, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1945, 1958 & 1966.

Please donʼt omit ʼ34, ʼ47, ʼ51, and ʼ78.

or '69...

[uncle tom]

Regret Co '66 is just too scarce to liberate another one at this time.

Of the seven bottles I secured in 2011, four now remain.

Unless the Symingtons uncover a stash (at the last count, they were not aware of any) it's one per decade now, I think..

[DRT]

filling the gaps between 1896 and 1977

Please donʼt omit ... ʼ78.

[DRT]

Despite the temptation to go for a complete line-up I think we have about as many as we will find. Of those missing I think 1912 and 1945 would be top of the list to consider if we found them but the others are likely to be of academic interest only, and probably prohibitively expensive.

[jdaw1]

filling the gaps between 1896 and 1977

Please donʼt omit ... ʼ78.

Not that ʼ78.

[g-man]

Wait, did Cockburn declare a 1966?

I thought they skipped and went for the 67' instead.

Declare, or make?

I see! 66' would be similar story to the 77' then?

[DRT]

I am delighted to inform you that we have two new additions to the line-up, which now looks like this:

1908 (Mag), 1912, 1920, 1924, 1927, 1935, 1947, 1950, 1955, 1960, 1963, 1967, 1970 & 2 x 1977

I remain hopeful that the 1896 will be on the table but await confirmation.

Not too shabby.

[DRT]

filling the gaps between 1896 and 1977

Please donʼt omit ... ʼ78.

Not that ʼ78.

Exactly which 78 falls between 96 and 77?

[jdaw1]

Exactly which 78 falls between 96 and 77?

I think that’s a misunderstanding of the misunderstanding.

Please donʼt omit ʼ34, ʼ47, ʼ51, and ʼ78.

If these were all nineteens, only the ’78 would have been out-of-range. If they were eighteens, all would have been out-of-range. So let’s inspect your post.

filling the gaps between 1896 and 1977

Please donʼt omit ... ʼ78.

You even edited the post of mine that you quoted, to leave only the ’78. Which suggested a choice of century. Which is why my post hinted at requesting a reconsideration of that choice.

Not that ʼ78.

Fair?

[jdaw1]

1908 (Mag), 1912, 1920, 1924, 1927, 1935, 1947, 1950, 1955, 1960, 1963, 1967, 1970 & 2 x 1977

Not too shabby.

Not shabby, but a little light, so I have taken the liberty of not removing from the latest incarnation of the placemats the 2×1975s. Obviously this is subject to the approval of the Master.

With one more bottle we could still be at a width of 2½×A4. But eighteen or more would require a width of 3×A4.

[DRT]

I am beginning to question my belief system.

Not more than a month ago CMAG asked for advice on buying LBV. Now JDAW is campaigning for the inclusion of not one, but two 1975s in a line-up of fabulous port.

I need to go and lie down. This is too much.

[DRT]

1975: why two?

[jdaw1]

I am beginning to question my belief system.

Not more than a month ago CMAG asked for advice on buying LBV. Now JDAW is campaigning for the inclusion of not one, but two 1975s in a line-up of fabulous port.

I need to go and lie down. This is too much.

Some things are beyond knowing. Go lie down.

1975: why two?

The best answer I have:

My notes suggest that the '75 blossoms after a long decant.

Tom: there is a risk that we might hope for several bottles from you, and I’m reluctant to exhaust your hospitality on a 1975. But your observation is interesting.

Question for team: should we have two ’75s, a pair from the same case with similar fill levels, decanted 3 and 27 hours before?

Checking my stock I notice that in case B057 I have two bottles that not only have the same visual fill level, but when inspected last April, both weighed in at exactly 1401.6g

[DRT]

{feigning-interest-emoticon}

Is this an experiment that can be done justice in the presence of such delights as Ck1908 and Ck1912?

Perhaps better to persuade Tom to release three or four bottles from that case on another evening with fewer distractions and with a range of decanting times and focus on that question?

[jdaw1]

Perhaps better to persuade Tom to release three or four bottles from that case on another evening with fewer distractions and with a range of decanting times and focus on that question?

No objection. But that would leave us light on quantity — doubtless to remedied in the manner suggested by the conversation ending with my question “Fair?”.

[DRT]

Perhaps better to persuade Tom to release three or four bottles from that case on another evening with fewer distractions and with a range of decanting times and focus on that question?

No objection. But that would leave us light on quantity.

When I was given the job we had 14 bottles (including 2 x 1975s) and 14 mouths. We now have 15 bottles and 14 mouths, with no 1975s and a possible 16th bottle on the way.

What is the target quantity?

[jdaw1]

When I was given the job

When you were given the job, things were unsatisfactory. Already, we love you.

Some. Maybe more than that. Plus a spare.

[Alex Bridgeman]

14 bottles for 14 people on a school night is appropriate. More is unnecessary, but desirable if rare or delicious.

I would be very interested to try two bottles of 1975 Cockburn, from the same case, with the same fill level and the same weight, side by side with one having been given a long decant and one a short decant.

But that is an academic (and hopefully delicious) experiment. It does not fit well into a Cockburn vertical back to 1896. It deserves to be the focus of an evening, not an add one which will be barely remembered.

By all means include one bottle of Ck75 as part of the vertical. But if that inclusion means foregoing the decant time experiment on another occasion, I would rather miss it out of the line-up of the vertical.

[DRT]

14 bottles for 14 people on a school night is appropriate. More is unnecessary, but desirable if rare or delicious.

I would be very interested to try two bottles of 1975 Cockburn, from the same case, with the same fill level and the same weight, side by side with one having been given a long decant and one a short decant.

But that is an academic (and hopefully delicious) experiment. It does not fit well into a Cockburn vertical back to 1896. It deserves to be the focus of an evening, not an add one which will be barely remembered.

By all means include one bottle of Ck75 as part of the vertical. But if that inclusion means foregoing the decant time experiment on another occasion, I would rather miss it out of the line-up of the vertical.

I entirely agree with this.

Executive decision: No Ck 1975 at this tasting.

[DRT]

Unfortunately the Ck 1896 is no longer available

Our line-up is 1908 (Mag), 1912, 1920, 1924, 1927, 1935, 1950, 1955, 1960, 1963, 1967, 1970 & 2 x 1977. That is 15 bottles for 14 people.

The average cost per bottle is £213 and is what each person will contribute in either port, money or a combination of the two. Those who have offered bottles at a price that is higher than the average will be suitably compensated from the funds collected from those who provide bottles of a lower value or do not have a suitable bottle to offer.

I will contact each of you separately to let you know which bottles and/or how many pounds I need from you to put everything in the correct position. I intend collecting the money at the end of August.

Food and tip will be settled on the night in the usual manner and is not included in the £213.

[DRT]

I have updated the first post to show who is contributing what.

JDAW, can you please update the placemats?

[jdaw1]

JDAW, can you please update the placemats?

Done.

[DRT]

JDAW, can you please update the placemats?

Done.

Thank you.

[DRT]

JDAW, can you please update the placemats?

Done.

Please could you update the images in the first post to show the current placemat? I know not how.

[PhilW]

JDAW, can you please update the placemats?

Done.

Please could you update the images in the first post to show the current placemat? I know not how.

They look correct to me - if still incorrect for you, you may need to reload and/or flush your browser cache.

[jdaw1]

Please could you update the images in the first post to show the current placemat? I know not how.

For every tasting, every time^† the PDF is updated, the PNGs are also updated.

† Excepting times when the update to the PDF would not change the PNGs. E.g., if updating only the links in the PDF’s sidebar.

[DRT]

Ah. Thank you.

[flash_uk]

I think the '24 is missing from the placemat?

[jdaw1]

I think the '24 is missing from the placemat?

{Sackcloth and ashes.} Fixed.

[PhilW]

14 bottles for 14 people on a school night is appropriate. More is unnecessary, but desirable if rare or delicious.

I would be very interested to try two bottles of 1975 Cockburn, from the same case, with the same fill level and the same weight, side by side with one having been given a long decant and one a short decant.

But that is an academic (and hopefully delicious) experiment. It does not fit well into a Cockburn vertical back to 1896. It deserves to be the focus of an evening, not an add one which will be barely remembered.

By all means include one bottle of Ck75 as part of the vertical. But if that inclusion means foregoing the decant time experiment on another occasion, I would rather miss it out of the line-up of the vertical.

I entirely agree with this.

Am also total agreement with the above.

However, I would also not that it seems likely that between us we may have more than a couple of bottles of Ck75, which if so would mean we could still include this vintage in the vertical without forgoing the future experiment. Assuming this to be true, I would suggest inclusion of (a single bottle of) the '75 as within the current span of vintages and likely minimal additional cost involved (n.b. I'm not ignoring the executive decision that followed on immediately from the above, just petitioning for change).

[DRT]

it seems likely that between us we may have more than a couple of bottles of Ck75, which if so would mean we could still include this vintage in the vertical without forgoing the future experiment.

If someone has a single 1975 that they can donate please send me a note of the price and we can include.

[uncle tom]

If someone has a single 1975 that they can donate please send me a note of the price and we can include.

PM sent

[DRT]

Thanks, Tom

One 1975 back in the line-up.

I had inadvertently left the cost of a 1975 in my spreadsheet so the cost per person remains at £213 with the 1975 back in.

JDAW - I think we have a placemat crisis

[jdaw1]

JDAW - I think we have a placemat crisis

In what way was this not done last night?

[PhilW]

One 1975 back in the line-up.

Excellent - thank you.

[DRT]

JDAW - I think we have a placemat crisis

In what way was this not done last night?

I didn't look. Thank you.

[DRT]

Time has crept up on me. I will start collecting money now.

For those coming to any tasting at the B&F between now and 2nd Oct could you please deposit your bottles in the cellar?