1997 @ 25, Tues 24th May 2022 @ B&F

[nac]

Have tried a number of the 97s and quite liked them, so thought a tasting of more might be nice. They're 25 in 2022 so why not?

RESCHEDULED - Red Room, B&F booked for Tuesday 24th May 2022.

Attendees [has...]:

1. NAC [Ch, D, F, GC, QH, NS, Ps (mag), Rs, SV (hlv), T, W] - confirmed for 24/5
2. AHB [BBR (mag), G, Mz, MzEV, SW, V] - confirmed for 24/5
3. GEAG [D, F, Os, Pç, VDM, Ni, V] - confirmed for 24/5
4. MPM [D, G, Mz] - confirmed for 24/5
5. JDAW [RP] - confirmed for 24/5
6. TC - confirmed for 24/5
7. CPR [D, F, V, B] - confirmed for 24/5
8. IDJ [D, G, RP?, GC, V, CaF] - confirmed for 24/5
9. RichN [D] - confirmed for 24/5
10. THRA [N, NS] - confirmed for 24/5
11. WillW [RP, Br, B, SV, Nv, Os, Pç, Pt, ROC] - confirmed for 24/5
12. HTWH [GC, G, D, Ni, F (mag)] - confirmed for 24/5
13. PhilW
14. CMAG

Reserves:
None

Please indicate what you have available.

The Book and associated Addendum record the following [comments re availability, etc.]:

Desired/required
Avoid/exclude

• BBR (Warre) [not needed if we're having Warre?]
• Burmester
• Calem
• Calem Foz
• Calem Sagrado
• Churchill [not in The Book, but exists]
• Cockburn
• Croft Roeda
• Delaforce Corte
• Dow
• Ferreira
• Feuerheerd
• Fonseca
• Gould Campbell
• Graham
• Hooper
• Kopke
• Krohn
• Krohn Retiro Novo
• Martinez
• Martinez Eira Velha
• Morgan
• Niepoort [potential VA issues]
• Niepoort Passadouro
• Noval
• Noval Nacional [rare, £1300+/bt, suggest we ignore this]
• Noval Silval
• Offley Boa Vista
• Quarles Harris
• Ramos Pinto
• Royal Oporto
• Royal Oporto Carvalhas
• Sandeman
• Sandeman Vau
• Smith Woodhouse
• Smith Woodhouse Madalena
• Taylor
• Taylor Vargellas Vinha Velha [rare, £300+/bt, suggest we ignore this]
• Vesuvio
• Warre

Current draft of the food order.

Current draft of the placemats.

[nac]

The line-up:

1. Taylor - NAC for Team adoption
2. Fonseca - NAC for Team adoption
3. Quarles Harris - NAC for Team adoption
4. Warre - NAC
5. Martinez - AHB
6. Vale Donna Maria - GEAG
7. Sandeman Vau - MPW adopting from WillW
8. Ramos Pinto - JDAW
9. Smith Woodhouse - TC
10. Vesuvio - CPR
11. Gould Campbell - IDJ
12. Dow - RichN
13. Noval - THRA for Team adoption
14. Noval Silval - THRA
15. Burmester - WillW
16. Graham - HTWH
17. Croft Roeda - PhilW
18. Vale da Figueira - CMAG adopting from AHB

Placemats to be updated...

[jdaw1]

Yes please.

[forest26]

Yes please

[CPR 1]

yes please

[idj123]

Yes please!

[flash_uk]

Confirming officially here having said yes to Neil in person.

[Doggett]

Yes please

[rich_n]

Yes please! I think I only have Dow but as long as I'm in the country I'd be up for this.

[M.Charlton]

Yes please. I have a Fonseca and Graham’s available.

[akzy]

Yes please. Will check what I have.

[PhilW]

Sounds good, yes please.

[CPR 1]

yes please

I should have D,F or V easily available. and apparently some Burmester if I look carefully!

[hadge]

yes please

[winesecretary]

I agree we should ignore TVVV and NN, more than enough options already.

[nac]

yes please

...and that's 14.

Reserve list open.

[nac]

3.5 hours to fill a tasting. Almost sedate.

[nac]

In the interests of sanity and liver function I propose that we limit this to 16 bottles.

What should definitely be included and what should definitely be avoided?

[Alex Bridgeman]

Checking what I have was a bit of a surprise - not in storage I have only the Vesuvio 1997.

Available from duty paid storage I also have BB&R Selection (Warre) in magnum, Martinez, Martinez Eira Velha, Graham, Smith Woodhouse.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I'd prefer to avoid the Niepoort - just too unreliable

[Glenn E.]

I'd prefer to avoid the Niepoort - just too unreliable

I don't know what you're talking about. It's completely reliable! It is reliably tainted by VA so powerful that it bothers even me.

[jdaw1]

In the interests of sanity and liver function

An interest of only a minority of us.

[Alex Bridgeman]

In the interests of sanity and liver function

An interest of only a minority of us.

I am in that minority!

I’d rather have two tastings each of 14-16 different Ports than one tasting of 28-32 different wines.

[MigSU]

I am in that minority!

I’d rather have two tastings each of 14-16 different Ports than one tasting of 28-32 different wines.

I agree with this.

[winesecretary]

I also agree. Albeit in saying so noting the possibility of two tastings separated by a week. Possibly a 'minors' tasting (e.g. the Osborne, Pocas and Quinta Vale Dona Maria) and a 'majors' (D,F,V etc.) tasting?

[Will W.]

Please add me to the reserve list. I have (apologies for not knowing the abbreviations) Ramos Pinto, Barros, Burmester, Sandeman Vau, Quinta da Nossa Senhora, Osborne, Pocas Junior, Quinta do Portal and Quinta das Carvalhas.

[jdaw1]

I’d rather have two tastings each of 14-16 different Ports than one tasting of 28-32 different wines.

Agreed. But one tasting of eighteen or nineteen would work. (Four on A4 plus fifteen on A3 ⇒ diameter ≈ 83.9mm ≈ 3.30″.)

Albeit in saying so noting the possibility of two tastings separated by a week.

Works even better.

the abbreviations

Abbreviations: RP, Br, B, SV, Nv, Os, Pç, Pt, ROC.

[Will W.]

the abbreviations

Abbreviations: RP, Br, B, SV, Nv, Os, Pç, Pt, ROC.

Duly saved - with thanks.

[nac]

Please add me to the reserve list. I have (apologies for not knowing the abbreviations) Ramos Pinto, Barros, Burmester, Sandeman Vau, Quinta da Nossa Senhora, Osborne, Pocas Junior, Quinta do Portal and Quinta das Carvalhas.

Done.

Given how far ahead this is being arranged I would suggest there’s a fair probability you’ll escape the bench.

[Constandia]

Please add me to the reserve list for this event. Many thanks.

[jdaw1]

Please add me to the reserve list for this event. Many thanks.

Done.

[nac]

Assuming we’re not in the midst of another Zombie Apocalypse and this is able to go ahead, then probably worth getting people to reconfirm availability and update on bottles.

No particular rush, but would like to get most of the organisation sorted by the end of December.

[winesecretary]

I have the same seven previously notified - one bottle of each apart from the Vesuvio of which I have an OWC- until this tasting I'm not diving into this vintage further because I don't know anything about it!

[Doggett]

Assuming it is all good to come and play I would like to reconfirm and offer a Smith Woodhouse for the proceedings.

[rich_n]

I am still keen to join for this, but travel is slightly tricky - I was wondering if anyone has a spare bed or sofa that I could crash on around the extremities of West-ish London (ideally somewhere with some parking). Any offers very gratefully received!

<Edit> I still have the case of Dow and now also have access to Vesuvio but that's at Seckford so would prefer to offer the Dow.

[nac]

Assuming it is all good to come and play I would like to reconfirm and offer a Smith Woodhouse for the proceedings.

Excellent. We'll go with your SW.

[Screagle]

I have Pç for the 'minors' event mooted for the following week should it go ahead on Thursday 29th January...

Saúde

[CPR 1]

re confirming

I have D,F or V easily available

[idj123]

Pretty sure that I have at least G, RP and GC readily available.

[nac]

I have Pç for the 'minors' event mooted for the following week should it go ahead on Thursday 29th January...

Saúde

Idea was mooted by others. I have no plans for this at present, but doesn’t stop someone else organising it. However, suspect that sufficient bottles for two distinct events won’t be forthcoming.

[winesecretary]

I, having mooted it, do not propose to organise it. Not after the 1980 horizontal. Not even as an impromptu educational event post covid can I see 'likely slightly disappointing ports' as being a popular event...

[nac]

I am still keen to join for this, but travel is slightly tricky - I was wondering if anyone has a spare bed or sofa that I could crash on around the extremities of West-ish London (ideally somewhere with some parking). Any offers very gratefully received!

<Edit> I still have the case of Dow and now also have access to Vesuvio but that's at Seckford so would prefer to offer the Dow.

Assuming you do attend, will include your Dow.

[Screagle]

Perhaps I could be added to the reserves? I have SW and Pç currently available as well as SV in magnum.

Saúde

[nac]

Perhaps I could be added to the reserves? I have SW and Pç currently available as well as SV in magnum.

Saúde

Done.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I reconfirm. I'll check which wines I have from the vintage later.

[akzy]

I think I'm a solid maybe now. I'd also have to adopt. Perhaps offer my seat to someone who can make it and provide something?

[nac]

I think I'm a solid maybe now. I'd also have to adopt. Perhaps offer my seat to someone who can make it and provide something?

OK - I'll promote Will, but put you at the top of the reserves in case you can make it.

Will - space is yours if you want it?

[nac]

Have now acquired some Sandeman, so would be interesting to taste it alongside the Vau.
I think WillW has this in bottle so hopefully he'll be able to attend?

[Will W.]

Have now acquired some Sandeman, so would be interesting to taste it alongside the Vau.
I think WillW has this in bottle so hopefully he'll be able to attend?

I have had it added to my calendar and shall bring the Vau as well as whatever else is needed. Simply let me know in due course.

[Will W.]

Have now acquired some Sandeman, so would be interesting to taste it alongside the Vau.
I think WillW has this in bottle so hopefully he'll be able to attend?

I have had it added to my calendar and shall bring the Vau as well as whatever else is needed. Aside from the Vau (in full and halves), my cellar list shows Ramos Pinto, Barros, Burmester, Quinta da Nossa Senhora, Osborne, Pocas Junior, Portal and Carvalhas. Simply let me know in due course.