Wokingham, Tuesday 20th May 2008

[DRT]

My offerings for this offline are Dow and Nacional.

Please can everyone else declare what they have and whether or not they can attend.

Thanks

Derek

[KillerB]

My offerings for this offline are Dow and Nacional.

Please can everyone else declare what they have and whether or not they can attend.

Thanks

Derek

I am Warre!

Say that loud and deep enough and you sound like a Nordic God. I don't think we need two bottles each as it's a school night.

[DRT]

My offerings for this offline are Dow and Nacional.

Please can everyone else declare what they have and whether or not they can attend.

Thanks

Derek

I am Warre!

Say that loud and deep enough and you sound like a Nordic God. I don't think we need two bottles each as it's a school night.

Some of us already have a note from Mum saying we have a dentist appointment the next day so can't be at school

Derek

[Conky]

Just remember, your Do is 24 hours before Manchester United play 'whoever' in Moscow, in the Champions League Final!

KillerBee will of course be supporting 'Whoever', Derek will support the Winners and suggest that football was never the same since.... (Fill in your own abstract fact)
And Al-B will support the Half Time Band!

Just an early warning.

Alan

[DRT]

KillerBee will of course be supporting 'Whoever', Derek will support the Winners and suggest that football was never the same since.... (Fill in your own abstract fact)
And Al-B will support the Half Time Band!

...and Conky will blindly follow whoever wears red (unless they smell of bins)

[jdaw1]

AHB and Jdaw. Please confirm time and place.

Err, Wokingham, Tuesday. AHB to confirm.

A 1980 horizontal would be of great interest. Possible contributions from me include:

• 1980 Fonseca (recently purchased from THRA);
• 1980 Graham (I have 23 bottles remaining);
• 1980 Nacional (excellent, and tasting of passion fruit, see TN);
• 1980 Offley Boa Vista (recently purchased from THRA);
• 1980 Taylor (various sources).

I’m willing to facilitate others adopting some of these.

[DRT]

AHB and Jdaw. Please confirm time and place.

Err, Wokingham, Tuesday. AHB to confirm.

Soory, no, just looking for you to confirm you have set your travel plans around what seemed to have been agreed. And also what you can bring from 1980.

[DRT]

AHB and Jdaw. Please confirm time and place.

Err, Wokingham, Tuesday. AHB to confirm.

Sorry, no, just looking for you to confirm you have set your travel plans around what seemed to have been agreed. And also what you can bring from 1980.

[DRT]

My fingers aren't working

[Conky]

Get a grip, Man!!!

Some of us have done a 10hr shift in the Emergency Services, and have more to come all weekend! Yummy....

[DRT]

Get a grip, Man!!!

Some of us have done a 10hr shift in the Emergency Services, and have more to come all weekend! Yummy....

Yeah, but you've not just worked your last day before 10 days holiday and sunk 5 cans of lager and a bottle of Noval LBV

Go on, feel sorry for me, you know you want to

[Conky]

I do feel 'temporarily' envious, but shouldn't you save your holidays for this time of the year?

[DRT]

I do feel 'temporarily' envious, but shouldn't you save your holidays for this time of the year?

I have enough holidays for all eventualities.

Hmmm. Good memories. Which reminds me, could we have a Conky Offline in October?

[Conky]

I suppose so, but whats wrong with a Summer one to clear the cob-webs!

[DRT]

I suppose so, but whats wrong with a Summer one to clear the cob-webs!

Nothing. But we might have a bus-load of Yanks to entertain and they all deserve to visit St Helens at least once before they die

[DRT]

I do feel 'temporarily' envious, but shouldn't you save your holidays for this time of the year?

I have enough holidays for all eventualities.

Hmmm. Good memories. Which reminds me, could we have a Conky Offline in October?

I've just realised that that is a picture of our "Offline for Two" last year

[Conky]

Oh, the Harvest Tour!

Good thinking. Can you imagine them singing in the Turks Head and eating the Dead Animals the next morning!!!

They'll be fine with the Port thing, but those other two...

Mind you, I could get Jules a temporary Northern Visa the way he ate the leftovers! Simon still gets stamped Jessie, I'm afraid.

But when are we going to have the much anticipated 'Bad Tiles Do?'

[Alex Bridgeman]

When: Tuesday May 20, 2008 at 7pm
Where: Wokingham â€‟ exact address to be supplied by PM
What: A 1980 Horizontal
Tasting Mats: Drafted
Who: Confirmed:

• AHB
  ARK, who has bagsied a blow-up mattress on the floor
  DRT, who has bagsied the sofa.
  JDAW, who has bagsied the bed

Possible:

• SRG
  Anyone else on the forum who would like to attend

Confirmed non-attendees:

• ACC
  SL

Bottle Options:

• Dow (AHB, ARK, DRT)
  Fonseca (AHB, ARK, JDAW)
  Graham (AHB, JDAW)
  Nacional (DRT, JDAW)
  Offley Boa Vista (JDAW)
  Smith Woodhouse (AHB)
  Taylor (JDAW)
  Warre (ARK)

If we aim to provide one bottle each, what are the preferences? My preference would be Dow (ARK), Fonseca (AHB), Graham (JDAW) and Nacional (DRT). For the four of us, I might also throw in a bottle of the Smith Woodhouse (AHB), but only because Julian is worried that we might end up thirsty! In fact, so worried that he has also agreed to bring a bottle of the Taylor 1980!!

Although not planning to travel to Sussex between now and May 20, I can do so in order to collect port where this would be helpful (I believe that Sussex is south of the Thames).

[jdaw1]

Tasting Mats: Not yet drafted

Placemats.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I didn't think it would take long for you to react.

[jdaw1]

Four of us, and 4½ bottles. Are we at risk of thirst? Yes, methinks.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I'm fairly confident that I can come up with a solution to prevent the early onset of thirst but we ought to discuss whether this should involve port, claret or some other alcoholic beverage.

However, should you feel compelled to bring a bottle of the Taylor in addition to the Graham, then I would be delighted to help to drink it!

Alex

[jdaw1]

By happy chance, I do “feel compelled to bring a bottle of the Taylor in addition to the Graham†. Placemats updated.

I’m pondering the merits of adding another feature to the placemat software, but it wouldn’t work nicely on a decanter label. Do you use decanters or double-decant into bottles?

[Alex Bridgeman]

Through a combination of using my own decanters and water jugs and whatever I can borrow, I intend to use decanters on May 20.

But pray tell what the new developments will be.

Alex

[Axel P]

Dudes,

I will be there, too, and will bring a Magnum Fonseca.

Looking forward talking to you (again)

Axel

[KillerB]

Dudes,

I will be there, too, and will bring a Magnum Fonseca.

Looking forward talking to you (again)

Axel

As long as it's not Bin 27, I will be welcoming you with open arms.

[DRT]

Dudes,

I will be there, too, and will bring a Magnum Fonseca.

Looking forward talking to you (again)

Axel

Excellent news!

We now have 5 people. How many bottles does that need? Does 8 sound reasonable? If so, that would be 2 x Fonseca plus 6 from 4 of us. Is 10 too greedy?

Derek

[DRT]

Does this work?

Fonseca (Magnum) - A?P
Nacional - DRT
Taylor - JDAW
Offley Boa Vista - JDAW
Smith Woodhouse - AHB
Graham's - AHB
Dow - ARK
Warre - ARK

Is any financial re-balancing required?

Derek

PS: I vote "yes" and "no"

[KillerB]

Does this work?

Fonseca (Magnum) - A?P
Nacional - DRT
Taylor - JDAW
Offley Boa Vista - JDAW
Smith Woodhouse - AHB
Graham's - AHB
Dow - ARK
Warre - ARK

Is any financial re-balancing required?

Derek

PS: I vote "yes" and "no"

Yes, unless I have a course the following day. In which case work migt be someting that I am incapable of achieving.

See nothing wildly unbalanced, though I have no clue as to the cost of the Nacional 1980.

[DRT]

I have located a Gould Campbell 1980 at a very reasonable price. Providing the delivery charge is reasonable it will be there to accompany its siblings. As far as I can determine there are no other 1980s available in the UK apart from in stores that do not subscribe to wine-searcher.

Sandeman, Ferriera and Niepoort are available in other countries but their inclusion would be price prohibitive and could be construed as excessive.

Derek

[jdaw1]

I have located a Gould Campbell 1980 at a very reasonable price. Providing the delivery charge is reasonable it will be there to accompany its siblings.

Excellent.

Sandeman, Ferriera and Niepoort are available in other countries but their inclusion would be price prohibitive

a reasonable excuse.

and could be construed as excessive.

Irrelevant.

[DRT]

I have located a Gould Campbell 1980 at a very reasonable price. Providing the delivery charge is reasonable it will be there to accompany its siblings.

Excellent.

Sandeman, Ferriera and Niepoort are available in other countries but their inclusion would be price prohibitive

a reasonable excuse.

and could be construed as excessive.

Irrelevant.

I entirely agree with all three responses. I am a firm believer in the notion that if you are going to do a horizontal it should be as long as can be achieved without being silly. That is what we achieved with the 1966s and that, I believe, is what we should aim for with the 1980s. It is only being fair.

Derek

[DRT]

Here is a list of the VPs known to have been produced in 1980:

1. A Pinta dos Santos
2. Barros
3. Borges & Irmao
4. Burmester
5. Calem
6. Calem, Quinta do Foz
7. Corte, Quinta do
8. Croft, Quinta da Roeda
9. Dow
10. Feist
11. Ferreira
12. Feuerheerd
13. Fonseca
14. Gould Campbell
15. Graham
16. Hooper
17. Hutcheson
18. Kopke
19. Messias
20. Niepoort
21. Noval Nacional, Quinta do
22. Offley Boa Vista
23. Quarles Harris
24. Ramos-Pinto
25. Robertson's Rebello Valente
26. Royal Oporto
27. Sandeman
28. Smith Woodhouse
29. Taylor
30. Vieira de Souza
31. Warre

Those shown in bold are already in the suggested line-up.

[DRT]

work migt be someting that I am incapable of achieving.

I can confirm that I will not be working on 21 May. Hands up anyone who is?

Derek

[DRT]

OK. I'm in.

Perhaps we need an interesting theme to attract others. Here are some suggestions:

1. Bring a bottle of port wrapped in silver foil
2. Single's Night (only SQVP's allowed)
3. 1960 Horizontal
4. 1980 Horizontal
5. The G-Plan (Graham's Vertical)
6. Rose Night

Derek

Having reviewed the original suggestions on theme, can I suggest that we combine suggestions 1 and 4?

The Fonseca may be a give-away unless presented in 2 x 750ml bottles.

I think it would be very interesting to do this blind and allow the wines rather than the labels to influence the outcome.

Thoughts?

Derek

[jdaw1]

I think it would be very interesting to do this blind and allow the wines rather than the labels to influence the outcome.

Blind is easy as AHB is planning decanters not bottles. But I think we are all sufficiently competent not to be influenced by label.

[DRT]

I think it would be very interesting to do this blind and allow the wines rather than the labels to influence the outcome.

Blind is easy as AHB is planning decanters not bottles. But I think we are all sufficiently competent not to be influenced by label.

Perhaps. But I do like blind tastings and I do think that even the most competent taster can be subconciously influenced by a Nacional versus a Cruz label. Admittedly, Cruz is thankfully not joining us but I'm sure you get my point.

Derek

[Conky]

I'm off on the 21st May. Bit of a footy game going on. Working until midnight on the Tuesday though....

[Axel P]

I will continue my trip to Ireland on the next day, but I have to be in Luton at 1300 hrs or so.

Alex: Could Wolfgang come as well. He will bring a Quarles Harris 80 with him. You know him from the Noval tasting.

All: I forgot to mention that it will be a Mg. Fonseca VP 1980 of course. Reason for this is, that - everyone knows - the Fonseca 80 in normal bottles is very poorly rated. I was told that this wine out of a Magnum is a totally different wine - lets see!

Looking forward seeing you

Axel

[DRT]

Alex: Could Wolfgang come as well. He will bring a Quarles Harris 80 with him. You know him from the Noval tasting.

Excellent

[KillerB]

I think that the reason that Fonseca 1980 is poorly rated is that it is unFonseca-like. I actually quite like it but will be more than interested in tasting from the mag.

[DRT]

Sad news. Gould Campbell will not be joining us as the list on wine-searcher wasn't up to date and they have none left

[KillerB]

I have booked both the Tuesday and Wednesday off, just in case.

[DRT]

AHB emailed me today to let me know that he cannot access TPF from Venezuela. That explains why we do not yet have any Venezuelan members.

That aside, AHB has informed me that the expanded list of wines and people has created a few challenges:

1. a shortage of glasses
2. a shortage of decanters
3. a tight squeeze around his dining table

Challenge 3 shouldn't be much of an issue as we are all good friends.

I can partially resolve challenges 1 and 2 as I have a number of port glasses a few decanters. However, AHB and I do not have sufficient of either between us to make the issue go away.

Can you please let us know what you can bring along to help?

Thanks

Derek

PS: Alex is insisting that a 750ml Fonseca will also be opened to allow a direct comparison with the Magnum. He is the host so he wins.

PPS: Alex has decided that the tasting will be done blind. He is the host so he wins.

PPPS: Uncle Tom may be joining us if he doesn't have a prior engagement to blow something up that night.

PPPPS: Has Ghandih made up his mind if he is coming yet?

[jdaw1]

1. a shortage of glasses
2. a shortage of decanters

…
I can partially resolve challenges 1 and 2 as I have a number of port glasses a few decanters. However, AHB and I do not have sufficient of either between us to make the issue go away.

Can you please let us know what you can bring along to help?

Nothing.

[KillerB]

I can bring a dozen glasses and three decanters - any help?

[DRT]

I can bring a dozen glasses and three decanters - any help?

Fantastic!

Thanks

[Alex Bridgeman]

I'm temporarily on line in a reasonably civilised country and so able to catch up. Glasses will be a problem with Derek's enthusiasm, so any help would be appreciated - thanks Alex!

Alex

[Alex Bridgeman]

An update to the event summary:

When: Tuesday May 20, 2008 at 7pm
Where: Wokingham â€‟ exact address to be supplied by PM
What: A 1980 Horizontal
Tasting Mats: Drafted, but needing revision to acommodate new attendees.
Who: Confirmed:

• AHB, whose house it is and who will be working from home on the 21st
  AP, who has bagsied an air matress
  ARK, who has bagsied a blow-up mattress on the floor
  DRT, who has bagsied the sofa.
  JDAW, who has bagsied the bed
  WS, who has to work the following day and so has to leave before things get too carried away

Possible:

• SRG
  THRA

Confirmed non-attendees:

• ACC
  SL

Bottle Options:

• Dow (AHB, ARK, DRT)
  Fonseca (AHB, ARK, JDAW , AP (en magnum))
  Graham (AHB, JDAW)
  Nacional (DRT, JDAW)
  Offley Boa Vista (JDAW)
  Quarles Harris (WS)
  Smith Woodhouse (AHB)
  Taylor (JDAW)
  Warre (ARK)

We’ve now abandoned the pretence of bringing only one bottle each. I believe that the current view of who brings what is:

• Dow (ARK)
  Fonseca (in bottle)(AHB)
  Fonseca (en magnum)(AP)
  Graham (JDAW)
  Nacional (DRT)
  Quarles Harris (WS)
  Smith Woodhouse (AHB)
  Taylor (JDAW)

My maths is not as well developed as either Julian's or Al-K's but I believe that current numbers of people and bottles will require 8 decanters and 48 glasses. I have 3 decanters and 18 glasses, Al-K has 3 decanters and 12 glasses, DRT has 3 decanters and 12 glasses. We are still 6 glasses short.

Although not planning to travel to Sussex between now and May 20, I can do so in order to collect port and/or glasses where this would be helpful (I believe that Sussex is south of the Thames).

[jdaw1]

Tasting Mats: Drafted, but needing revision to acommodate new attendees.

And to allow the tasting to be blind.