19 Feb 25 (TBC) - Niche-interest bottlings & old reliables

[hadge]

When: Wednesday 19 February 2025
Where: Boot & Flogger, if available. If not, TBC.


I am potentially passing through London in mid-Feb. When doing an inspection of my Big Yellow holdings recently, I was shocked at the number of unusual niche-interest ports (defined as fully mature but <3 prior TNs on TPF) that I'd obviously acquired with a view to tasting with the TPF crowd at some point or another, and I would like to start depleting these in appropriate company.

I'll bring 3 of those bottles + one "old reliable", plus one guest if numbers permit (but with priority to current regulars). Happy for others to bring their choice (or just to turn up without anything and I am happy to open another on their behalf - at current rate of vintage port consumption I have multiple lifetimes of stock that I need to figure out how to get through, but couldn't bear to sell....).

Bottles to be brought blind for casual guessing.


Now that i'm taking this over, I don't want to move away from the main parts of Robs theme,

I will be bring 5/6 blind bottles, these will all be from the same vintage, is the only clue for all.

for the rest of you, there is no real change, Please can you bring unusual niche-interest ports which is a fully mature Port for which there are two or fewer tasting notes on the Tasting Note Data Base ("showing on the tasting note database index as at today's (30 November 2024) date" as per AHB) Please bring this bottle blind.

if you don't have anything suitable, then please let me know and just turn up, we will have enough.


Start time of 18:30
Boot & Flogger Red Room

Attendees:

1. Harry (HTWH)
2. Ben (BMHR)
3. winesecretary (GEAG)
4. Mike (MPM)
5. Alex B (AHB)
6. Ian (IDJ)
7. Michael (MC)
8. NAC
9. MSC
10. Julian W.
11. John M. (Big Love)
12. John M. +1
13. Alex M.
14. Sophia W.

Reserves:

• RAYC in the belief that he will not be in the UK on the date of this tasting;
• KZZM (former attendee of a few tastings);
• Charles (CPR);
• Phil (PW) can no longer make the date

Current draft of the food order.

Current draft of the placemats.

[benread]

I’m not sure if my recent attendance record meets your qualification criteria, but if a space ends up with my name on it, the fact both kids are away on school trips that week significantly simplifies the usual complications I face! And I may have a pair of bottles perfect for what you suggest!


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[winesecretary]

I think I have a number of appropriate wines for the theme and would very much like to attend.

[flash_uk]

Long time Rob! Count me in please.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I’m sure I have something which would fit the theme.

Yes please!

(If you need any UK based help in making arrangements, I’m happy to lend a hand.)

[CPR 1]

Great theme. Count me in please.

[hadge]

I'm aware we haven't met before, if there is space for me i would love to join in the fun and games, so yes please. I'm sure that i can find something fun for this.

[idj123]

Yes, count me in Rob.

[M.Charlton]

Ditto re not having met you before, Rob, but if there’s space please may I join?

[RAYC]

Excellent - first post updated. Will get on to admin with B&F.

[PhilW]

Sounds good, and would be great to see you again, please count me in.

[nac]

Yes please

[mcoulson]

May I join in please ?

[jdaw1]

Yes please.

It’s good to have you back on the forum. And we’ll definitely help deplete your stock of interesting bottles.

[pommy42]

Hi Rob, I too would love to be added to the reserves list for this one and attend if at all possible! Superb theme!

[jdaw1]

I don’t think that I have anything meeting standard of niche-interest. So there are two obvious possibilities.
• Bring an “old-reliable”.
• Adopt a “niche-interest”.

And it is well known, on this forum, which to choose when there are two possibilities.

[DRT]

I don’t think that I have anything meeting standard of niche-interest. So there are two obvious possibilities.
• Bring an “old-reliable”.
• Adopt a “niche-interest”.

And it is well known, on this forum, which to choose when there are two possibilities.

Both?

[jdaw1]

Both?

Why the question mark?

[DRT]

{sackclothandashes}

[Alex Bridgeman]

Rob - I love the theme, but I need to ask two points of clarification before I start my 12 weeks of detailed planning to decide which bottle to select and bring.

Niche interest is defined as "fully mature and <3 tasting notes on the database".

(1) Are you happy to leave the attendee to self-define what constitutes "fully mature" or would you prefer to impose a minimum age before a Port can be considered fully mature?

(2) Please can we agree that "<3 tasting notes" means "less than three tasting notes showing on the tasting note database index as at today's (30 November 2024) date"? That saves a lot of painful trawling through the Tasting Notes forum looking to see if someone has just posted a third tasting note on the 1815 Ferreira.

[winesecretary]

Put me down for this as I have found a couple of options in the cellar.

It’s not going to ruin the theme if I reveal now neither of them is the 1815 Ferreira.

[Big Love]

Hello!

I will be in London on a holiday from Feb 19 to 26th and going to the Boot and Flogger is high on the list of places to visit. This event looks full but if anything else is going on or someone would like to share a glass be happy to meet. Actually, that would be marvelous to put a face with a name/pseudonym.

Cheers!

John M.

(I have a new handle here, but have been on this site quite a bit over the past 18 years)

[nac]

Is B&F confirmed for this date?

[CPR 1]

Rob my apologies I can no longer make the 19th Feb. I hope you have a great evening and our paths cross again before too long.

[jdaw1]

Rob has gone quiet (“Last active: 23:22 Fri 06 Dec 2024”). I do not know what is happening. Nonetheless, I’m going to request food orders (of course, from the menu).

JDAW:
• Soup of the day;
• Pie (if meat) + skinny fries;
• Welsh rarebit and Bramdean pudding.

[mcoulson]

May I have .....
Pate
Sirloin with skinny fries and peppercorn sauce
Bakewell crumble with custard
Thankyou

[Alex Bridgeman]

Bear with. I have reached out to Rob.

If his travel plans have changed significantly I’ll take over this date and turn it into a “bring a bottle” tasting.

But it’s still a few weeks away so let’s wait a few days to see if Rob’s still expecting to make the trip.

[jdaw1]

I have reached out to Rob.

So have I.

If his travel plans have changed significantly I’ll take over this date and turn it into a “bring a bottle” tasting.

Thank you. In which case, either way, food order needed. Do you know whether B&F has been booked?

But it’s still a few weeks away so let’s wait a few days to see if Rob’s still expecting to make the trip.

We can but hope.

[Alex Bridgeman]

B&F has not been booked but I have been told that there is still availability for a table for 14 people.

[winesecretary]

pate
harissa chicken
carrots
sticky toffee pudding

[hadge]

My food order,

Smoked salmon
Bangers and mash(if possible Fries instead of mash) + fries
Cheese plate - no Stilton if possible

thanks,

[benread]

Please could I order the bruschetta to start and the harissa chicken. If a Welsh rarebit is available to end the meal then yes please to that!


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[benread]

Please could I order the bruschetta to start and the harissa chicken. If a Welsh rarebit is available to end the meal then yes please to that!


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[jdaw1]

Current draft of the food order.

[RAYC]

Hi all

Apologies - still working on my travel plans which are in slight flux at the moment due to changing work requirements.

Room is booked so hopefully a tasting will take place regardless!

[M.Charlton]

Please could I be put down for:
Pate;
Sirloin with skinny fries and peppercorn sauce; and
Welsh rarebit.

[flash_uk]

Please may I have:
Duck liver pate
Rib eye steak (rare) + fried egg
Fries
Carrots
Welsh rarebit

Many thanks

[PhilW]

With apologies, but I'm no longer able to join you on this date - I will hope to catch up with Rob (and everyone else) at another time.

[winesecretary]

Chopped sausages
Harissa chicken, green salad on the side
Sticky toffee pudding

[jdaw1]

Red Room booked, despite — or because of — absence of sign of Rob C.

[Alex Bridgeman]

On the assumption that RAYC is not able to be in the UK next week, I will hand control of the first post over to Harry tomorrow so he can organise a tasting he has hoped to run for some months.

[Alex M]

Chance may allow me to attend. May I go on the reserve list?

[benread]

On the assumption that RAYC is not able to be in the UK next week, I will hand control of the first post over to Harry tomorrow so he can organise a tasting he has hoped to run for some months.

Will that require me to select a different bottle?


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[Alex Bridgeman]

Harry now has control of the first post, so please keep an eye on it to see if / how / when things change.

Yesterday Harry described his plan. As described yesterday (which was several bottles of Port ago) this will be an evening of two halves. The first half will be a blind tasting with 4-6 bottles provided by Harry. The second half of the evening will be the original theme planned by Rob - as in please could people bring a fully mature Port for which there are two or fewer tasting notes on the Tasting Note Data Base.

@AlexM - you are on the reserves list

@benread - probably not given my understanding of Harry's plan, but keep an eye on the first post

[idj123]

Could I have my current default order please:
Welsh Rarebit
Sirloin steak (M/R) with fries, carrots and peppercorn sauce
Dessert tbd on the night

Thanks

[benread]

@benread - probably not given my understanding of Harry's plan, but keep an eye on the first post

I had a couple lined up as possibilities but on checking more thoroughly only 1 meets the criteria and I am very surprised to find a sum total of zero TNs for it!

[mcoulson]

please could people bring a fully mature Port for which there are two or fewer tasting notes on the Tasting Note Data Base.

can I ask what 'fully Mature' actually means date wise I can't imagine a 2022 vintage would qualify and I'm sure an 1890 would but where is the transition point ?

[hadge]

From the first post,

Now that i'm taking this over, I don't want to move away from the main parts of Robs theme,

I will be bring 5/6 blind bottles, these will all be from the same vintage, is the only clue for all.

for the rest of you, there is no real change, Please can you bring unusual niche-interest ports which is a fully mature Port for which there are two or fewer tasting notes on the Tasting Note Data Base ("showing on the tasting note database index as at today's (30 November 2024) date" as per AB) Please bring this bottle blind.

if you don't have anything suitable, then please let me know and just turn up, we will have enough.

Start time of 18:30
Boot & Flogger Red Room

[hadge]

please could people bring a fully mature Port for which there are two or fewer tasting notes on the Tasting Note Data Base.

can I ask what 'fully Mature' actually means date wise I can't imagine a 2022 vintage would qualify and I'm sure an 1890 would but where is the transition point ?

The normal rule is 21 years, I would personally say 35 years plus.

[Alex Bridgeman]

please could people bring a fully mature Port for which there are two or fewer tasting notes on the Tasting Note Data Base.

can I ask what 'fully Mature' actually means date wise I can't imagine a 2022 vintage would qualify and I'm sure an 1890 would but where is the transition point ?

The normal rule is 21 years, I would personally say 35 years plus.

So that’s from 1990 or before.