Monday 13th October 2025 - Taylor Vertical

[jdaw1]

The draft of the placemats has been updated, there being pictures in the first post.

We might need a Taylor vertical- part 2 - the postwar years. That I would very much like to attend. In fact, I’ll arrange it.

Taylor Vertical - Post WW2

[Alex Bridgeman]

First post updated.

Sorry Mike.

To get a seat at the table would now require a 1906, 1904 or older wine. (And I’ve never tasted either of those!)

[jdaw1]

a 1906

Proper rare, that. Also see TH06, re Broadbent.

[Alex Bridgeman]

1908 is the oldest Taylor that I have knowingly tasted to date. There might be some older unknowns which were Taylor, but who knows. I don’t.

[nac]

(Sorry Mike)

A degree of inevitability

Given this isn't happening until October, I'm pretty certain my 48 and I will also get relegated.

[Mike J. W.]

(Sorry Mike)

A degree of inevitability

Given this isn't happening until October, I'm pretty certain my 48 and I will also get relegated.

I think you could be relatively safe, Neil. I suspect if someone had a 1906, 1904 (or older) and they wanted into the tasting they would have popped up by now. I can only think of one TPF member who hasn't responded yet that has a really deep cellar. Good luck.

P.S. If I hit the lottery between now and then, you'll be out for sure.

[jdaw1]

The rules could be made more fun.

• People may opt to “hold firm”.
• To bump from the list somebody who has so opted, it must for a bottle ≥10 years older than the current youngest missing vintage. If a bottle not that old were offered, it would be the next in line who is compared to that newly offered bottle.
• But if bumped, that person’s bottle still comes.

So if Neil now were to “hold firm”, it would take an 1896 to bump him, but if a ’96 were offered, Neil’s ’48 would still be drunk by the attendees — so not by Neil.

Alex: do you approve the rule variation? Neil, if he does, danger danger decision!

[nac]

Mr Carter has a couple of bottles of "Believed" Taylor 1884 for sale if the lottery numbers do come through.

[nac]

The rules could be made more fun.

• People may opt to “hold firm”.
• To bump from the list somebody who has so opted, it must for a bottle ≥10 years older than the current youngest missing vintage. If a bottle not that old were offered, it would be the next in line who is compared to that newly offered bottle.
• But if bumped, that person’s bottle still comes.

So if Neil now were to “hold firm”, it would take an 1896 to bump him, but if a ’96 were offered, Neil’s ’48 would still be drunk by the attendees — so not by Neil.

Alex: do you approve the rule variation? Neil, if he does, danger danger decision!

@Julian - be quiet troublemaker.

[jdaw1]

@Julian - be quiet troublemaker.

Yes sir. Sorry sir.

[Alex Bridgeman]

As it is, Neil is potentially the only vintage which will appear at both this tasting and at the post-war Taylor tasting George is organising.

[Mike J. W.]

Mr Carter has a couple of bottles of "Believed" Taylor 1884 for sale if the lottery numbers do come through.

Alex may require documented proof, but I'll certainly keep them in mind. I also better go buy some lottery tickets.

[Mike J. W.]

@Julian - be quiet troublemaker.

Yes sir. Sorry sir.

For some reason Julian's comment reminded me of the quote from the movie The Quiet Man where a drunken Squire Red Will Danaher (Victor McLaglen) says "Yes ma'am. Sorry ma'am" to his sister Mary Kate Danaher (Maureen O'Hara) after she basically tells him to shut up. I love that movie.

[jdaw1]

But I didn’t understand the reprimand. My proposal would have put Neil in a stronger position, not a weaker one.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I've given up trying to push water uphill with Hawksmoor, they have just been too difficult and too unresponsive for me to organise this tasting with them.

By contrast, Noble Rot in Shepherd Market, Mayfair have been incredibly helpful and following a very successful lunch experience a few weeks ago, have agreed to host us on October 13th.

I have ordered a suckling pig for the 8 of us attending. The format of the evening will be:
6.00pm aperitifs; order starters from the a la carte menu
6.30pm starters
7.00pm suckling pig main course
7.45pm dessert
8.00pm table cleared and laid out for tasting of 12 vintages of Taylor VP (currently 1948-1900). 96 glasses have been ordered in so we can taste all the wines side-by-side.
11.00pm carriages

Aperitifs and wine to accompany the pig will be ordered from the restaurant wine list.

If anyone wants to opt out of the suckling pig, please tell me as soon as you can.

I estimate the cost to be around £150-170 per person, covering food, glass hire, service and corkage.

The first post has been updated with the information above.

[cem]

Excellent choice Alex

[jdaw1]

The placemats have been updated for the new location.

[Alex Bridgeman]

The placemats have been updated for the new location.

Thank you Julian.

I no longer have easy access to a laser printer. Would anyone be able to print the placemats and bring them to the tasting? The good news is that is doesn’t need to be anyone who arrives early since we won’t start the Port tasting until after we’ve eaten.

[mcoulson]

I can sort printing .....

[Alex Bridgeman]

With the 1970 tasting a warm and fuzzy memory, I suddenly realised it's only a week to the Taylor Vertical!

To be fair to the people who have offered wines and had their offers accepted, I'm now locking in the people attending - if you're on the list on the first page, you're in. (Bonus bottles of old (as in 1948 vintage or older) will be welcomed, but please tell me it's happening since my glass booking would need to be upped.)

I've been asked for some guidance on decanting times. My feeling is that we're going to be drinking some pretty ancient wines - use your discretion with regards to the bottle(s) you're bringing. Some (eg. 1948) could probably happily be decanted at lunchtime and enjoyed with dinner. Others (eg. 1900) might be a bit more delicate.

Ideally, please post in this thread what time you decant.

[jdaw1]

it's only a week to the Taylor Vertical!

Please check the current draft of the placemats.

[cem]

I'll decant the 08 and 12 at the venue.

[hadge]

I believe that this is the current format,

6.00pm aperitifs; order starters from the a la carte menu
6.30pm starters
7.00pm suckling pig main course
7.45pm dessert
8.00pm table cleared and laid out for tasting of 12 vintages of Taylor VP (currently 1948-1900). 96 glasses have been ordered in so we can taste all the wines side-by-side.
11.00pm carriages

Therefore I will be decanting the 1945 at the venue, as I don't like to give anything older than 1960 more than 2 hours before drinking, if still closed we have lots of time for it to open up. At the 45 tasting, 2 to 3 hours seems to be correct for this vintage.

[jdaw1]

If there are to be any changes in bottles or people then pls let me know so that the placemats can be updated.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I've just had a chat with Tom at Noble Rot. All is in order for our dinner next Monday.

We have been asked not to arrive before 6pm since the team are in a pre-service briefing from 5.30 to 6pm and will be a little disorganised if we suddenly appear.

If anyone does arrive early there is the Cherry Tree Yard café just around the corner, or the Market Tavern just down the street.

[mcoulson]

Comes to pass that Tony and I happen to have a bottle of 1884 knocking around that we will bring along to join the fun .... Sorry I appreciate this means the placemats need tweaking ....

[Alex Bridgeman]

Well, I did say that I would bring the oldest bottle to this tasting, but I think that trumps my oldest bottle of Taylor. Well done chaps.

[Alex Bridgeman]

But wait!

What is this? What have I found in the deepest recess of the cellar?

Surely not?

It can’t be?

But yes! It is. It is a bottle of Taylor from before 1884.

A bottle of Taylor 1878!

Taylor 1873

IMG_5322.jpeg (123.22 KiB) Viewed 2517 times

[Alex Bridgeman]

To make space for the 1878, I’ll leave out one of my other bottles.

Unless anyone has one of the vintages I’m bringing, or particularly wants to taste the 1940, that’s the one I’ll leave at home.

So I will be bringing 1878, 1900, 1917 and 1920. If anyone else is willing and able to bring one of these in addition to what they’re already listed to bring, please say so and I’ll bring the 1940 instead.

I’ll wait a couple of hours to see if anyone is able to help, and then I’ll update the first post.

[cem]

Ahh Splendid!

We'll need some suitable grape jucie for the meal. I am happy to bring.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Ahh Splendid!

We'll need some suitable grape jucie for the meal. I am happy to bring.

That would be greatly appreciated.

[jdaw1]

The draft of the placemats has been updated (+1884, +1878), there being pictures in the first post.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Thank you Julian, they look perfect.

Martin, are you still able to print the A3 placemats please?

[mcoulson]

Thank you Julian, they look perfect.

Martin, are you still able to print the A3 placemats please?

Yep printer on standby and they will be rolled the right way round to transport !

[jdaw1]

Links:

• Review of the event as a whole;
• 1878 Taylor (AHB);
• 1884 Taylor (MSC+TC);
• 1890 Taylor (AHB);
• 1896 Taylor (MJRM);
• 1900 Taylor (AHB);
• 1908 Taylor (CEM);
• 1912 Taylor (CEM);
• 1917 Taylor (AHB);
• 1920 Taylor (AHB);
• 1924 Taylor (MJRM);
• 1927 Taylor (TC);
• 1935 Taylor (CPR);
• 1942 Taylor (MSC);
• 1945 Taylor (HTWH);
• 1948 Taylor (NAC);
• Planning and arangements;
• Placemats.

[nac]

Am now very much looking forward to this.

I'm completely flexible re the opening/decanting time for the 1948.

My plan is to open and decant at XX:XX. Leave in the decanter for YY:YY. Back into the bottle at ZZ:ZZ.

@Alex - do you have a preference?

It's an Eldridge Pope bottling. Colour looks good and level is just into neck.

[Alex Bridgeman]

That's the second Eldrige Pope bottling in a week! The GC70 last Friday was also EP.

No preference on X, Y or Z. I'm happy to leave those to your discretion.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I dug out the bottles I’m contributing from their places in their bins and stood them up to settle. I’ve posted some pictures of the bottles in the relevant tasting note threads.

[Bertie3000]

Wow this line up is something else! Mundane question but do we need to bring our own decanters or will Noble Rot provide these?

[Alex Bridgeman]

Wow this line up is something else! Mundane question but do we need to bring our own decanters or will Noble Rot provide these?

That is an extremely good question!

I’ll give them a call later this morning and ask.

I’m also going to tell them that I plan to bring a set of Port tongs and a blowtorch so we can crack open any bottles where we want access to the cork.

[Alex Bridgeman]

There are a couple of late additions to the line-up.

Michael Mee has generously offered to add 1896 to go alongside his 1924. I waited a very polite 0.7 seconds before graciously accepting the offer.

I’ve also decided to add my bottle of Taylor 1890 to the evening. Although a good fill level, the colour isn’t great so I’m not sure how it will drink. But I’m not anticipating we have an 1890 horizontal any time soon so no point in holding it back.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Wow this line up is something else! Mundane question but do we need to bring our own decanters or will Noble Rot provide these?

Noble Rot have advised they have 20+ decanters available - although some of them are currently display items so will need to be rinsed out for us to use.

They have also advised that if anyone wants to drop bottles off during the day, they will put them to one side to stand and settle. I plan to drop my bottles off in the early afternoon and then amuse myself until decanting starts at 6pm.

[jdaw1]

Michael Mee has generously offered to add 1896 to go alongside his 1924.

decided to add my bottle of Taylor 1890

Added to the placemats, and TN threads (1878, ’84, ’90, ’96, 1900, ’08, ’12, ’17, ’20, ’24, ’27, ’35, ’42, ’45, ’48).

[Christopher]

That’s a lot of Port
I think this might be one of if not the finest tastings I have seen on the Port Forum.
Look forward to hearing how it goes

[jdaw1]

That might be an understatement. The book has mention of many tastings. I do not recall any with ten Vintages more than a century old. Just none. Even Taylor’s great bicentennial tasting discussed in A Celebration of Taylor’s Port (1992), p53 onwards, had none older than a century. And the Cockburn bicentennial in 2015 had only three older (’63, ’68, ’08). So this tasting is at least a candidate for Swankiest Port Tasting Ever.

[mcoulson]

All printing done ..... ready for the off ....

[nac]

So this tasting is at least a candidate for Swankiest Port Tasting Ever.

It's definitely up there with Alex's very old tawnies tasting.

[Christopher]

That might be an understatement. The book has mention of many tastings. I do not recall any with ten Vintages more than a century old. Just none. Even Taylor’s great bicentennial tasting discussed in A Celebration of Taylor’s Port (1992), p53 onwards, had none older than a century. And the Cockburn bicentennial in 2015 had only three older (’63, ’68, ’08). So this tasting is at least a candidate for Swankiest Port Tasting Ever.

Totally agreed, thanks for the research. I see that as a bit of a challenge but I think its going to be tough to beat..

[Glenn E.]

That might be an understatement. The book has mention of many tastings. I do not recall any with ten Vintages more than a century old. Just none. Even Taylor’s great bicentennial tasting discussed in A Celebration of Taylor’s Port (1992), p53 onwards, had none older than a century. And the Cockburn bicentennial in 2015 had only three older (’63, ’68, ’08). So this tasting is at least a candidate for Swankiest Port Tasting Ever.

I can't recall ever even hearing of a tasting with this many old Vintage Ports in it. This is truly spectacular.

The Decades tasting that I attended in Los Angeles in 2020 was, alas, only 9 Vintage Ports over 100 years of age, because the 1927 Niepoort and 1931 Noval were merely 93 and 89 years old, and so too young to qualify.

I have been lucky enough to attend a few tastings with 6-8 Ports that were 100+ years old, but those were all ancient tawnies.

I've been to 1 tasting that had 14 bottles that were all over 100 years old, but those were all Madeira.

[nac]

Going to be in London in advance of 1800 kick-off.
Anyone fancy meeting at 67 beforehand?