T Minus 25 years 2011 Horizontal - London Thu 23rd April 2026

[Christopher]

I rather fancy trying a few of the 2011 vintage at 15 years and see how they are getting on.

Wondered if there was any interest for such a tasting? More of an academic and chit chat tasting.

The results will be a useful first tasting benchmark after the launch tasting for the 2051 tasting. I hope this could be the first of many..

Venue Boot and Flogger
Board Room so max of 8 ( possibly can be moved to a bigger room )

1: CMAG - GST
2: JDAW VCap ( adopted from CG )
3: AHB G
4: Wine Secretary F
5: Flash UK QdMeao
6: Akzy V
7: NAC T
8: MC N plus a mystery bottle

Additional Bottle for Educational Purposes Niepoort Bioma ( purchased from Amps of Oundle as I want to try it!
If anyone had any of the following would be great, Noval, Niepoort , Taylor or Dow. I have the Niepoort Bioma but only in larger format unfortunately.

The list is full now and will go to reserves.

Current draft of the placemats.

[jdaw1]

Splendid idea for Thursday 23^rd April 2026: yes please. I have some.

[winesecretary]

I am up for this. I also have quite a few of these.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I may be in London that day.

Yes please - I drink a few 2011s every year and they are delicious.

[flash_uk]

Yes please, from memory have N, Ck, Meao, T and one other.

[rich_n]

I'm definitely interested, might struggle with the Thursday (or at best will need to leave earlier than ideal). Would the Tuesday or Wednesday be an option?

I have Noval and Niepoort.

[Christopher]

I am afraid for this tasting the date is fixed as all 2011 tastings until 2051 need to be on St George’s Day.
Thus may be at a different venue to normal on Pall Mall. Not 67 will advise.
I am not intending this to be an all encompassing tasting just the ones we fancy.
I will bring a GST and Vesuvio Capela

More details to follow

[akzy]

Yes please. Do I need to calculate the likelihood of survival for this?

[M.Charlton]

Yes please. Do I need to calculate the likelihood of survival for this?

I think I can speak on behalf of all the members, Zak, in saying we hope you have more than 79 days left in the tank.*

*maths confirming the same welcomed.

[jdaw1]

we hope you have more than 79 days left in the tank.

No. I rather hope that, if the tank has been used for anything other than the finest Vintage Port, they let you out of the tank before then.

Which security service has taken such an interest in you?

[Alex Bridgeman]

I have a selection of shippers at home, and would be happy to bring any one of the following:

• Niepoort Crusted, bottled in 2011
• Quinta do Noval
• Skeffington (but it would have to be 2 halves)
• Quinta do Vesuvio
• Capela de Quinta do Vesuvio

[jdaw1]

All my fancy 2011s are in storage, and generally not for me.

So, with permission of the organiser, I intend to bring both of those I have at home (the widely-available M&S, and the rare Quarles Harris), and also adopt a prestige name.

[Christopher]

Hi Alex
Would you bring the Vesuvio please

I would like to ideally do the 2 Grahams, 2 Vesuvio, Niepoort and possibly a couple of the other top tier

[nac]

Yes please.

[akzy]

I think Vesuvio is the only thing I have easily on hand.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I’m happy to bring whatever works best. These are not difficult to buy at the moment, so let me know what you want and if I don’t have it, I’ll buy it.

[winesecretary]

I have Cockburn, Croft and Fonseca in storage and (given they are at L&W) can pull single bottles of each with a month or so’s notice.

[Christopher]

Thanks
Alex are you ok to get the Graham please. Winesecretary Fonseca

[winesecretary]

Fonseca it is.

Fonseca procured.

[Christopher]

I think Vesuvio is the only thing I have easily on hand.

Thank you

[Alex Bridgeman]

Thanks
Alex are you ok to get the Graham please.

Happy to do so.

[mcoulson]

Hello may I join in and be number 8 please?

[Christopher]

Hello may I join in and be number 8 please?

For sure , great to have you along

[nac]

Yes please.

Just checked and I have Fonseca, Taylor and Vesuvio.

[Christopher]

Thanks can I put you down for the Taylor please

Many thanks

[nac]

Thanks can I put you down for the Taylor please

Many thanks

Yup. Done.

[Alex Bridgeman]

If Martin doesn't have a 2011 to bring along, I can offer a bottle of Noval for adoption.

[Alex Bridgeman]

For April 23rd

IMG_8195.jpeg (64.46 KiB) Viewed 10708 times

This arrived a few minutes ago. Bought from Frazier Jones in Solihull and released from bond on Friday after I ordered one.

(And I have to say the service I got from them was excellent.)

The bottle will now rest gently in the cellar for the next 6 weeks.

[mcoulson]

I'll bring a noval along and a suprise bottle that could be good or bad for that matter .....

[Christopher]

I'll bring a noval along and a suprise bottle that could be good or bad for that matter .....

Nice work thank you
The GST and Capela are on coming out of bond as we speak

[Christopher]

The Capela has arrived

[Christopher]

Graham Stone Terraces as well. Great packaging on both!

[jdaw1]

Please post the booklets in the Port-box enclosures thread, or lend them to me and I’ll do it.

[Glenn E.]

The Capela has arrived

I am jealous. None of my Capelas in any of the vintages came is such a lovely 3-bottle wood box.

[Christopher]

Yes please, from memory have N, Ck, Meao, T and one other.

Hi could I please put you down for Meao. I also bought some of this , not a Port you see often so I think would be interesting to compare with the others

[Christopher]

I have added a Niepoort Vinha Velha to the line for educational purposes.
One of the advantages of such a young tasting is the corks should come out ok. Could everyone please double decant and bring the bottles so we can get some pictures

Many thanks

[jdaw1]

I have added a Niepoort Vinha Velha to the line for educational purposes.

Long ago my mother explained to me that her father, my maternal grandfather, was always very tight with his pennies. He was. But if her childhood self could justify to her father that something was “educational”, that was reliably enough to persuade him to buy it. Hence I’m tickled by this description of 2011 Niepoort Vinha Velha.

Only last week did I teach my son how to operate the slide rule that he, for many years, used at work.

[jdaw1]

My choices from the dining menu:
◊ Scotch egg;
◊ Burger (as rare as allowed) + cheese + bacon, + skinny fries;
◊ Welsh rarebit.

[nac]

My food order:
- scotch egg
- burger + cheese + bacon, fries
- Welsh rarebit

[winesecretary]

I am tonight drinking some 2011 Sloe Gin, and reflecting on how much slightly elderly port (e.g. Dow 1960) tastes like it. Alas, it is the end of the magnum.

[Alex Bridgeman]

My food choice:
Ham hock terrine
Burger (as rare as allowed) + cheese, no bun, fries and a side of roasted carrots.
Dessert to be decided on the night.

[akzy]

For me,
Ham hock terrine
Burger + cheese + bacon

[winesecretary]

Ham hock terrine
Chicken supreme
Welsh rarebit

Much appreciated

[flash_uk]

Could I please get:
Herby Butter Bean Bruschetta
Sirloin (rare)
Fries
Chimichurri Broccoli

Thx

[mcoulson]

My food choice:
Ham hock terrine
Burger + cheese, fries
Dessert to be decided on the night.

Thank you

[jdaw1]

A draft of the placemats has been added to the first post.

Please check carefully.

[Christopher]

Thanks that looks splendid Julian
I will be in touch with the B&F shortly to confirm food orders
Very much looking forward to it

Best
Christopher

[jdaw1]

Please instruct re presence or absence of Bioma.

[Alex Bridgeman]

A draft of the placemats has been added to the first post.

Please check carefully.

The Noval is coming from Martin (who has adopted it from me), not from George. Martin is also bringing an undisclosed bonus bottle.

Christopher is bringing the Bioma.

[Christopher]

I would be grateful if everyone could double decant in the morning. I would like to serve these Ports from their original bottles.

Many thanks