Tue 5 May 2026 - GC/SW/QH triple vertical

[jdaw1]

Rather than get my case of SW00 out of bond to take a single bottle to this tasting, I've ordered a bottle from Davy's stocks - it's available in the shop but isn't on the wine list at the Boot & Flogger so it will be a special order.

The first post claims that NAC also has SW00.

SW availability:
… 2000 (AHB, NAC)

[M.Charlton]

I received a note earlier this morning from the B&F which includes their "new menu launching on the 5th May". The menu is NOT available on the B&F's website at the time of writing, so I have added screenshots of the menu they sent to me below (which I appreciate is not ideal, but I think the resolution is acceptable).

From a quick review, it seems that the following are impacted:

MJRM, as no starter or main is available which matches your food order.

JDF, as no pudding is available which matches your food order.

This is also a handy opportunity to remind others who haven't got their order in to please do so, they are:

HTWH - hadge;
MSC - mcoulson;
MPM - flash_uk;
IDJ - idj123; and
NAC - nac.

[M.Charlton]

I've made an executive decision. Rather than get my case of SW00 out of bond to take a single bottle to this tasting, I've ordered a bottle from Davy's stocks - it's available in the shop but isn't on the wine list at the Boot & Flogger so it will be a special order.

Monica should be able to confirm tomorrow if there are any issues, but since SW00 is available on the Davy's website she doesn't expect there to be a problem.

My QH00 has been removed from its resting place and is now standing upright and attentive...

Thank you, Alex. Sorry for the hassle here!

[Bertie3000]

Thanks Michael

I’ll go for the red pepper bruschetta to start and the vegan burger for main.

[idj123]

Starter – Welsh Rarebit
Mains – bangers and mash avec carrots
Dessert-TBD on the day

Thanks

[Alex Bridgeman]

No starter

Main: 3 sausage and mash - but with skinny fries instead of mash. Side of roasted carrots.

No dessert.

I'd like to amend my food order slightly please. I'll replace the carrots for a side of chunky creamed sweetcorn!

[hadge]

Starter Smoked Salmon
Main Roast Rump of Lamb - Medium if asked
Dessert - Cheese

Thanks

[jdaw1]

• Soup of the day (if not spicy);
• Burger + Cheese + Streaky Bacon, + skinny fries;
• Welsh rarebit.

I'd like to amend my food order slightly please. I'll replace the carrots for a side of chunky creamed sweetcorn!

Please may I add the new chunky creamed sweetcorn.

[jdaw1]

An early draft of the placemats has been added to the first post. Doubtless many changes to come.

Pls could there be a decision about whether we are having both the QH and the BBR 1977s.

[mcoulson]

May I have .....

• Soup of the day
• Burger + Cheese + Streaky Bacon, + skinny fries;
• Welsh rarebit.

[M.Charlton]

An early draft of the placemats has been added to the first post. Doubtless many changes to come.

Pls could there be a decision about whether we are having both the QH and the BBR 1977s.

If we want a 19th(!) bottle, I'll bring the QHBBR77 as I can't imagine opening it in more appropriate company anytime soon. In the absence of a positive reply, I will not bring it.

Of course we want it. Requires a re-think of the layout of the placemats, but of course we want it.

Excellent news. Sorry if it's a faff with the placemats...

Both QH and BBR 77s. Sorry if it's a faff with the placemats...

[jdaw1]

Both QH and BBR 77s. Sorry if it's a faff with the placemats...

Done. Attention is needed to who is bringing which?

[M.Charlton]

Both QH and BBR 77s. Sorry if it's a faff with the placemats...

Done. Attention is needed to who is bringing which?

[…]
Also, bottle assignments now made in the first post. Everyone, please check and let me know if I've done a silly.

Assignments have already been made - please refer to the first post.

[jdaw1]

Assignments have already been made - please refer to the first post.

Apologies, I had failed to notice.

An early draft of the placemats has been added to the first post.

These have been updated. Please check carefully.

[flash_uk]

Food order for me, please:

Roasted red pepper bruschetta
Sirloin (rare) + fried egg
Fries
Chimichurri broccoli

[M.Charlton]

An early draft of the placemats has been added to the first post.

These have been updated. Please check carefully.

Thank you, Julian - these look great. I checked carefully, and the only thing I noticed is that some people have stars in the top right hand corner of their TN sheets (IDJ, NAC, MPM), one person is lucky enough that their stars are aligned (NAC), and some people have no stars (MC, BRP, JDF, AHB, HTWH, JDAW, MSC, CPR, MJRM). I'm sure everyone will be able to muddle through nonetheless.

[mcoulson]

Shall I print this lot on the day ?

[jdaw1]

I checked carefully, and the only thing I noticed is that some people have stars in the top right hand corner of their TN sheets (IDJ, NAC, MPM), one person is lucky enough that their stars are aligned (NAC), and some people have no stars (MC, BRP, JDF, AHB, HTWH, JDAW, MSC, CPR, MJRM). I'm sure everyone will be able to muddle through nonetheless.

Careful students of the back issues of this journal will have noticed the November-2018 opportunity for people to choose their default (also mentioned in the manual). What do you want? Choose the number of columns, the number of rows, and the style:

• /Upright  = 

• /Sideways  = 

• /Alternating  = 

[M.Charlton]

What do you want? Choose the number of columns, the number of rows, and the style:

None for me, thanks (my checking was with respect to consistency of presentation, and it is now obvious that inconsistencies are not accidental).

[M.Charlton]

Shall I print this lot on the day ?

That would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Martin.

[M.Charlton]

The food order is below - everyone, please check carefully and please let me know if I've done a silly. I will ask for starters to arrive at 19:00 and mains to arrive at 19:45.

Also, nac, please let me know what you would like to order. If I don't hear back by the deadline below, I will put you down for your default order.

I intend to send the order on 30 April at 20:00 UK time to the B&F.

[nac]

My food order:
- scotch egg
- bangers and mash (large)
- baked cheesecake

[Bertie3000]

Looking forward to this. 8 of the 12 attendees are bringing 2 bottles (thank you). Hope we are all thirsty!

[M.Charlton]

Looking forward to this. 8 of the 12 attendees are bringing 2 bottles (thank you). Hope we are all thirsty!

Likewise, Michael!

P. S. The B&F have acknowledged receipt of the food order (which was updated to reflect nac’s choices above).

[mcoulson]

Would you like me to deal with the printing ?

[M.Charlton]

Would you like me to deal with the printing ?

Yes please, Martin. Many thanks for offering.

[flash_uk]

Early start for me on Tuesday so will double decant the SW80 and GC94 just before bedtime this evening.
ETA at the B&F around 1745.

[jdaw1]

First thing tomorrow = Tuesday morning I will open and decant the QH94, and then, as has become my usual, pack with ice.

[BRPetrie]

SW94 decanted 0840 this morning, my arrival set for 1730 at the B&F! Can’t wait!

[Alex Bridgeman]

I shall be decanting (SW00 and QH00) on arrival at the B&F - hopefully no later than 1730.

[idj123]

My bottles opened for an hour and then double decanted at 1.30pm today. ETA 5.50pm (est).

[mcoulson]

Top man Michael ... Very entertaining evening... Thanks for organising!!

[M.Charlton]

Thank you, folks, for bringing along so many bottles for the tasting this evening, which I found to be particularly instructive. My thanks to MSC for printing and to the other members who got there before me to kick off the pouring and distribution of wines.

[nac]

Michael - many thanks. Good tasting. The 6 x 3 (+1) format worked really well, with multiple tastings within the main event.

Thought lots of the wines were a bit underwhelming, but maybe not wholly unexpected for second stable efforts.

Good fun though and I am going to steal the format for another tasting soon.

[M.Charlton]

I attach the WOTN form to this post.

[M.Charlton]

Michael - many thanks. Good tasting. The 6 x 3 (+1) format worked really well, with multiple tastings within the main event.

Thought lots of the wines were a bit underwhelming, but maybe not wholly unexpected for second stable efforts.

Good fun though and I am going to steal the format for another tasting soon.

Top stuff and many thanks, Neil. Glad to hear something along these lines will be happening again.

[M.Charlton]

The lineup (bar some bottles which stayed at home) are attached to this post.

[Alex Bridgeman]

That was a great evening, thanks for organising it Michael. The format was really interesting. I was surprised to find I had a clear preference for Smith Woodhouse in pretty much every vintage.

There are not many Port evenings when the best 4 wines are separated by just one point in scoring.

[BRPetrie]

A magnificent evening, thank you to Michael and all! Incredibly important intel for more modest cellar building.

[Bertie3000]

Thank you for organising this event Michael. A fun format that allowed us to assess both shippers and vintages.

Whilst the ports were mostly enjoyable, no one port blew me away. The spread of the scoring suggests others felt the same. Interesting that only one score of 3 was awarded too

[Glenn E.]

Interesting that none of the top 4 Ports received votes from more than 5 people, and the next 3 only received votes from 3, 5, and 4 people. Votes seemed to have been spread around a lot more than usual.

Bottle variation seems to affect these particular Ports fairly significantly, so that may be at play in your results. I've had GC80 that was mind-blowing, but I've also had bottles that were merely good. Lately my experience with SW85 has been good to very good, but I can recall bottles in the past that were excellent.

GC77 and SW77 are both notably better from magnum. Which is not in and of itself surprising, but the difference is pretty stark in my experience. To the point that, if tasted blind, you might not guess that they were the same Ports from magnum and bottle.

Looks like this was a lot of fun! I wish I could have been there.

[Bertie3000]

.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Spot the 1980 vintage in the middle of the placemat!

[JohnDavidFrance]

Michael this was a great introduction for me in to a proper B&F night. The spread of wines was great, food great as always and the company even better. I was a little wavey walking up to my room though, not wanting to waste the good stuff caught up with me
I'll definitely second alex's notion that Smith Woodhouse was the better of the producers for me this time, the 2000 certainly caught me off guard!