Summer offline in Holland - Wednesday 2nd July

Jasper · Post by **Jasper** » 20:42 Mon 19 May 2008

I just got a confirmation on the Warre. I'm getting all excited!

Jasper

Axel P · Post by **Axel P** » 08:01 Tue 20 May 2008

Ronnie,

thats a shame. A tasting on solid ground (i.e. the continent) and I am on the island. I will be in Ireland at this time since there are school holidays in Germany.

All the best to the tasting.

Axel

RonnieRoots · Post by **RonnieRoots** » 11:08 Tue 20 May 2008

Axel, that's a pity. Hopefully a next time!

Jasper:

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 11:43 Tue 20 May 2008

Got a message from a scheduler along the lines of "I can't put anything on a schedule withput manger approval", so I cannot confirm until next week.

RonnieRoots · Post by **RonnieRoots** » 12:34 Tue 20 May 2008

Fingers crossed.

benread · Post by **benread** » 21:36 Fri 23 May 2008

benread wrote:
RonnieRoots wrote:And now for a name for the boy. How about Graham? Sounds stylish doesn't it?
...or how about:

Martin(ez) - 229th most popular in UK in 2007
Taylor - 88th
Warre(n) - 208th
Callum (Calem) - 22nd (A bit tenuous I know!)
(Quarles) Harris - 367th
(Gould) Campbell - 1056th
Morgan - 93rd
Robert(sons) - 84th
Adam - 26th
(Duff) Gordon - 1611st

Every one lifted from the tasting notes!

I doubt Mrs Joost will approve thogh, much as Mrs Read does not approve of any names I suggest with cricket themes! Maybe she would miss a port theme?!

I just found this and got very excited! Another naming option if you were to ignore the country of origin!

http://www.topwineries.com.au/wines.php?ID=1346

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 16:08 Thu 29 May 2008

I've just booked my flight

Post by **DRT** » 22:42 Thu 29 May 2008

KillerB wrote:I've just booked my flight

Have fun. I will be doing this...

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 22:53 Thu 29 May 2008

I have the Smiff-Woody, as supplied by Uncle Tom.

Post by **DRT** » 22:55 Thu 29 May 2008

KillerB wrote:I have the Smiff-Woody, as supplied by Uncle Tom.

I have a few 77s so I might pop one that night so that I can join you in spirit

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 09:31 Fri 30 May 2008

Oh yes - I will need somewhere to sleep!

RonnieRoots · Post by **RonnieRoots** » 10:53 Fri 30 May 2008

That's very good news KillerB!

We are staying at friends that period (our own house is not available), I can try to persuade them to allow one more drunk of port smelling individual that night.

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 12:34 Fri 30 May 2008

RonnieRoots wrote:That's very good news KillerB!

We are staying at friends that period (our own house is not available), I can try to persuade them to allow one more drunk of port smelling individual that night.

Great, I will bring a sleeping bag

StevieCage · Post by **StevieCage** » 16:36 Fri 30 May 2008

Superb KillerB!

LadyCage also offers her comfortable home (crawling distance from our venue) to host a Port-smelling guest, so no worries about sleeping arrangements. But should you prefer the hospitality of Leontien and Jeroen; no problem - and at least you've crashed there before...

Joost · Post by **Joost** » 14:43 Sat 31 May 2008

KillerB: Great that you can join us, tasting all those VP-77...

I can't offer you a sleeping place. The 'place' won't be a problem, but the 'sleeping' is problem, with a baby in the house...

For all participants, if you need information about the location, address or route description, contact me by PM. My house is very nearby the Utrecht Central Trainstation, it is much easier to travel by train that by car.

About the tasting? What format is advisable? Are we tasting serial or in parallel. Blind or open? I have enough stemware for serial tasting (i.e. 2 glasses each). But I don't have enough decanting facility for 9 VP's. Of course double decanting might be an option...

For the best performance of the VP's it might be advisable (if possible) to deliver them before the day of the tasting...

I am looking forward...

Santé,
Joost

Rubby · Post by **Rubby** » 21:15 Sat 31 May 2008

Sorry for the late response (been away for a short holiday), but the honourable Uncle Tom has provided me with an Offley '77 as my contribution to all this happiness.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 05:37 Sun 01 Jun 2008

Rubby wrote:Sorry for the late response (been away for a short holiday), but the honourable Uncle Tom has provided me with an Offley '77 as my contribution to all this happiness.

And is safely stored alongside the Gould Campbell that I will be bringing...

RonnieRoots · Post by **RonnieRoots** » 06:44 Sun 01 Jun 2008

Alright, another updated list.

Theme: 1977

Confirmed attendees:
1. AHB (Gould Campbell)
2. Rubby (Offley)
3. StevieCage (Dow / Niepoort)
4. LadyCage aka Marieke (Dow / Niepoort)
5. Joost (Taylor)
6. Mrs. Joost (with baby)
7. Jasper (Warre)
8. LadyRoots (Graham / Fonseca)
9. RonnieRoots (Graham / Fonseca)
10. KillerB (Smith Woodhouse)

Location:
- Utrecht (at Joost's house)

I think it's probably best to have the ports in decanters. Maybe Stevie can supply some extra, in order to have enough to fit the entire line-up? Serial tasting works fine for me, and I think it would be fun to taste the ports blind.

As far as food is concerned, it's no problem for us to bring a selection of cheeses and sausages, and if we want to prepare more of a proper dinner, I think we can manage that too.

Post by **jdaw1** » 16:13 Sun 01 Jun 2008

RonnieRoots wrote:it would be fun to taste the ports blind

First draft of blinded placemats. Typefaces used are Optima-Bold, LucianoCondensedNormal and LucianoCondensedItalic.
• Somebody please check my Dutch numbers.
• Missing initials for Jasper, Joost, and Mrs Joost.

Joost · Post by **Joost** » 17:27 Sun 01 Jun 2008

My initials are JB and Mrs Joost, can be initialised by SW, or fully SMW. But she won't be fully participate in the tasting...

This looks great jdaw, if the page format is A4 (instead of letter) I can easily print it out for the tasting...

Santé,
Joost

Joost · Post by **Joost** » 17:35 Sun 01 Jun 2008

Ronnie,

Depending on what will be the starting time, a meal can be a good idea to start with. I think I will be home that afternoon, so for me there is not a problem to help with the preparations for the meal and the tasting. Keep in contact and it will be great...

If the weather is good we can do the tasting in the garden if you like, otherwise the room 'formally known' as bicycle shop will be prepared...

Santé,
Joost

Post by **jdaw1** » 18:02 Sun 01 Jun 2008

Joost wrote:My initials are JB and Mrs Joost, can be initialised by SW, or fully SMW.

Done.

Joost wrote:if the page format is A4

It was already A4.

Don’t print yet: numbers of bottles and of people will probably change before D-Day.

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 18:57 Sun 01 Jun 2008

Cheese? I can do cheese. How much and what colour?

StevieCage · Post by **StevieCage** » 20:37 Sun 01 Jun 2008

Cheese KillerB? Hmmmm, how about big, bold and blue? Some of those '77 will be rather young, so should pair well with your famous Stilton...

I can also provide 6 identical decanters for the tasting, as well as a set of official IVDP-stemware. And happy to provide some nice wines for a pre-tasting drink / dinner as well...

RonnieRoots · Post by **RonnieRoots** » 05:09 Mon 02 Jun 2008

KillerB wrote:Cheese? I can do cheese. How much and what colour?

What about some of that incredibly good cheddar you once brought? Might just be a good pairing to the port.

jdaw: I can see that you're very happy with your new 'stars' feature.

Rubby · Post by **Rubby** » 19:47 Tue 03 Jun 2008

AHB wrote:
Rubby wrote:Sorry for the late response (been away for a short holiday), but the honourable Uncle Tom has provided me with an Offley '77 as my contribution to all this happiness.
And is safely stored alongside the Gould Campbell that I will be bringing...

And a big 'thank you' for taking care of it for me.

Joost · Post by **Joost** » 12:19 Wed 04 Jun 2008

I just ordered some extra stemware. I planned to use the Spiegelau Vino Grande Tastingglass (4510031) for the tasting is that OK?

And for the decanters I am planning to buy some too, so we can use Stevies and mine! Is two identical sets a problem?

Santé,
Joost

RonnieRoots · Post by **RonnieRoots** » 13:34 Wed 04 Jun 2008

They look like perfect glasses to me.

I don't think two identical sets of decanters will be a problem. If we number the decanters (and put the bottles in bags with the same number) all should be fine. Only thing is: if we want to be sure that we all taste blind, the port should be poured into a decanter by a non-participant. A beautiful task for Sandra!

Post by **DRT** » 14:08 Wed 04 Jun 2008

RonnieRoots wrote: Only thing is: if we want to be sure that we all taste blind, the port should be poured into a decanter by a non-participant.

AHB devised a method for the 1980 Horizontal that was so complex and elaborate that it ensured that:

No-one, including the person decanting, knew which wine was in which decanter, and;
No-one will ever know whether or not what we now think was in each decanter is actually what was in each decanter

Derek

PS: AHB - just kidding. I'm sure your method was robust and risk free

Joost · Post by **Joost** » 15:03 Wed 04 Jun 2008

Ok, I'll ask Sandra to do it. But I am not sure she feels comfortable decanting these expensice bottles

.

But as a mathematician I must be able to find a way to keep as much as possible secret, while the decanting is done by some decanting experts. Without losing the connection between the empty bottle and the filled decanter... So we will find a way...

Santé,
Joost

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 19:36 Wed 04 Jun 2008

Joost,

The method that Derek refers to was not complicated. What we did was to create a set of "paired tags". Each tag consisted of two pieces of card stapled together. On the inside face of one of the two pieces was written a letter. The same letter was written inside the other of the pair of tags.

Each bottle was then wrapped in kitchen foil and the cork removed.

The bottle was then given to someone who had not seen the bottle being opened or the bottle before it was wrapped and that person decanted the port into a decanter of there choice. One of the pair of tags was out around the neck of the bottle and one around the neck of the decanter.

Ideally, you also write the time of decanting on the decanter label.

All the decanters are then lined up on the table in a random order and each decanter is then given a number. Notes are taken referring to the number of the port.

At the end of the evening, the cards of the bottles and decanters can be matched up to reveal which port was in which decanter.

It worked so well that only 3 people were able to identify the same port from a magnum served in two separate glasses!

Post by **jdaw1** » 19:43 Wed 04 Jun 2008

Joost wrote:But as a mathematician I must be able to find a way to keep as much as possible secret, while the decanting is done by some decanting experts.

[url=http://www.theportforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=15451#15451]Here[/url] jdaw1 wrote:Blind Tastings: A How-To Guide

How does one arrange a blind tasting such that nobody knows which is which? The following can be used, this being based on that used for the Wokingham 1980 Horizontal:
Decanters labels are prepared. There is a set of visible labels, 1 to n. There is also a set of hidden labels, also 1 to n, these numbers being written on one side of a business card, with a second business card stapled over it such that each hidden label’s number cannot be seen. These labels are kept in pairs: that is, visible 1 is kept with (or lightly tied to) hidden 1.

One person wraps each of the bottles in paper or tin foil, and then removes the corks.

If the corks are wanted, they can also be wrapped and taped to the bottles whence they came.

A second person, who did not observe the wrapping of the bottles, then decants each of the wrapped bottles into a decanter. As this is done, or immediately before, the decanter is labelled with one of the visible numbers, and the matching hidden number used to label the bottle.

Wine is drunk; enjoyed; mis-guessed.

After the mis-guessing, the hidden labels on the bottles are opened, and the bottles unwrapped, thus revealing which decanter holds that wine.
(NB: the numbers on the bottles must be hidden so that no information can be derived from the bottle shape.)

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 21:32 Wed 04 Jun 2008

Joost wrote:But as a mathematician ...

Joost

Oh God, another one

RonnieRoots · Post by **RonnieRoots** » 07:37 Sat 07 Jun 2008

How about decanting times? Although some ports may need more time than others, for the sake of having a honest comparative tasting, it would probably be good to give all ports the same treatment. Should we decant in the morning of July 2?

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 20:49 Mon 09 Jun 2008

I could probably manage to decant early morning (before work) on July 2.

StevieCage · Post by **StevieCage** » 20:09 Mon 16 Jun 2008

Decanting in the morning sounds good to me. Joost, will you be able to handle that, or should we bring our bottles ready decanted? I could drop off my bottles sometime this weekend or next week.

On a sad note: Marieke won't be joining us - she booked an impromptu vacation to Cork, Ireland: she'll be sipping Guinness instead of VP the 2nd. I will still bring both the Dow's and the Niepoort, though. Instead of Marieke, Petra (whom some of you have already met) might be joining us.

StevieCage · Post by **StevieCage** » 23:26 Mon 16 Jun 2008

Oh - KillerB: that also means crashing at Marieke's won't be an option - but you are welcome to use the sleeping couch at my place in Amsterdam should L&J not be available...check the Roots for references...they'll explain...

RonnieRoots · Post by **RonnieRoots** » 04:55 Tue 17 Jun 2008

A pity that Marieke won't be there. But looking forward to seeing Petra again.

I don't think L&J will be a problem.

Joost · Post by **Joost** » 06:47 Tue 17 Jun 2008

Stevie,

You are welcome to drop off your bottles and maybe (some of) your decanters as well? I will handling the decanting in the morning for all bottle already in. Please contact by PM of phone...

Santé,
Joost

StevieCage · Post by **StevieCage** » 14:01 Wed 18 Jun 2008

Joost, will give you a call. Petra's attendance is confirmed!

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 14:18 Wed 18 Jun 2008

ARK - assuming that I get my act together and book one of the two hotels suggested by Stevie in Utrecht, you are welcome to take the spare bed in the room and then travel back to Schipol with me on the train.

Alex

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 15:25 Wed 18 Jun 2008

AHB wrote:ARK - assuming that I get my act together and book one of the two hotels suggested by Stevie in Utrecht, you are welcome to take the spare bed in the room and then travel back to Schipol with me on the train.

Alex

Thanks Alex but my plane is in the late afternoon and I have a meeting with a certain Mr Wortel at lunch-time - which, I'm sure you will be welcome to attend. I will take up Leontien and Jeroen's kind offer of a bed where nobody can hear me snore.

RonnieRoots · Post by **RonnieRoots** » 06:21 Tue 24 Jun 2008

KillerB: Lunch the 3rd is most necessary. It probably needs a pint as well to get the day started.

Joost: We will make sure to bring our bottles a good deal in advance as well.

What time will most people be able to be at Joost's? If there is a lot of variation, I'm sure we can organise some sort of 'soft start', including snacks and start-up wines, and have dinner once everyone has arrived. Please PM Joost for directions to his house if needed.

Our holiday starts tomorrow, we will fly late in the evening. After tomorrow we have limited access to internet, but we'll try to check here from time to time.

Rubby · Post by **Rubby** » 08:22 Tue 24 Jun 2008

I'm back in Utrecht from work at around 7.
As this is my first offline, do I have to bring anything else along (except from a bottle and a happy mood)?

RonnieRoots · Post by **RonnieRoots** » 08:42 Tue 24 Jun 2008

Rubby wrote:As this is my first offline, do I have to bring anything else along (except from a bottle and a happy mood)?

That'll do just fine. And if you can't resist... cheese is always appreciated.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 16:38 Thu 26 Jun 2008

Joost

Please could you send me a PM with your address so that I can make my way from the hotel to your house (and phone number).

I will also PM you my telephone number in case you need to get in touch with me.

Thanks,

Alex

RonnieRoots · Post by **RonnieRoots** » 16:34 Sun 29 Jun 2008

killerb we now have a good place to stay with enough room for you as well

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 17:32 Sun 29 Jun 2008

RonnieRoots wrote:killerb we now have a good place to stay with enough room for you as well

Excellent - thanks Ronald. Al B had offered a spare bed in his hotel room but preference is not to annoy him with my port-induced sinuses.

Joost · Post by **Joost** » 06:37 Mon 30 Jun 2008

All expected VP's are in the house (Taylor, Fonseca, Graham, Warre, Niepoort and Dow) and will be decanted at 10 am wednesday morning. Preparetions are on schedule

AHB: Did you get my PM?

KillerB: Do you need some co-ordinates?

Santé,
Joost

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 07:14 Mon 30 Jun 2008

OK, a little late on parade, but I'm up for this one (if there's space!)

Looking at the line-up, I could add a Croft, Delaforce or Ferriera to the proceedings.

- any preferences?

Tom

ThePortForum.com

Summer offline in Holland - Wednesday 2nd July

First draft of blinded placemats for Utrecht tasting

It was already A4.

Blind Tastings: A How-To Guide