Wasn't there a potential one coming in July 2007?

Conky · Post by **Conky** » 11:05 Thu 21 Jun 2007

Al-K,

Dont I have a vague recollection of a potential Off-Line coming up in July. I know I wasn't invited

, but I'm inviting myself!
In the mundane world of reality, I have my kids every other week, so I might be stuck with them if the date falls wrong, but if you want the numbers swelling, as early notice as possible! I may have a Fonseca 85 as my admission ticket!

Alan

If this doesn't happen, I'll work on the gorgeous Debra to organise one at mine in the forthcoming months. I should be able to cater for up to half a dozen guests, but the sleeping arrangements might have to be 'Cosy'!

Or there's local hotels to retire to,etc.

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 11:49 Thu 21 Jun 2007

The Rootses maybe over, which is still in doubt. Not that you aren't invited, just not settled yet.

RonnieRoots · Post by **RonnieRoots** » 12:07 Thu 21 Jun 2007

I am still hoping we'll be there in July, but it's not a sure thing we'll make it. It depends on whether LadyR can do a course there for which she subscribed. Course is full, she's on a waiting list, and we'll probably only know on short notice. I'll keep you guys posted!

bman · Post by **bman** » 02:43 Fri 22 Jun 2007

I won't be in Europe in July, but at least I now have 10 posts and will no longer be ruby port - not that I'm sure that Bin 27 is any better....

bman · Post by **bman** » 02:44 Fri 22 Jun 2007

Wait a minute, I'm at 10 and I'm still cheap ruby!

Whazzup??!!

bman · Post by **bman** » 02:44 Fri 22 Jun 2007

I give up for tonight, I gotta go to bed.....

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 08:09 Fri 22 Jun 2007

At least you are no longer Cruz Ruby. 25 for Cockburn's.

RonnieRoots · Post by **RonnieRoots** » 15:18 Tue 03 Jul 2007

It looks like we're on!

LadyR just got a green light on the course, and I checked on tickets, It will only cost me about Ã¢”šÂ¬20 to fly in that period, an amount that I think I can handle...

I think we will at least be available for an offline in the evening of July 18 and 19, but I'll let you know when we've sorted out the details!

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 18:20 Tue 03 Jul 2007

Great - see you in a couple of weeks.

Anybody else up?

Conky · Post by **Conky** » 21:37 Tue 03 Jul 2007

Any more details? Location,etc.
I wish I'd held back a bit, but I wrongly thought Ronnie was struggling, so I threw my offer in. I'll try an get another past Debs but I'll have to see how you develop it, and try to pitch it right.
Over to you lads.

Alan

RonnieRoots · Post by **RonnieRoots** » 22:11 Tue 03 Jul 2007

We'll be in London for the days, so a location in that area seems best. Crusting Pipe perhaps? Or another location if someone has a better idea?

RonnieRoots · Post by **RonnieRoots** » 13:45 Wed 04 Jul 2007

Alright, more details are known now. We will definitely be available for the evenings of July 18 and 19. LadyR's course will last until around 5PM, so anytime after that we're available. Our hotel is the Radisson Hotel on Leicester Square, but I don't mind travelling a bit to go to a certain venue.

I hope we can work something out!

Post by **DRT** » 16:24 Wed 04 Jul 2007

I have a need to be in London quite often in the coming few weeks so I think I can say I'm in. Crusting Pipe does me fine

What's the theme?

Derek

RonnieRoots · Post by **RonnieRoots** » 16:35 Wed 04 Jul 2007

Great!

Theme? erm, port?

Post by **DRT** » 16:39 Wed 04 Jul 2007

Doh!

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 17:01 Wed 04 Jul 2007

One Port, one something else?

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 17:16 Wed 04 Jul 2007

I'm in as well. I'd prefer the 19th as I'm trying to blag myself an invite to the Twenty20 Quarter Finals on the 18th but if the 18th is the only day that works for everyone then I'll just turn up late.

Theme for the evening is Port. I might be able to manage to find something suitable but I'll have to check my cellar list...

The Crusted Pipe in Covent Garden is a great location for me to get home from (via Waterloo) and an easy walk to / from Leicester Square so it looks like that would be a good choice of venue.

Shall I send out a more widely distributed invitation to people like Christopher Gee, Stuart Chapman, Nicos etc? Are you going to post the news of the visit on FTLOP for the UK folks who only post there?

Alex

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 17:41 Wed 04 Jul 2007

Sounds fair - it's a UK off-line, not just a TPF off-line.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 18:42 Wed 04 Jul 2007

I spoke to Roy over the weekend about many things - and shared some extremely fine ports with him and his other guests. Roy is very relaxed about this forum and visits it from time to time. As he explained it to me, he sees the "audience" for this forum to be very different to that of FTLOP, this one being very much more informal compared to the sharp focus on port / madeira that he is trying to maintain on FTLOP.

I will happily (try) to post a thread that links to this thread - it might stretch my IT skills a little though

Alex

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 21:58 Wed 04 Jul 2007

I've posted on FTLOP, here's the link so that we can keep synchronised.

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 22:15 Wed 04 Jul 2007

It was noticeable, at the last one at TCP (oh 'eck), that having the other wines helped to highlight the Port. Probably diluted it a bit.

I will drag something else along anyway.

Post by **DRT** » 22:20 Wed 04 Jul 2007

OK - I don't really get this port plus something else thing but will play along for fun. I have some Laithwaite's Private Cellar's Bordox - will that do?

Enough of that - Port - where are we going with the port? Are we talking something off the wall, classics, a vertical or horizontal theme? Give me a clue, please?

Derek

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 22:32 Wed 04 Jul 2007

I've got loads of the Private Cellar Borducks, it's OK but not as good as Tony Laithwaite pretends. It's Cotes du Castillon, which is a St Emilion satellite. Excellent for the price but it's not Petrus.

Don't worry, it'll probably only be the Rootses and me that will be interested anyway.

RonnieRoots · Post by **RonnieRoots** » 08:15 Thu 05 Jul 2007

We are still thinking about what port to bring, maybe something from our own cellar or perhaps buy something there? Note sure... Thinking of a theme may help.

BTW, if there is anything that you guys like to taste from our portfolio just let me know. We are happy to bring some along.

RonnieRoots · Post by **RonnieRoots** » 08:27 Thu 05 Jul 2007

Oh, and another thing: I've posted a note on the WS board as well to see if any others might also be interested in joining us.

Conky · Post by **Conky** » 10:40 Thu 05 Jul 2007

AHB,

Roy is very relaxed about this forum and visits it from time to time. As he explained it to me, he sees the "audience" for this forum to be very different to that of FTLOP, this one being very much more informal compared to the sharp focus on port / madeira that he is trying to maintain on FTLOP.

Do you still think he's ambivilant towards this site. Yet again I'll give the benefit of the doubt, and say it was because of a lack of professional curtesy, in NOT asking first, but you did give the impression...

Alan

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 14:13 Thu 05 Jul 2007

Looks like we have numbers for the 19th.

Attendess so far:

Killerb
AHB
Christopher Gee
Derek T (probable)

and guests of honour

RonnieRoots and HRH Lady Roots.

RonnieRoots · Post by **RonnieRoots** » 10:06 Fri 06 Jul 2007

Great! Another thing: since LadyR will be busy during the daytime I'm in need of good suggestions for daytime spending (read: wine shopping) Any good addresses that I shouldn't miss? TIA!

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 12:23 Fri 06 Jul 2007

Most definitely Berry Brothers - but I'm sure they were on your list already anyway. I also like to pop into Harvey Nichols and Harrods to have a laugh at their wine prices - but last time I did that I ended up walking out of Harvey Nicks with several bottles and impressed that some of their prices (especially on their own label wines) were quite impressive.

July 19th is also the date of Christie's last wine sale of the Season in St James - about a 5 minute walk from Berry Brothers. You could have several hours of endless fun and end up with no money at all if you wanted to.

I also quite like a little shop in Soho that I found. No idea what it's called (The Soho Wine Shop perhaps?) or where it is but it has a remarkably good selection of top wines at only slightly unreasonable prices. Plus there's Oddbin Fine Wines near St Pauls and Davy's Wine Shop in Wapping. There must be others but that should keep you busy for a while.

Alex

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 12:25 Fri 06 Jul 2007

Conky wrote:AHB,

Roy is very relaxed about this forum and visits it from time to time. As he explained it to me, he sees the "audience" for this forum to be very different to that of FTLOP, this one being very much more informal compared to the sharp focus on port / madeira that he is trying to maintain on FTLOP.
Do you still think he's ambivilant towards this site. Yet again I'll give the benefit of the doubt, and say it was because of a lack of professional courtesy, in NOT asking first, but you did give the impression...

Alan

I am still convinced that Roy is ambivalent to this site. I've exchanged a couple of messages about what he did and I know he's also exchanged emails with Alex K. I don't think Roy sees this site as a threat to what he is trying to achieve and having seen the way your tasting note on the Morgan '91 deteriorated I think he's probably right - different forums for different audiences.

Alex

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 13:06 Fri 06 Jul 2007

I think it's the same audience but in different moods.

Sadly, Justerini and Brooks no longer have a shop.

Post by **DRT** » 14:53 Fri 06 Jul 2007

Are we set on the 19th? I need to know so that I can arrange meetings etc

18th would be better for me if AHB doesn't manage to blag tickets to the Rounders match but if 19th suits others then I can probably make that happen.

Derek

RonnieRoots · Post by **RonnieRoots** » 15:19 Fri 06 Jul 2007

LadyR has a slight preference for the 18th, as she has to start early on Friday, and I don't really have a preference between the two.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 09:41 Sat 07 Jul 2007

18th would be OK by me. Surrey got knocked out of the rounders competition yesterday so now I'm not that interested.

If the 18th suits everyone better then I'm up for the 18th.

Alex

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 23:20 Sat 07 Jul 2007

I'm not 100% sure I can make this (if invited...

) - but as the date(s) are getting close, have the details been firmed up yet?

Tom

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 23:27 Sat 07 Jul 2007

Tom,

I'm pretty sure that you are invited - I think it was a general invitation to all on this forum and a few others.

The arrangements are not 100% firm and are being organised by Alex K but the gist of it is that we will meet in the late afternoon / early evening of July 18 at the Crusting Pipe in Covent Garden.

There we will share port, exchange wonderful conversation and be awed by Lady Roots great (and prize-winning) tasting abilities.

Well, the sharing port bit's a dead cert.

Alex

Post by **DRT** » 08:52 Sun 08 Jul 2007

Tom,

Even if KillerB doesn't invite you personally you can come as my date for the evening

I do hope you can make it, the more the merrier in my book.

Derek

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 09:01 Sun 08 Jul 2007

18th will probably be OK - do we have a theme?

Tom

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 09:24 Sun 08 Jul 2007

Oh God I hate themes, I always end up bringing crap if I have to stick to a theme. I was going to bring Niepoort 1977. It's Port, it's theme enough.

RonnieRoots · Post by **RonnieRoots** » 10:10 Sun 08 Jul 2007

Hey, I was thinking about the same port! Well, we'll have to come up with something else then.

It would be great if you can make it as well Tom!

We will probably also bring one or two 'other-than-port' wines.

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 10:22 Sun 08 Jul 2007

I was going to bring another non-Port wine as well.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 11:06 Sun 08 Jul 2007

I will probably bring two ports as I don't have much non-port these days. I'm thinking of trying to dig out my last bottle of Quarles Harris 1977 plus something else (maybe a Cockburn 1983?) plus a bottle of Cruz 1989 Vintage Port from Morrisons, if they still have some in stock.

Alex

Post by **DRT** » 12:27 Sun 08 Jul 2007

It will be 2 ports from me for the same reason as AHB.

Perhaps a couple of 75's

Post by **jdaw1** » 15:07 Sun 08 Jul 2007

As usual, if there’s a list of people and ports, I’ll do my thing.

People:

RR
LadyR
Derek T.
AHB
Alex K.
Uncle Tom

Ports:

Niepoort 1977
Quarles Harris 1977
Cockburn 1983
? 1975
? 1975

Post by **DRT** » 15:50 Sun 08 Jul 2007

Here is the lists of possibilities for ?

Croft
Croft (Lord Lucan or was it Lichfield )
Fonseca
Graham's
Taylor

Here are some alternatives that might fit in better with what others are offering:

Dow's 1970
Royal Oporto 1970
Smith Woodhouse 1977
Gould Campbell 1983

Happy to take requests.

Derek

Other possibilities are:

Warre's 1960
Cockburn's 1960
Cockburn's 1967

Please shout if you want any of the above wines to be in cluded in the line-up for whatever reason. Especially if the reason is that you have never tasted it

Derek

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 15:53 Sun 08 Jul 2007

That would be great, thanks jdaw

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 19:12 Sun 08 Jul 2007

OK, I'll pitch in an unknown '55 - bottled by Christopher & Co.

- Hopefully the cork will reveal the shipper!

Tom

Conky · Post by **Conky** » 19:53 Sun 08 Jul 2007

Oh well, I've been scurrying away, working out Trains,Flights,Hotels. And its just too much. If I flew down, or by Train, its around £200 same day, late return. If I had to stay in a hotel for the night and drive, it ends up similar. So add the Port and expenses, and its just too much for what will undoubtedly be ONE great night.

So I can only ask that someone takes a camera and reproduces the pictures on site. Have a good one. You jammy buggers. Maybe some of you will get the taste for another Northern version 6 weeks later.

Alan

Post by **jdaw1** » 20:33 Sun 08 Jul 2007

You aren’t alone Conky.

Post by **DRT** » 22:07 Sun 08 Jul 2007

Conky & jdaw,

In order to minimise your disapointment I am willing to make the sacrifice of attending both events

Derek

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