Drumming up some interest in NY

[g-man]

As I've been busy with school, Sushi has been travelling around drinking rieslings from ny instead of port, jfacciol has been caught up with work and julian is in paris, the drinkers of NY that begin with the letter J have been in a bit of disarray. Fortunately, it hasn't stopped us from gathering port.

NYers can put together the following tastings and would request input/interest/dates on the below themes.

Sandeman,
a vertical of 60,63,66,70,77

Vesuvio,
1990, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1999

Dow,
60,63,66,70,77,80,83,85,91

a 95 single quinta horizontal
Cockburn Quinta Dos Canai Port, graham's malvedos, CROFT QUINTA DA ROEDA, Taylor Fladgate Quinta Vargellas, Fonseca Porto Guimaraens,
Dow's Quinta do Bomfim, Quinta do Noval Quinta do Silval

We could have another 77 horizontal
where we have croft, sandeman, dow, fonseca, ferraira, and a few other stragglers I'm goign to have to check my cellar for.

As the end of august is approaching, my marietal duties may keep me busy, so I'm goign to suggest that the above events occur during the month of september onwards.

[SushiNorth]

Some notes on lineups, below.
First: We need less maybes. We have a couple of amazing verticals prepared -- we need to pick dates and we need tasters. Otherwise, g-man and I are going to pop the Dow 63 ourselves

I propose we do 1 tasting in early October (sandeman?), 1 in mid november (SQVP95), and 1 post-xmas in late december (Dow). And I'm going to step up now and suggest the following dates:
October 9th(Fri) or Sat 10th (Sat) - Sandeman
November 20th(Fri) or 21st(Sat) - SQVP
December 27th(Sun) - Dow

Stake in the ground (stick in the mud).
Thoughts?

a 95 single quinta horizontal: Cockburn Quinta Dos Canai Port, graham's malvedos, CROFT QUINTA DA ROEDA, Taylor Fladgate Quinta Vargellas, Fonseca Porto Guimaraens, Dow's Quinta do Bomfim, Quinta do Noval Quinta do Silval

& Churchill Agua Alta

Dow: 60,63,66,70,77,80,83,85,91

& 94, 97, 2000, 2003; but that much fresh dow may kill our palates. Perhaps best to end earlier heh. where's that 72...

Vesuvio: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1999

& 2000

[Glenn E.]

Vesuvio: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1999

& 2000

And 1994, 1995, 2005.

I also have a 1994 Dow, but that's the only other bottle I have that fits any of the listed themes. My 1995 Vesuvio could also fit the SQVP theme.

My availability is unpredictable given the need to fly to NYC, but at this point in time the proposed November and December dates look feasible provided holiday planning doesn't interfere. October is entirely up in the air as I'm currently attempting to work out the finances to join Roy's 2009 Harvest Tour. If that doesn't work out then I might be able to make the October date instead.

[g-man]

The 82 horizontal tasting mentioned by our fellow london members sounds intriguing and can be put together in NY as well.

[g-man]

Vesuvio: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1999

& 2000

And 1994, 1995, 2005.

I also have a 1994 Dow, but that's the only other bottle I have that fits any of the listed themes. My 1995 Vesuvio could also fit the SQVP theme.

My availability is unpredictable given the need to fly to NYC, but at this point in time the proposed November and December dates look feasible provided holiday planning doesn't interfere. October is entirely up in the air as I'm currently attempting to work out the finances to join Roy's 2009 Harvest Tour. If that doesn't work out then I might be able to make the October date instead.

do you have preferences for a tasting, we can save one for whichever you want.

and perhaps save the vesuvio tasting when alex comes to visit

[TBird]

i'm IN!

First: We need less maybes. We have a couple of amazing verticals prepared -- we need to pick dates and we need tasters. Otherwise, g-man and I are going to pop the Dow 63 ourselves

[SushiNorth]

FYI - we have a vote from one of the attendees at 1977-nyc-part-2 that she would prefer the Dow tasting on Dec 27.

[Glenn E.]

do you have preferences for a tasting, we can save one for whichever you want.

and perhaps save the vesuvio tasting when alex comes to visit

Not really, all are appealing. I suppose the Dow vertical is slightly less appealing than the others, but can't really explain why.

When is Alex coming to visit?

Another good date for me would be one that coincides with the 33rd annual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament which is being held February 26-28, 2010. That would help encourage my wife to participate, which would in turn make it easier for me to fly to NYC for the weekend.

[g-man]

do you have preferences for a tasting, we can save one for whichever you want.

and perhaps save the vesuvio tasting when alex comes to visit

Not really, all are appealing. I suppose the Dow vertical is slightly less appealing than the others, but can't really explain why.

When is Alex coming to visit?

Another good date for me would be one that coincides with the 33rd annual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament which is being held February 26-28, 2010. That would help encourage my wife to participate, which would in turn make it easier for me to fly to NYC for the weekend.

next year is too far away and we'll have other tastings lined up then =)

[g-man]

FYI - we have a vote from one of the attendees at 1977-nyc-part-2 that she would prefer the Dow tasting on Dec 27.

I'd be happy to do the dow tasting on dec 27

[Glenn E.]

next year is too far away and we'll have other tastings lined up then =)

In that case, the SQVP tasting in November is starting to look like my best opportunity. Of the three currently staked, it's also happily the most interesting to me in a very small way.

[SushiNorth]

As "Venue" has been an ongoing issue in NYC (the eternal battle between the desire for a consistent tasting place and the desire to try new places), I have compiled a short list of past NYC+borough tasting locations:

Member's homes:
jdaw1
jfacciol
g-man

Restaurants
Uncle Jacks (+2 other locations)
Pink Teacup
Petite Abeille (+3 other locations)
Smith's (Closed)
French Roast (+3 other locations)
Peking Duck house
The Palm
Dovetail
La Sirene (great but too small and busy on fri/sat/sun)
Nick + Stef's

Future restaurants (selected for being friendly to people who bring wine or at the recommendation of members)
Square Meal (verified appropriate, public corkage $2)
Antibes Bistro (unverified)
Houston's (unverified)
Bliss (unverified, Sunnyside)
Lolita's Mexican (unverified, Harlem)
Cafe Petisco (unverified)
Cafe Forant (unverified)
A Cafe and Wine Room (unverified)

Not a good "fit" for a TPF tasting
(none yet)

NYers, please make an effort to get to a couple of these places and inquire as to whether a Port tasting could be held there. Its important to perform an organoleptic evaluation while there, and details would be appreciated. (translation: eat something. Tell us about it.)

[g-man]

I want to add that

Vesuvio,
1990, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1999

1995 in magnum has now been procured.

Whenever AHB wishes to grace us with his presence, we shall have a vesuvio vertical.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Whenever AHB wishes to grace us with his presence, we shall have a vesuvio vertical.

I deeply regret that this is likely to be sometime later, rather than sooner. There is a possibility that I will need to visit Columbus OH once or twice in 2010, but dates (and real need) are yet to be decided. However, if I do need to visit Columbus then since there are no direct flights from the UK I should be able to travel via New York without too much difficulty.