23rdFebruary offline @ The New Cavendish Club - Vesuvio

benread · Post by **benread** » 01:16 Wed 06 Jan 2010

Updated 12th February 2010:

After last night at The Crusting Pipe, consensus is that we need a larger venue to do justice to the tasting now arranged. AHB has arranged a private room at The New Cavendish Club.

Costs are confirmed at £40 per head.

We would also be best served by providing our own glassware. If you are struggling to do this, please post here and I am sure help can be provided from amongst those attending.

I am assured by AHB (a member of NCC) that we will be well looked after!

Update (21st January):

The Crusting Pipe is now booked from 6.30pm on 23rd February for 13 people. We have the two tunnels reserved so we may eat in one and taste in the other.

Original message:

At tonights offline it was suggested we need to plan monthly informal tastings. WS1 was very keen the next should have a slight variation to the standard theme, being 'bring a bottle (of Vesuvio) to share'!

For various reasons, Tuesday 16th or Tuesday 23rd February seem the best dates. Venue would be TCP.

Interest?

Update:
Interest confirmed as:

Benread
DRT
WS1
Christopher
Cookie
Kevin (Friend of WS1)
JacobH
KillerB
AHB (subject to date)
Adam (friend of WS1)
Chris Doty
Clawhit +1
JDAW (subject to SCP-DFF approval) added by DRT on 10 Feb 2010

Update: Date now confirmed as 23rd February.

Post by **DRT** » 01:17 Wed 06 Jan 2010

I'm currently sipping the last glass from a Vesuvio 97 that I opened on New Year's Eve.

Oh, go on then, put me down for more Vesuvio Torture

Post by **DRT** » 01:18 Wed 06 Jan 2010

I think I have 94, 96 and 97 at home. Any or all can be there

WS1 · Post by **WS1** » 07:42 Wed 06 Jan 2010

Hi Ben,

you are a star, thanks a lot for opening this thread and I hope it will go ahead in February. Vesuvios I have in my flat are 2005, 2003, 2000 and 1999.

regards

WS1

Christopher · Post by **Christopher** » 20:55 Wed 06 Jan 2010

Please count me in, great theme, will buy a single bottle nearer the time based on what is missing in the line up.

Post by **DRT** » 20:59 Wed 06 Jan 2010

Christopher wrote:Please count me in, great theme, will buy a single bottle nearer the time based on what is missing in the line up.

Dow 1980?

Hope to see you there, Christopher

WS1 · Post by **WS1** » 21:52 Wed 06 Jan 2010

Hi there,

great news. Cookie is also interested so we are already 5 people. Kevin who attended the 2007 cask sample tasting might also be interested.

regards

WS1

Post by **DRT** » 22:15 Wed 06 Jan 2010

But where is Mr Vesuvio?

WS1 · Post by **WS1** » 22:20 Wed 06 Jan 2010

Derek,

Of course I hope Mr Vesuvio can make it. But he still has swine flu or something. So let us wait, see and hope he recovers in time.

regards

WS1

JacobH · Post by **JacobH** » 10:19 Thu 07 Jan 2010

Isn't every night an Vesuvio night for AHB?

Anyway, I'd be interested in attending, if the date settles on a night when I'm free.

benread · Post by **benread** » 21:01 Fri 08 Jan 2010

Poll added to establish preferred date.

WS1 · Post by **WS1** » 17:59 Sat 09 Jan 2010

Kevin is confirmed now.

regards

WS1

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 19:19 Sat 09 Jan 2010

I think I have 94 and 96 but more of the 96. Also please add me to the list

KillerB · Post by **KillerB** » 19:28 Sat 09 Jan 2010

KillerB wrote:I think I have 94 and 96 but more of the 96. Also please add me to the list

I am retracting the offer of a 94 on the grounds that I can't find any - either because I have hidden them too well or I was deluded about having them.

Post by **jdaw1** » 08:03 Sun 10 Jan 2010

Translation: yesterday he found the ’94. Then he drank it. And now, strangely, it can’t be found.

Post by **DRT** » 09:02 Sun 10 Jan 2010

KillerB wrote:
KillerB wrote:I think I have 94 and 96 but more of the 96. Also please add me to the list
I am retracting the offer of a 94 on the grounds that I can't find any - either because I have hidden them too well or I was deluded about having them.

I have some and have already offered to bring one so no problem. If I somehow do not make it I know someone else who has many thousands of these hidden in secret places all around his home, office and other places that he visits regularly.

jdaw1 wrote:Translation: yesterday he found the ’94. Then he drank it. And now, strangely, it can’t be found.

You're probably right.

JacobH · Post by **JacobH** » 12:01 Sun 10 Jan 2010

DRT wrote:If I somehow do not make it I know someone else who has many thousands of these hidden in secret places all around his home, office and other places that he visits regularly.

Indeed, if you know where to look, you will find that some of those supposedly empty bottles which decorate the Crusted Pipe are actually relabelled bottles of Vesuvio. I believe that the protocol to get one is to ask the staff, mid-Port tasting, for a ‟cup of tea”...

Axel P · Post by **Axel P** » 19:19 Sun 10 Jan 2010

If you need bottles to fill the gaps, let me know as I do see some of you on Feb 12th and then you can take them over.

Axel

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 22:37 Mon 11 Jan 2010

I need to check my diary, but as you've all already guessed I am all up for a Vesuvio vertical.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 20:14 Sun 17 Jan 2010

I've just checked my diary and I'm free on both of these dates.

So, it seems that you need to make a decision and we'll all plan around your decision. Might I suggest the 25th, so as to try and spread out this tasting from the one with Oscar (unless we combine the two)?

Post by **DRT** » 20:41 Sun 17 Jan 2010

I agree with Alex that we should either go for the 25th or consider re-scheduling for when Oscar is here on 11th Feb. Of course, if those who have already committed to this can't make the 11th we should stick with the originally recommended dates and choose something else to drink on the 11th.

Derek

benread · Post by **benread** » 21:11 Sun 17 Jan 2010

It was Tuesday 16th or 23rd I suggested as I am normally unable to make a Thursday. Happy to make 23rd February the proposed date as the majority seemed able to make that. Let skeep this as the Vesuvio and make 11th February a different theme.

Post by **DRT** » 21:14 Sun 17 Jan 2010

benread wrote:Let's keep this as the Vesuvio and make 11th February a different theme.

No probs. After all, it isn't statistically possible to have too many tastings

Post by **DRT** » 21:16 Sun 17 Jan 2010

benread wrote:Date now confirmed as 23rd February.

Can you please end the Poll? If you are not able to do it please let us know as an Admin probably can

benread · Post by **benread** » 21:18 Sun 17 Jan 2010

DRT wrote:
benread wrote:Date now confirmed as 23rd February.
Can you please end the Poll? If you are not able to do it please let us know as an Admin probably can

I think I have ended it by changing the "run poll for" from 0 days to 1 day. Tell me if it has not worked.

Post by **DRT** » 21:26 Sun 17 Jan 2010

benread wrote: I think I have ended it by changing the "run poll for" from 0 days to 1 day. Tell me if it has not worked.

It was still visible so I have used my mystical powers to delete it.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 14:41 Mon 18 Jan 2010

In a fit of enthusiasm and anticipation for this coming Vesuvio vertical, I had a quick trawl through the vintages which people have identified that they have available, and come up with the following list:

DRT - 1994, 1996, 1997
WS1 - 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005
ARK - 1996 (having drunk all his 1994)
CMAG - will buy to fill gaps, I suggest the very impressive 1998
Cookie - none identified
Kevin - none identified
BMHR - none identified
JGH - none identified
AHB - I have one of each of the following easily on hand 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2005, 2006, 2007 (2 of this vintage)

So we could have a line up of:
1994 - DRT
1996 - ARK
1998 - CMAG (to buy)
2003 - WS1
2006 - AHB (this is the vintage when I was in the lagares)
and I would recommend combining these with 1991, 1992, 1995 and 2000 if the folks not already declared can get hold of these particular vintages.

Alex

Post by **DRT** » 20:08 Mon 18 Jan 2010

Subject to us being able to track down the missing vintages, can anyone think of a good reason not to make this a complete vertical from 1989 to 2007? I can't.

I will happily bring all three of 1994, 1996 and 1997 to help make this happen.

Derek

Post by **jdaw1** » 21:12 Mon 18 Jan 2010

DRT wrote:Subject to us being able to track down the missing vintages, can anyone think of a good reason not to make this a complete vertical from 1989 to 2007? I can't.

Even with Capela only eighteen bottles (no ’93 nor ’02, and excluding 1815 and 1863), amongst as many as nine people.

Some whingers will doubtless comment on it being a school night, but no attention should be paid to them.

Post by **jdaw1** » 21:41 Mon 18 Jan 2010

Current draft of the placemats, assuming the full tasting. If any vintages need to be deleted then shame on you.

Post by **DRT** » 21:50 Mon 18 Jan 2010

jdaw1 wrote:Current draft of the placemats, assuming the full tasting. If any vintages need to be deleted then shame on you.

Excellent. Thanks.

benread · Post by **benread** » 06:09 Tue 19 Jan 2010

AHB wrote:In a fit of enthusiasm and anticipation for this coming Vesuvio vertical, I had a quick trawl through the vintages which people have identified that they have available, and come up with the following list:

DRT - 1994, 1996, 1997
WS1 - 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005
ARK - 1996 (having drunk all his 1994)
CMAG - will buy to fill gaps, I suggest the very impressive 1998
Cookie - none identified
Kevin - none identified
BMHR - none identified
JGH - none identified
AHB - I have one of each of the following easily on hand 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2005, 2006, 2007 (2 of this vintage)

So we could have a line up of:
1994 - DRT
1996 - ARK
1998 - CMAG (to buy)
2003 - WS1
2006 - AHB (this is the vintage when I was in the lagares)
and I would recommend combining these with 1991, 1992, 1995 and 2000 if the folks not already declared can get hold of these particular vintages.

Alex

Alex,

I suspect you knew the reaction you would get from JDAW1 when you drafted this! I am in the 'acquire' camp as well, but I am fairly sure with a month or so it can be done. A quick look finds 2000, 1995 and 1992 immediately. I shall acquire some 2000 as my contribution.

Given the progress we have made, I shall also book TCP today. I think we will need two tunnels for this number.

Ben

Post by **jdaw1** » 14:05 Tue 19 Jan 2010

[url=http://www.theportforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=32458#p32458]Here[/url] jdaw1 wrote:
AHB wrote:But I would agree that the Vesuvio '92 would be a fine port to drink at the Vesuvio vertical - are you attending?
Source: you. Have you no more? If I do attend (which is unlikely), then of course. However, I will be at that cellar on Fri 29th Jan, and could collect it to be given to an attendee of the V vertical. Maybe this conversation should be held elsewhere.
AHB wrote:If you are not attending on Feb 23 then leave the V92 in the population since it is unlikely that we will have a bottle of this vintage since no-one else has said they have one.
Depends on that other conversation.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 17:58 Tue 19 Jan 2010

DRT wrote:Subject to us being able to track down the missing vintages, can anyone think of a good reason not to make this a complete vertical from 1989 to 2007?

Yes - it's excessive and would lead to bad habits being formed. People might start to think that it was normal to hold complete verticals and start applying that principal to other shippers, such as Vargellas or Malvedos.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 18:10 Tue 19 Jan 2010

jdaw1 wrote:
[url=http://www.theportforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=32458#p32458]Here[/url] jdaw1 wrote:
AHB wrote:But I would agree that the Vesuvio '92 would be a fine port to drink at the Vesuvio vertical - are you attending?
Source: you. Have you no more? If I do attend (which is unlikely), then of course. However, I will be at that cellar on Fri 29th Jan, and could collect it to be given to an attendee of the V vertical. Maybe this conversation should be held elsewhere.
AHB wrote:If you are not attending on Feb 23 then leave the V92 in the population since it is unlikely that we will have a bottle of this vintage since no-one else has said they have one.
Depends on that other conversation.

I do have other bottles of the 1992 vintage, but they are all in bond in unbroken cases. With enough notice, I could get one of the 6 packs out of storage but would rather not do so if someone else is able to buy a single bottle from a wine merchant.

The vintage I am most reluctant to attack is the 1989, I only have a couple of bottles left and would rather use these for a more formal and better attended Vesuvio vertical. The 23rd was, after all, intended to be an informal and relaxed event and not one of our over-the-top massive tastings.

So I go back to the point that I think we should be aiming for 1 bottle each, some good company and a relaxed evening with some decent port to sup. I'll leave Jacob to organise the excesses when we taste the rather magnificent Malvedos vertical he has managed to assemble.

Post by **DRT** » 23:00 Tue 19 Jan 2010

AHB wrote:
DRT wrote:Subject to us being able to track down the missing vintages, can anyone think of a good reason not to make this a complete vertical from 1989 to 2007?
Yes - it's excessive and would lead to bad habits being formed. People might start to think that it was normal to hold complete verticals and start applying that principal to other shippers, such as Vargellas or Malvedos.

I'm struggling to see where your argument is going. Are you agreeing to my suggestion? Great, I knew you would like it.

Post by **jdaw1** » 23:12 Tue 19 Jan 2010

DRT wrote:I'm struggling to see where your argument is going. Are you agreeing to my suggestion? Great, I knew you would like it.

That’s because you haven’t seen the clue he left us.

AHB wrote:People might start to think that it was normal to hold complete verticals and start applying that principal to other shippers, such as Vargellas or Malvedos.

If he was being sincere, he would, of course, have said ‟principle”. The homonym was a deliberate mis-direction, winking at the attentive but mis-leading the careless. Relax: AHB knows he wants the whole thing, and is subtly telling us so. Perhaps the subtlety is because Mrs Vesuvio reads

.

And if it was just a careless error, his punishment is to attend a complete Vesuvio vertical. There are worse punishments.

WS1 · Post by **WS1** » 10:14 Wed 20 Jan 2010

Julian, Derek,

despite its appeal

I think we should not do a full Vesuvio vertical (18bts). I am getting older and have to work the next day

Alex,

on the other hand would you not certainly agree we have to open all 18 bts if we had 18 participants? Another collegue of mine, Adam, would also if still possible like to join us. He loves Port and the crusting Pipe

Kevin and Adam would/can adpot bts from me if required. May I ask why you are not so fond of the 2005? I like this Vesuvio very much!

Hope this possible.

regards

WS1

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 22:32 Wed 20 Jan 2010

WS1 wrote:May I ask why you are not so fond of the 2005? I like this Vesuvio very much!

I have nothing against the 2005 vintage - in fact, I do quite like it. The reason that I was suggesting it be left out was for no other reason than we might otherwise end up with too many very recent vintages.

Post by **jdaw1** » 23:03 Wed 20 Jan 2010

AHB wrote:we might otherwise end up with too many very recent vintages.

The tasting is indeed predominately vintages â‰¥1989. You should balance it by including the other two vintages made” .

” 1815 and 1863. Side-by-side, I have never once preferred the ’15.

Post by **DRT** » 02:58 Thu 21 Jan 2010

jdaw1 wrote:
AHB wrote:we might otherwise end up with too many very recent vintages.
The tasting is indeed predominately vintages â‰¥1989. You should balance it by including the other two vintages made” .

” 1815 and 1863. Side-by-side, I have never once preferred the ’15.

I agree. We have set our sights too low by limiting this tasting to 1989 to 2007. Thank you JDAW for bringing this to our attention.

benread · Post by **benread** » 17:51 Thu 21 Jan 2010

Details updated. The Crusting Pipe is now booked. I shall leave discussion regarding the extent of our tasting to JDAW1, DRT and AHB!

Deleted_User_1 · Post by **Deleted_User_1** » 15:01 Tue 26 Jan 2010

Could I just declare my position on this tasting...I believe I fall into the category of 'having to adopt' so happy to fill the space on which ever is needed.
Thanks
Cookie

Chris Doty · Post by **Chris Doty** » 13:52 Fri 29 Jan 2010

Ben --

If there is space, I would be interested in attending.

Thanks

benread · Post by **benread** » 18:05 Fri 29 Jan 2010

Chris Doty wrote:Ben --

If there is space, I would be interested in attending.

Thanks

Chris,

Welcome to TPF - I think you will create a new record for attendance at offlines in your first month a TPF contributor if you make everything you have volunteered for! I have amended the 1st post in this thread to indicate your attendance. We are yet to declare what we are bringing, so if you have any Vesuvio, declare now!

See you on 1st (unlikely for me now), 11th or 23rd February!

Ben

Chris Doty · Post by **Chris Doty** » 19:44 Fri 29 Jan 2010

Thanks, Ben.

I was thinking I'd bring the 1995, unless folks feel that's too young.

benread · Post by **benread** » 19:58 Fri 29 Jan 2010

Chris Doty wrote:Thanks, Ben.

I was thinking I'd bring the 1995, unless folks feel that's too young.

No one else has declared an easy supply of the 1995 so I will leave AHB to amend this post to reflect the fact you can supply this vintage.

Given the number of us, it is likely we will have younger vintages to taste - all in the name of science of course!

WS1 · Post by **WS1** » 23:02 Fri 29 Jan 2010

Hi Ben,

please also add id possible Adam a collegue of mine as attempted before. So we would be already 11

regards

WS1

benread · Post by **benread** » 08:08 Sat 30 Jan 2010

WS1 wrote:Hi Ben,

please also add id possible Adam a collegue of mine as attempted before. So we would be already 11

regards

WS1

WS1,

Apologies - I missed the original comment in the thread. Now done in appropriate order. Glad I booked both tunnels!

Ben

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 09:43 Tue 02 Feb 2010

AHB wrote:In a fit of enthusiasm and anticipation for this coming Vesuvio vertical, I had a quick trawl through the vintages which people have identified that they have available, and come up with the following list:

DRT - 1994, 1996, 1997
WS1 - 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005
ARK - 1996 (having drunk all his 1994)
CMAG - will buy to fill gaps, I suggest the very impressive 1998
Cookie - none identified
Kevin - none identified
BMHR - none identified
JGH - none identified
AHB - I have one of each of the following easily on hand 1990, 1991, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2005, 2006, 2007 (2 of this vintage)
Adam - none identified
Chris Doty - 1995

So we could have a line up of:
1990 - Cookie to adopt from AHB
1991 - ClawHit
1994 - DRT
1995 - Chris Doty
1996 - ARK
1997 - JGH to adopt from DRT
1998 - CMAG (to buy from BBR)
1999 - Adam to adopt from WS1
2000 - BMHR to buy
2003 - WS1
2005 - Kevin to adopt from WS1
2006 - AHB (this is the vintage when I was in the lagares)
tba - ClawHit's +1

Alex

Post above now updated again