Plat principal: Bring a Port to Drink on Your Birthday.
Attendees:
AHB;
BMHR;
CMAG;
DRT;
RAYC;
RLC;
THRA.
Original first post!
Ben reminded me last week that we have an established tradition of having a tasting around the end of March / beginning of April to hold a joint celebration of the birthdays of Ben, Ray, Axel and me. (I think that is the correct list but please correct me if not)
Once again I will issue a plea that this event be held +/- 7 days from 28 March so that, if the theme allows, I can pop a 1965 VP to ensure my continued survival.
So, the proposed time window is Wed 21 March to Wed 4 April.
Theme: suggestions please.
Venue: suggestions please.
In/out? Executive decision: the birthday boys are in unless they say they are out.
"The first duty of Port is to be red" Ernest H. Cockburn
Desert Island Ports? (5 from 90s, 5 from 80s, 5 from 70s, 5 from 60s, 5 pre-60s);
66 horizontal (with a 65 comparison).
Attendees
Industry Guest;
ADV (t.b.c);
AHB;
AP (t.b.c);
BMHR;
CMAG;
CSD (t.b.c.);
CSD's +1 (t.b.c.);
DRT;
JDAW;
JGH (t.b.c);
RAYC;
RLC.
Note: Those marked "(t.b.c.)" must confirm attendance no later than 31 January 2012 otherwise they might have to forfeit their place for someone on a reserve list, should such a list form between now and then.
Edits to this post:
1. CMAG added by DRT following confirmation by SMS.
2. AHB and his suggestions added by DRT.
3. RAYC and his suggestions added by DRT.
4. RLC removed at his request by DRT.
5. ADV added by DRT.
6. Space for industry guest reserved by DRT.
7. Date confirmed by DRT following suggestions from those willing to provide suggestions.
8. CSD & CSD's +1 added by DRT.
9. JGH added by DRT.
10 RLC re-added at his request by DRT.
"The first duty of Port is to be red" Ernest H. Cockburn
Oh, all right then. Force me to drink port if you must. I'm in.
Suggested theme - birthday year vintage port (everyone attending has to bring a vintage port from their birth year - or at least connected with their birth year in some way that can be explained on the night); or a Delaforce vertical.
Top Ports in 2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
Desert Island Ports? (5 from 90s, 5 from 80s, 5 from 70s, 5 from 60s, 5 pre-60s)?
66 horizontal (with a 65 comparison)?!
AHB wrote:
Suggested theme - birthday year vintage port (everyone attending has to bring a vintage port from their birth year - or at least connected with their birth year in some way that can be explained on the night)
My birth year is also tricky and of little interest to anybody. I did get a rather nice 80 for my christening though...good enough connection?
jdaw1 wrote:My birth year is of little interest to port, and of no more interest to me.
Noted. Also noted is the fact that I have been lucky to have three previous years in succession where I was able to incorporate a 1965 into the lineup. I am therefore more than happy to go for a theme that excludes 1965 as I can easily drink one on another evening around that time.
"The first duty of Port is to be red" Ernest H. Cockburn
This was early in my career but still stands out as the best horizontal I have tasted from a consistency of quality point of view. I am struggling to think of anything I have been involved in that would trump that line-up. Worth doing again.
"The first duty of Port is to be red" Ernest H. Cockburn
I am, of course, very keen on this! I have no preference on theme, although if it is loose (bring a bottle connected to your birth) we may need a 'director' to officiate, whether the tasting is blind or not. It would also probably dictate the tasting being less formal than last year - difficult to find a guest with such a loose theme! (I am quite happy with that approach as well.)
Ben
-------
Vintage 1970 and now proud owner of my first ever 'half-century'!
jdaw1 wrote:My birth year is of little interest to port, and of no more interest to me.
Your birth year is of great importance to port, for the following reasons:
(i) port consumption is higher in the years after your birth than before your birth
(ii) port was not available commercially in large format before the year of your birth
(iii) your birth year was the year in which the 1966 vintage was bottled - an event which we should all celebrate at least once per year
Top Ports in 2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
jdaw1 wrote:Perhaps the theme could be ‟Port to drink on your birthday”?
That's a theme I like!
jdaw1 wrote:Perhaps I have a failure of scale, but methinks 112 gallons is ‘large format’ enough for a host and several chums.
I have to concede on that point. A 112 gallon container of vintage port would likely outlast even a weekend visit to Paris by Derek. Perhaps I should have been more accurate and said, "(ii) port was not available commercially in large format glass containers before the year of your birth".
Top Ports in 2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
jdaw1 wrote:Perhaps I have a failure of scale, but methinks 112 gallons is ‘large format’ enough for a host and several chums.
I have to concede on that point. A 112 gallon container of vintage port would likely outlast even a weekend visit to Paris by Derek. Perhaps I should have been more accurate and said, "(ii) port was not available commercially in large format glass containers before the year of your birth".
That's incorrect, too. How else do we explain the well-known mags of Sandeman 1935?
"The first duty of Port is to be red" Ernest H. Cockburn
Since I seem to have a pattern of flying over there around this time for said Port drinking and as my Bday is the middle of April as well, can you add me to the tentative list.
Andy Velebil wrote:Since I seem to have a pattern of flying over there around this time for said Port drinking and as my Bday is the middle of April as well, can you add me to the tentative list.
Done. As a birthday boy and serial attendee you are on the list until you say you can't make it.
"The first duty of Port is to be red" Ernest H. Cockburn
A birthday boy should suggest a list possible dates, possibly a long list. Other BBs should eliminate those known not to work. That would advance the ‘when?’ question. Separately, the ‘what?’ problem needs work.
The following note has been added to the main organisation post above in the interest of fairness:
Note: "Birthday Boys" have been added to the confirmed list of attendees by default but must confirm attendance no later than 31 January 2012 otherwise they might have to forfeit their place for someone on a reserve list, should such a list form between now and then.
"The first duty of Port is to be red" Ernest H. Cockburn
jdaw1 wrote:A birthday boy should suggest a list possible dates, possibly a long list. Other BBs should eliminate those known not to work. That would advance the ‘when?’ question.
In hand via email.
jdaw1 wrote:Separately, the ‘what?’ problem needs work.
Agreed. Do you have a suggestion?
"The first duty of Port is to be red" Ernest H. Cockburn
Following consultation with others by email I would propose that this tasting takes place on one of Thursday 22nd, Tuesday 27th or Thursday 29th March.
The UK School Easter Holidays begin on 30th March so it is probably best to avoid the following week.
Does anyone who is already "in" have a definite preference for any one of those dates or, more importantly, is there any of them that you cannot do?
Derek
"The first duty of Port is to be red" Ernest H. Cockburn
jdaw1 wrote:I couldn’t attend the Malvedos vertical, which was on 22 March 2010. Similar reasoning might prevent my attending a tasting on 22 March 2012.
22nd March now ruled out.
Proposed options are 27th and 29th March 2012.
"The first duty of Port is to be red" Ernest H. Cockburn
DRT wrote:The following note has been added to the main organisation post above in the interest of fairness:
Note: "Birthday Boys" have been added to the confirmed list of attendees by default but must confirm attendance no later than 31 January 2012 otherwise they might have to forfeit their place for someone on a reserve list, should such a list form between now and then.
I have a birthday in 2012. Does that qualify me to attend this tasting? If so, I am definitely in for 29 March.
Top Ports in 2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2025: Quevedo 1972 Colheita, b.2024. Just as good as Niepoort 1900!
DRT wrote:The following note has been added to the main organisation post above in the interest of fairness:
Note: "Birthday Boys" have been added to the confirmed list of attendees by default but must confirm attendance no later than 31 January 2012 otherwise they might have to forfeit their place for someone on a reserve list, should such a list form between now and then.
I have a birthday in 2012. Does that qualify me to attend this tasting? If so, I am definitely in for 29 March.
Yes, that qualifies. You're in!!
"The first duty of Port is to be red" Ernest H. Cockburn
I would always be interested in this tasting but I’m afraid I’m not going to be able to confirm either way for a couple of months. If it not an abuse of the reserve list, could I go on that, willing to accept that it might become fully booked.
JacobH wrote:I would always be interested in this tasting but I’m afraid I’m not going to be able to confirm either way for a couple of months. If it not an abuse of the reserve list, could I go on that, willing to accept that it might become fully booked.
As take-up has been less than vigorous I am happy to put you on the confirmed list and ask you to abide by the same rule as the defaulted-in birthday boys. Is that OK with you?
"The first duty of Port is to be red" Ernest H. Cockburn
JacobH wrote:I would always be interested in this tasting but I’m afraid I’m not going to be able to confirm either way for a couple of months. If it not an abuse of the reserve list, could I go on that, willing to accept that it might become fully booked.
As take-up has been less than vigorous I am happy to put you on the confirmed list and ask you to abide by the same rule as the defaulted-in birthday boys. Is that OK with you?
Our recollections differ. I recall someone saying something similar to "My birthday is on 11th March, will we all meet here to celebrate". Following a brief period of group enthusiasm, that person pulled a diary from his pocket and wrote something in it, which I figured was more than likely an entry against 11th March.
I accept that by the time all of this happened we we possibly not at our sharpest so hopefully others will help piece together what actually occurred.
"The first duty of Port is to be red" Ernest H. Cockburn
I Should add my bday is in mid April and the past couple years I've tripped across the pond to celebrate with some very amusing and like minded port lovers. This coming year hopefully is no different.
DRT wrote:Our recollections differ. I recall someone saying something similar to "My birthday is on 11th March, will we all meet here to celebrate". Following a brief period of group enthusiasm, that person pulled a diary from his pocket and wrote something in it, which I figured was more than likely an entry against 11th March.
I accept that by the time all of this happened we we possibly not at our sharpest so hopefully others will help piece together what actually occurred.
This is an accurate summary of what i remember being discussed. I am happy if it goes ahead as discussed, but equally if it is now amended because everyone agreed to it when they were too far gone to remember!
Perhaps we should keep the date for this tasting as 29th March and I will email the man whose birthday is on 11th March and ask him to join us.
Would anyone who agreed to the 29th March tasting object if the venue was The Bell instead of the RAFC? I think this would be a good compromise and The Bell is probably a better venue for the currently preferred theme.
"The first duty of Port is to be red" Ernest H. Cockburn
