19 September in London at The Steak Exchange

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 22:48 Fri 12 Aug 2011

Date: 19 September
Time: 6:30pm for 7pm
Place: The Steak Exchange, Liverpool Street
Theme: A Ragbag of Good Port
Who:
AHB
WS1
RAYC
Probably not JDAW

Original Post
I have to be in London on Monday 19th September - is anyone interested in getting together at The Crusting Pipe (or The Steak Exchange) that night for an offline?

benread · Post by **benread** » 05:46 Sat 13 Aug 2011

AHB wrote:(I will also be in London tomorrow afternoon between noon and 3pm - is anyone else around?)

All being well, so shall I, but at Lord's. Not sure they are amenable to turning up with decanted bottles of port!

WS1 · Post by **WS1** » 10:00 Sat 13 Aug 2011

Hi Alex,

Monday the 19th is also good for me. Should we go again for the Steak exchange? I liked that it was very quite there.

Also will go to London today, need to buy some cheese

, so we could meet up at e.g. TCP for lunch if wanted.

Please let me know

regards

WS1

RAYC · Post by **RAYC** » 11:17 Sat 13 Aug 2011

put me down!

Are we going themed?

If a small group, something from 70/77 (but excluding TFP/Symington ports to be tasted in October/November) might be nice.

If a larger group, put together a nice list of 85s?

Post by **jdaw1** » 22:17 Mon 15 Aug 2011

I’m unlikely, but not yet definitely not. Whether or not, will do placemats.

Will it be blind or open?

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 12:34 Tue 16 Aug 2011

jdaw1 wrote:Will it be blind or open?

I have no strong feelings one way or the other, but in the absence of any other decision we shall go sighted. It's about time we had a change.

Post by **jdaw1** » 12:41 Tue 16 Aug 2011

AHB wrote:in the absence of any other decision we shall go sighted

In which case, for the placemats, what are people bringing?

People and ports:

AHB (Â¿?);
BMHR (Â¿?);
WS (Â¿?);
RAYC (Â¿?).

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 13:09 Tue 16 Aug 2011

First post updated with details of the organisation so far.

I'm happy to go with Rob's suggested small-group theme of port from 1970 or 1977 but not from Dow, Fonseca, Graham or Taylor.

And if we are doing this sighted, you can help me to decide what I should bring along. Choose from:
Gould Campbell 1977
Quarles Harris 1977
Warre 1977

RAYC · Post by **RAYC** » 14:31 Tue 16 Aug 2011

AHB wrote:First post updated with details of the organisation so far.

I'm happy to go with Rob's suggested small-group theme of port from 1970 or 1977 but not from Dow, Fonseca, Graham or Taylor.

And if we are doing this sighted, you can help me to decide what I should bring along. Choose from:
Gould Campbell 1977
Quarles Harris 1977
Warre 1977

Since we are tasting Gould and Quarles in November, can i suggest Warre? Not a strong preference on my part, so more than happy to defer - I'd be more than happy drinking either of the other two!

In terms of my port, taking out D, F, G, T, QH, SW and GC shows me how narrow my cellar is for those years!

From 77 I could bring: Niepoort, Morgan

From 70 I could bring: Sandeman, Cockburn, Noval, Offley, RO QdeCarvahlas

Given your recent post on FTLOP - perhaps we should source a Croft 91 as well (albeit off theme!). I would also be keen to try that, and happy to split cost.

Post by **jdaw1** » 14:36 Tue 16 Aug 2011

That would nudge the theme nearer to ‟A Ragbag of Good Port”.

RAYC · Post by **RAYC** » 14:51 Tue 16 Aug 2011

jdaw1 wrote:That would nudge the theme nearer to ‟A Ragbag of Good Port”.

Also a good theme!

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 18:45 Tue 16 Aug 2011

RAYC wrote:
jdaw1 wrote:That would nudge the theme nearer to ‟A Ragbag of Good Port”.
Also a good theme!

A theme that works for me. Any dissenting voices (Wolfgang) to changing the theme? That way I can choose something "Good" from my drinking list.

WS1 · Post by **WS1** » 20:49 Tue 16 Aug 2011

Hi Alex,

no dissenting voices; however I am not sure what I will bring yet. Had also the Warre 1977 in mind. But you were first. If I find the bt it will be a Croft 1977, if not it has to go back to something from 1970. Will report back when I have located the bt. As said before I am not very organised in these things; at least i am sure I have not done a KillerB

regards

WS1

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 14:02 Wed 17 Aug 2011

OK, theme officially changes and is now "A Ragbag of Good Port", meaning that you can bring anything you want so long as it meets the following criteria:
(a) You declare it in advance to enable JDAW to most kindly prepare the tasting mats for us;
(b) It is, in your own opinion, "Good Port"; and
(c) It is not one of the following - Dow, Fonseca, Graham or Taylor from 1963, 1966, 1970 or 1977; Smith Woodhouse, Gould Campbell or Quarles Harris from 1970, 1977, 1983, 1985 or 1994

If none of us bring a Croft 1991, I propose to buy one from Roberson's in Kensington on the day and bring it along. This will cost approx. £55 and I suggest we share the cost between us.

Alex

Post by **jdaw1** » 14:54 Wed 17 Aug 2011

AHB wrote:(a) You declare it in advance to enable JDAW to most kindly prepare the tasting mats for us;

Please ‘declare’ (!) it in this thread.

Zelandakh · Post by **Zelandakh** » 15:58 Wed 17 Aug 2011

You guys make me smile!

(b) It is, in your own opinion, "Good Port";

and you also suggest 77 or 70. So by definition, that isn't going to be good port - that's going to be stunningly good port.

My cellar consists of "weekday port" (NV), "occasion port" (80s or early 90s VP) and "only opened around port lovers and even then only a couple of people at a time" (70s VP). Currently looking for an occasion good enough and friends good enough that will prompt me to open a Noval 70.

Dinner for that event is already planned and we call it "doing a Derek"...

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 21:40 Mon 29 Aug 2011

Nick,

I agree - 70 or 77 should be stunningly good port...but we moved away from that suggested theme to the much more general one of any port you consider to be "good" - with the definition of good being entirely down to the person bringing the port. If you want to come along to the offline with a bottle of occasion port, then please do!

Alex

PS. and a contribution to cover the cost of your food etc, of course.

RAYC · Post by **RAYC** » 21:05 Wed 31 Aug 2011

Wolfgang / Alex

Is there anything on my original list you fancy? Or shall I go back to the drawing board and select something different.

Am passing through each of barbican, big yellow and Kingston this Sunday so will have access to my entire unbonded collection. Thereafter I don't plan to be London again until 19th (when you will have me fresh off the plane from oktoberfest...)

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 21:08 Thu 01 Sep 2011

RAYC wrote:Is there anything on my original list you fancy? Or shall I go back to the drawing board and select something different.

I've not had the Cockburn 1970, Royal Oporto 1970, Offley 1970 or Niepoort 1977 very often. Those would be welcome...but so would something different.

I've not decided what to bring yet!

Post by **jdaw1** » 21:25 Thu 01 Sep 2011

A draft of the placemats.

Rather small. You need more bottles, and perhaps more people. Maybe me.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 21:32 Thu 01 Sep 2011

jdaw1 wrote:A draft of the placemats.

I've also promised a bottle of Croft 1991 to be shared between the attendees following on from the recommendation of our bretheren across the water that this is one of the best of the wines from this vintage.

jdaw1 wrote:
Rather small. You need more bottles, and perhaps more people. Maybe me.

More bottles and more people would be most welcome. If your diary permits, you would be most welcome since I haven't seen you for some time.

Post by **jdaw1** » 21:45 Thu 01 Sep 2011

Updated draft of the placemats.

+Cr91.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 16:07 Fri 02 Sep 2011

I've booked us a table for four, just in case someone else is able to make it - otherwise it will be 4 bottles of port between 3 attendees.

RAYC · Post by **RAYC** » 10:19 Tue 06 Sep 2011

Unless there are objections (and please feel free to raise), I will bring a Niepoort 1977 and a Vesuvio 1996 as a brucie bonus.

The Vesuvio has been on my "to drink" list for a while but in an effort to cut casual consumption for health reasons, it shall wait until this tasting.

I am also looking forward to the Croft 1991. If people think that 5 between 3 is too great a task, i shall attempt to persuade my brother along.

Post by **jdaw1** » 12:39 Tue 06 Sep 2011

RAYC wrote:If people think that 5 between 3 is too great a task, i shall attempt to persuade my brother along.

No. Nor 7 between four.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 13:37 Tue 06 Sep 2011

RAYC wrote:Unless there are objections (and please feel free to raise), I will bring a Niepoort 1977 and a Vesuvio 1996 as a brucie bonus.

The Vesuvio has been on my "to drink" list for a while but in an effort to cut casual consumption for health reasons, it shall wait until this tasting.

I am also looking forward to the Croft 1991. If people think that 5 between 3 is too great a task, i shall attempt to persuade my brother along.

By all means bring your brother along anyway. If we run short of port, we are only a moments walk away from Uncorked.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 16:55 Fri 09 Sep 2011

Croft 1991 acquired

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 05:53 Sun 11 Sep 2011

Count me in!

The Croft '91 is suspiciously similar to the Morgan '91 (they were made by the same team..) but £55 is far too expensive - can supply a bottle for £30..

I last drank the Cr91 three years ago, and made the note 'come back in 2011' - so timely..

If we're not going blind, I might bring a Mz70..

Tom

Post by **jdaw1** » 08:18 Sun 11 Sep 2011

Updated draft of the placemats.

+THRA;
+Mz70.

WS1 · Post by **WS1** » 10:28 Sun 11 Sep 2011

Hi,

if OK I would like to swap the Croft 77 I intended to bring into a Croft 70. Despite I found the bt of Croft 77

I also realised it is the only one I currently have. Since I accquired a case of Croft 70 a year ago I have more of this port. In addition all bts in the case seem very good, but the corks are not at all and start to leak one after the other.

Also would be a nice theme 2 ports from 77 vs 2 ports from 70 and some Croft 91 to see how good 91 is in comparison.

Please let me know

regards

WS1

Post by **jdaw1** » 10:33 Sun 11 Sep 2011

Updated draft of the placemats.

”“Cr77, +Cr70.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 19:19 Sun 11 Sep 2011

uncle tom wrote:Count me in!

The Croft '91 is suspiciously similar to the Morgan '91 (they were made by the same team..) but £55 is far too expensive - can supply a bottle for £30..

I last drank the Cr91 three years ago, and made the note 'come back in 2011' - so timely..

If we're not going blind, I might bring a Mz70..

Tom

Happy to count you in and for you to bring the Mz70 and a Cr91 for group adoption.

Post by **jdaw1** » 19:38 Sun 11 Sep 2011

Updated draft of the placemats.

Cr91 re-assigned to THRA.

RAYC · Post by **RAYC** » 20:06 Sun 11 Sep 2011

Wolfgang - sounds great.

Alex - if you have already acquired the Croft specifically for this tasting, please do not hesitate to say if you would prefer to bring it and split the £55 cost with me as originally planned. I don't want you to feel like you have been left with the bottle unless you actually want it.

All - let me know if you would like me to bring a Croft '63 instead of the Niepoort '77 (for a croft mini-theme). I'm not particularly advocating this - just struck me as a possible idea and thought i'd offer.

RAYC · Post by **RAYC** » 20:19 Sun 11 Sep 2011

uncle tom wrote:
The Croft '91 is suspiciously similar to the Morgan '91 (they were made by the same team..)

hmmm...i have heard you mention these suspicions before...is this something that you are suggesting should be put to the test by a small panel of experienced tasters...?

Post by **jdaw1** » 20:24 Sun 11 Sep 2011

RAYC wrote:
uncle tom wrote:Morgan '91

Official theme: ‟A Ragbag of Good Port”.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 12:48 Mon 12 Sep 2011

RAYC wrote:Alex - if you have already acquired the Croft specifically for this tasting, please do not hesitate to say if you would prefer to bring it and split the £55 cost with me as originally planned. I don't want you to feel like you have been left with the bottle unless you actually want it.

All - let me know if you would like me to bring a Croft '63 instead of the Niepoort '77 (for a croft mini-theme). I'm not particularly advocating this - just struck me as a possible idea and thought i'd offer.

Let's stick with the Niepoort '77, it's quite some time since I had one of these.

But if anyone wants to bring a Morgan '91 to taste against the Croft '91, I'd be happy to give my views on the comparison. My Morgans are in Big Yellow and I don't think I'll get the chance to call in there before next Monday. No problem with my having acquired a bottle of the Croft '91 - I'm light on '91s so I'll just add it to the cellar.

Post by **jdaw1** » 13:35 Mon 12 Sep 2011

Updated draft of the placemats.

+Ni77.

RAYC · Post by **RAYC** » 14:12 Mon 12 Sep 2011

jdaw1 wrote:Updated draft of the placemats.
+Ni77.

Many thanks - I still plan to bring a Vesuvio 1996 (and hopefully my brother also).

The Vesuvio is a definite, my brother has just started a new job so is not definite.

I can print if required.

Post by **jdaw1** » 16:01 Mon 12 Sep 2011

Updated draft of the placemats.

+V96.
Does the brother have a name, with initials?

RAYC · Post by **RAYC** » 16:53 Mon 12 Sep 2011

Michael/MCC (right-handed), but i would venture insufficiently certain at this stage to merit his own placemat (as opposed to guest space).

Post by **DRT** » 17:58 Mon 12 Sep 2011

I have a need to be in the London area on 20th September so "I'm in"

Can I please adopt the Croft 1991 from Tom and I will happily throw in a Mg91 for good measure

Derek

Post by **jdaw1** » 19:26 Mon 12 Sep 2011

Updated draft of the placemats.

+DRT;
+MCC;
+Mg91;
Cr91 re-credited again, this time to DRT.

RAYC · Post by **RAYC** » 08:55 Tue 13 Sep 2011

DRT wrote:I have a need to be in the London area on 20th September so "I'm in"

Can I please adopt the Croft 1991 from Tom and I will happily throw in a Mg91 for good measure

Derek

We need a Hannibal Smith cigar-smoking "smilie" for when a plan comes together!

Post by **jdaw1** » 09:22 Tue 13 Sep 2011

AHB wrote:Probably not JDAW

Sorry: I won’t be there.

Post by **DRT** » 19:04 Tue 13 Sep 2011

RAYC wrote:
DRT wrote:I have a need to be in the London area on 20th September so "I'm in"

Can I please adopt the Croft 1991 from Tom and I will happily throw in a Mg91 for good measure

Derek
We need a Hannibal Smith cigar-smoking "smilie" for when a plan comes together!

JacobH · Post by **JacobH** » 14:42 Wed 14 Sep 2011

RAYC wrote:We need a Hannibal Smith cigar-smoking "smilie" for when a plan comes together!

I’d always reserved this one for tasting-organising purposes:

. But that’s not to say he couldn’t be improved with a cigar!

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 21:15 Thu 15 Sep 2011

RAYC wrote:I can print if required.

Yes please. Thanks.

Post by **PhilW** » 08:50 Fri 16 Sep 2011

Hi guys - mind if I join you on Monday?

I wasn't expecting to be able to make it, which would have been ironic since you have 2 of my 3 favourite ports on the menu (with the other, F70, being banned on criteria), but issues have resolved which mean I would be able to attend.

I had a quick chat with Tom yesterday when it looked possible as I don't have a suitable bottle outside of the excluded list; he has offered an Offley 70 for me to adopt, if that would be acceptable.

Phil.

Post by **jdaw1** » 09:32 Fri 16 Sep 2011

Updated draft of the placemats.

+PW, +O70;
Glasses and TNs now split over two pages of each per person.
Somebody competent please check.