15 December 2011 - The Unknown Shipper at the Bell

[jdaw1]

Updated draft of the placemats.

• Twenty ports, which will make fiddlier the pre-tasting cutting of the glass labels;
• ”“Cork displays;
• Vote recorders have extra questions and fewer pages;
• Retaining bottle-label sheets;
• Unhappy with suggestion to delete Overtitles still being considered;
• Please check that the list of people is correct (and who are the guests?).
  1. Tom A.
  2. THRA Guest
  3. Alex B.
  4. AHB Guest
  5. Axel P.
  6. Derek T.
  7. Ben R.
  8. Rob C.
  9. Ray C.
  10. Wolfgang S.

[jdaw1]

Updated draft of the placemats.

• Overtitles slightly shrunk.
• AHB Guest → Alex D.
• ”“THRA Guest (presumably necessitating a further decision).

[WS1]

out of my experience these " in the beginning I thought this is a good idea" actions never held the excitement the next day.

Typically on the next day one realises that the dose was too small.[/quote]

Hmmm, tried this as well and found out in these cases to develop a sort of leather alergy finding myself somehwere unexpected with my shoes on and a heavy headache

rgds

WS1

[Alex Bridgeman]

So, a summary of where we are:
Time: 7pm
When: 15th December 2011
Where: The Bell, Wenden's Ambo
What: The Unknown Shipper and His Peculiar Friends
Who:

• Tom A. - requires steak & taxi to Newport
• Alex B. - requires steak & taxi to Saffron Hotel
• Alex D. - requires steak only
• Axel P. - requires steak & taxi to Saffron Hotel
• Derek T. - requires steak & taxi to Saffron Hotel
• Ben R. - requires steak & taxi to Saffron Hotel
• Rob C. - requires steak & taxi to Saffron Hotel
• Ray C. - hasn't responded but is presumed to want steak and taxi to Newport
• Wolfgang S. - requires steak & taxi to Saffron Hotel
• Jacob H. - requires vegetarian steak & taxi to Saffron Hotel

So, the logistics work out to be:
7 people (inc. Jacob) require a taxi from the Bell to the Saffron Hotel and 2 people require a taxi to Newport.
9 people request fillet steak, 1 requests vegetarian steak

The date draws closer. I've chosen my bottle - it will be...


... an unknown!

[DRT]

Steak Discussion

Part of the fun of the annual Xmas Bash at The Bell is that it is uncomplicated for both the participants and the staff. On previous occasions we have introduced some complexity to account for Jacob's need for Vegetarian Steak but it is now being suggested that we introduce further complexity by having three types of steak. This makes life more complicated for the staff, which I am not in favour of.

Can I suggest that we stick with tradition and have one meal choice for non-Jacobs and a Vegetarian Steak for Jacob?

I am perfectly happy with either fillet or Porterhouse but would much prefer that we all have the same.

Thoughts?

[jdaw1]

Updated draft of the placemats.

• +JGH.

I am perfectly happy with either fillet or Porterhouse

Derek has told me, by telepathy, that he would also be happy with having both.

[RAYC]

(c) whether they are attending or on the reserve list, if they would like a fillet steak and chips dinner, or something else

(c) fillet? Since you're offering us a choice, what about a porterhouse?!

but it is now being suggested that we introduce further complexity by having three types of steak.

My original post was meant in jest, partly to query whether AHB did indeed intend to offer us a choice or not!

Clearly i need to be better at adding smilies to indicate when i am not making a serious suggestion, though smilies, txt spk, LOLs, ROFLs etc. are right up there in my books with scratching my fingernails down a blackboard!

So to be clear, I do not require a different steak to anyone else....

...meaning everyone should have porterhouse

[DRT]

I am perfectly happy with either fillet or Porterhouse

Derek has told me, by telepathy, that he would also be happy with having both.

I have always had doubts about telepathy, but it appears that the phenomenon is real.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Steak Discussion

Part of the fun of the annual Xmas Bash at The Bell is that it is uncomplicated for both the participants and the staff. On previous occasions we have introduced some complexity to account for Jacob's need for Vegetarian Steak but it is now being suggested that we introduce further complexity by having three types of steak. This makes life more complicated for the staff, which I am not in favour of.

Can I suggest that we stick with tradition and have one meal choice for non-Jacobs and a Vegetarian Steak for Jacob?

I am perfectly happy with either fillet or Porterhouse but would much prefer that we all have the same.

Thoughts?

Fair point, and I have overcome my need for a Porterhouse by having an 800g rib-eye this evening. Fillet for me it is. I have amended my earlier post accordingly.

My earlier post also now reflects the fact that Jacob has confirmed his attendance.

[DRT]

I have overcome my need for a Porterhouse by having an 800g rib-eye this evening. Fillet for me it is. I have amended my earlier post accordingly.

My earlier post also now reflects the fact that Jacob has confirmed his attendance.

All excellent.

[Axel P]

I am happy as long as I do get any kind of meat and a plate for my own.

Axel

[Alex Bridgeman]

Unfortunately Ray has had to drop out of the Xmas offline.

Carl - the place is yours if you say you want it within a day or two!

[RAYC]

I am happy as long as I do get any kind of meat and a plate for my own.

Axel

A brave statement....it is tempting to get the Bear Grylls box-set out for inspiration in testing the limits of your claim...!

[griff]

Unfortunately Ray has had to drop out of the Xmas offline.

Carl - the place is yours if you say you want it within a day or two!

Terribly sorry but I am teaching the next morning and I simply wont be able to turn it around Phil, your next!

cheers

Carl

[Deleted_User_1]

Unfortunately Ray has had to drop out of the Xmas offline.

Carl - the place is yours if you say you want it within a day or two!

It seems in a melancholy moment I may have given the impression of my intention to pull out of this tasting.....but after giving myself a stern talking to I shall be attending and will require Steak and the first seat in the taxi....sorry for the confusion.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Unfortunately Ray has had to drop out of the Xmas offline.

Carl - the place is yours if you say you want it within a day or two!

It seems in a melancholy moment I may have given the impression of my intention to pull out of this tasting.....but after giving myself a stern talking to I shall be attending and will require Steak and the first seat in the taxi....sorry for the confusion.

Since Carl can't make it, I'm happy to give Ray back his seat at the table - although the seat on the taxi may be more difficult...

[jdaw1]

Procedurally, Ray asked to be moved from being at the tasting to being on the waitlist. The vacant seat was offered to Carl, who refused. Then it was offered to the person at the top of the waitlist, Ray, who accepted.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Procedurally, Ray asked to be moved from being at the tasting to being on the waitlist. The vacant seat was offered to Carl, who refused. Then it was offered to the person at the top of the waitlist, Ray, who accepted.

We have a different view on the procedure that was followed and which should be followed in the future. Perhaps we should create a Vesuvio 1994 Working Group to discuss and agree Offline Arranging Protocol?

[jdaw1]

Have you a motion on the OAP to propose to the V94WG? (Though, if I were allowed a motion, it would be to rename the subject at hand the ‟Tasting Arranging Protocol”, or TAP, despite its unfortunate resemblance to a terrible airline.)

[Axel P]

Perhaps we should create a Vesuvio 1994 Working Group to discuss and agree Offline Arranging Protocol?

Could I apply for the become the treasurer for this group?

Axel

[jdaw1]

Updated draft of the placemats.

With the tasting now only a week away, please could somebody check that I have the correct people. Other checks would perhaps be less obviously important, but still advisable.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Updated draft of the placemats.

With the tasting now only a week away, please could somebody check that I have the correct people. Other checks would perhaps be less obviously important, but still advisable.

All appears to be in order.

[RAYC]

I have a good opportunity to print this Friday. Will that be too early?

[Alex Bridgeman]

I have a good opportunity to print this Friday. Will that be too early?

I expect that would work well. Make sure you print the extra person set, just in case there are last minute changes to the attendees.

[uncle tom]

I have some bottles suitable for adoption, if needed, please contact me ASAP if required, so I can get them prepared..

Tom

[jdaw1]

During the evening email me a list of what has been opened, and when the last has been revealed I’ll make TN threads.

[uncle tom]

- Ten steaks ordered, Jacob to choose from vegetarian menu.

- Minicoach booked for midnight to ferry all to wherever @ £50

[Axel P]

When you grow up christmas is not as exciting as it was before as there are few things that you couldnt buy on your own.

Thanks Tom for organising this for the XXth time as this exactly fills the excitement gap for me. So many bottles and nobody knows what they will be.

Axel

[RAYC]

When you grow up christmas is not as exciting as it was before as there are few things that you couldnt buy on your own.

Thanks Tom for organising this for the XXth time as this exactly fills the excitement gap for me. So many bottles and nobody knows what they will be.

Axel

+1: i cannot wait!

Fingers crossed we get anything like last year's hit rate!

Thanks Tom

[how much cash are we bringing for meal/venue/tip?]

[jdaw1]

At The Bell, for the Christmas tasting on 16 December 2010, for the first time, glass stickers were used rather than placemats. At the Bell glasses and space is tight, there just not being space for each person to use three pages of A4 of table.

The following quotations all come from the review thread.

• Paperwork (tasting-note sheets, and several sets of stickers).

This was the first placemat-free tasting, with glasses being identified with stickers. Feedback welcomed.

Stickers for glasses works really well, except that we need one sheet of stickers person (or per two people) as we were constantly passing the sheets around and trying to find our respective labels - at one point [somebody] put one of his on his forehead so he could find it later!

Problems:

• At the time the PDF is made, it isn’t yet known who will be sitting next to whom.
• One sheet has 65 stickers, so one sheet per person would waste two-thirds to three-quarters of each sheet.

Indeed one sheet per person would be too much waste; but would it be possible to slot the stickers of two or three people on equal sections onto one sheet (each person has ~20 stickers)? They could be after printing cut into the portions of the individual person.

The stickers also worked extremely well; thanks Julian. As Wolfgang suggested, the only improvement would be to have each person’s stickers as a block so they could be cut up and distributed before the tasting starts. Also, for blind tastings it might be nice if the number took up only half the sticker so that we can write the name of the wine in when revealed.

Further feedback welcomed. (A similar request will be posted in the 2011 review thread.)

[Alex Bridgeman]

I'm pleased to announce that my travel plans are on schedule despite several 1+ hour delays on the A5, A41 and M1 and that leaving home this morning at 05:10 has proven to be the right strategy to adopt to ensure that I am at the Bell at 19:00 tomorrow. I am now half way there and have taken temporary lodgings in a rather chilly Milton Keynes before an 08:00 start tomorrow morning to complete the rest of the journey.

I intend to try to decant tomorrow between 16:00 and 17:00.

[RAYC]

I intend to try to decant tomorrow between 16:00 and 17:00.

I will decant my unknown early-mid C20 at home at 3.00pm tomorrow.

If you feel this is too early and would prefer i bring to Wendens Ambo undecanted for a 5.00 - 6.00pm decant, please let me know in post here or by email.

Cheers,

Rob

[DRT]

I should be at the Saffron Walden Hotel from about 5pm. If anyone wants to share a taxi to The Bell at around 6:00 - 6:30 please send me an email or text.

I will also be available for pre-taxi refreshments in the hotel bar

Derek

[jdaw1]

Pls do send a list of ports, either as things progress, or at the end.

[DRT]

Pls do send a list of ports, either as things progress, or at the end.

Wilco.

I should be at the Saffron Walden Hotel from about 5pm. If anyone wants to share a taxi to The Bell at around 6:00 - 6:30 please send me an email or text.

I will also be available for pre-taxi refreshments in the hotel bar

DRT has reported for duty. You know where to find me when you arrive

[Glenn E.]

I should be at the Saffron Walden Hotel from about 5pm. If anyone wants to share a taxi to The Bell at around 6:00 - 6:30 please send me an email or text.

I will also be available for pre-taxi refreshments in the hotel bar

DRT has reported for duty. You know where to find me when you arrive

Since I am at work (yay!) I can only join you in spirit, not with spirits. My morning mug of hot chocolate will have to do.

Cheers!

[jdaw1]

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 10Y Taylor tawny (warm-up);
• 1860 Cossart Gordon Sercial solera (sticky label #1);
• 1945 Quinta do Noval (sticky label #2);
• 1860 A.L.S. Boal (sticky label #3);
• 1940 Dalva colheita bottled 1978 (sticky label #4);
• 1960 Cockburn (sticky label #5);
• Niepoort Vinha Velha (sticky label #6);
• 1935 Croft (sticky label #7);
• 1924 Offley Boa Vista (sticky label #8);
• 1927 Taylor (sticky label #9);
• 30Y Casa Santa Eufemia White (sticky label #12);
• 40Y Quinta do Noval tawny (sticky label #15);
• 1922 Warre (sticky label #19);
• 1922 Martinez (sticky label #20);
• 1955 Quinta do Noval (sticky label #21);
• 1977 Berry Bros & Rudd (Quarles Harris);
• 2003 Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference;
• 1911 Clos de Vougeot;
• 2005 Niepoort Robustus magnum;
• ‘Placemats’, meaning stickers and tasting-note sheets;
• Planning and arrangements.

[uncle tom]

The Dalva was 1940 not 1945..

Someone also queried the existence of a Noval '45, so I have re-checked the cork, which is very clearly branded:

Da Silva's
Quinta do Noval
1945
VINTAGE

[RAYC]

Someone also queried the existence of a Noval '45, so I have re-checked the cork, which is very clearly branded:

Da Silva's
Quinta do Noval
1945
VINTAGE

But did we have a Noval 55 as well?

There was definitely a Noval cork that displayed the words: Bottled 195[?].

[uncle tom]

But did we have a Noval 55 as well?

Not that I recall..

Mopping up today, I'm surprised we didn't need to give a certain person a transfusion...

- I thought he'd just nicked himself..

[DRT]

Mopping up today, I'm surprised we didn't need to give a certain person a transfusion...

- I thought he'd just nicked himself..

Did you find the end of my finger?

[jdaw1]

The Dalva was 1940 not 1945.

Fixed.

Please consider continuing the discussion in the review thread.