This has turned into a major league Offline. 11 confirmed attendees and a lock-in. We now need to turn our attention to what we will be drinking.
The suggested theme is "The Unknown Shipper and his unusual friends". The suggested cost for wine is £50-75 per head. The Unknown Shipper part os self explanatory in that we want some bottles that even the owner does not know what is inside. The unusual friends is intended to draw some wierd and wonderful ports into the line-up. We are not talking traditional VP's here, we are looking for people to throw in some gems that you just can't buy.
Anyone with anything strange that could fit this theme please email or PM Tom. Anyone who would prefer to just contribute cash and let others find the oddities please let Tom know.
Given the number of attendees I think we are looking at a substantial number of bottles here, possibly as many as 20. This just might be the biggest tasting of unusual ports ever assembled
Derek
"The first duty of Port is to be red" Ernest H. Cockburn
To the attendance list add eternal joker Ray 'cookie' Cook, who was present last year, and badly wants to be here again...!
I'm thinking of a whip of £60 each (for wine - 90% port) for those who have got beyond Cruz Ruby on TPF, and £75 for others - less auction value of accepted contributions. Anyone unhappy with this - please PM me
The Dutch contingent have advised me that their duff '66 at the last Crusting Pipe offline has been replaced by something different, - which will be winging its way to me - I will deduct the postage from their whip, and will also find a modest bottle from my cellar to return to the merchant for his responsible reaction, and personal enjoyment!
At this point I'm thinking of about a bottle and a quarter of port per attendee (roughly - erring on the side of largesse..!)
The line-up (so far..) looks likely to include at least three wines that are pre WWII..
Tom
I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly - W.S. Churchill
What's the maximum number of people we can comfortably accommodate at an offline? I have a couple of friends I have been trying to persuade to come to an offline for ages and the Christmas one might appeal to them.
However, we are getting close to numbers which would mean we get a small sample pour of each port rather than a decent glassful to drink and enjoy over the course of the evening.
I think on that basis, I will not invite my two other friends.
Alex
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
I think we have just about hit the limit for a meaningful port tasting. I would prefer not to reach the stage where we each have a thimble-full of 30 different ports to taste
That said, this was an open invitation and anyone reading this is welcome to join in.
Derek
"The first duty of Port is to be red" Ernest H. Cockburn
The Bell's restaurant can seat 12 comfortably, or 14 at a squeeze, but we do have the option of eating in the bar area, and using the restaurant to sample the wines, so more could be accommodated.
Alex makes a good point about spreading the wines too thinly - we are probably close to capacity now.
Tom
I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly - W.S. Churchill
So it sounds like we are reaching a natural limit of 12? Is that too many? I hadn't thought about how that will translate into a glass. I also wanted a decent glass from any bottle, so you could revisit it through the evening.
There may be the odd withdrawal. I, for instance, expect to be there, but I have to go into work in a few weeks, and see what shifts they have lined up for me. If it's not already day off, I'll try and take one, but if a few have beaten me to it, I'll struggle. The odds are with me though, so fingers crossed.
LadyR and I will be chipping in money, the £60 whip looks fair to me. A group of 12 seems like a fair size to be able to have a wide variety of ports and still fill decent glasses of each one.
RonnieRoots wrote:LadyR and I will be chipping in money, the £60 whip looks fair to me. A group of 12 seems like a fair size to be able to have a wide variety of ports and still fill decent glasses of each one.
Lady Roots needa nother post to be able to qualify (She's still Cruz Ruby). Send her back in here to do some of her Tasting Notes, they always add a little something.
Don't worry, we didn't eat that whole chunk all by ourselves. We made a lot of people happy with it. And indeed, for the time the cheese lasted, almost everything we ate had something with stilton in it.
I'm sorry but I'll have to miss this one.I really wanted go if it had been a Thursday or Friday I would have gone.I'll send Tom something through the post to at least be there in spirit.(brandy that is).
Simon Lisle wrote:I'm sorry but I'll have to miss this one.I really wanted go if it had been a Thursday or Friday I would have gone.I'll send Tom something through the post to at least be there in spirit.(brandy that is).
What a shame. We'll squeeze you in, so if anything changes...
What does the current guest list for the Xmas offline look like? I've just booked my overnight stay in a splendid little hostelry a couple of miles from the Bell (almost within walking distance!) and I'm now all set for the event.
Alex
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
Looking forward to it...I will miss the (pre-)Christmas dinner of the company I work for because of this offline, but if I have to choose between a party with or without Port: easy! See you all soon!