Borges muito velho and friends

[uncle tom]

Bonhams have promised me a sample bottle from a stash that is going under the hammer on Dec 6th. I should have it tomorrow (23rd)

It's billed as a tawny that has been in wood for 80 -100 years

Suggest we have an old wood port tasting sometime in the next few days to play it against - I could bring one of the unknown 1940 colheitas recently secured, or an unknown '37 that I've had for a while..

- Venue ?

- Date ?

[RAYC]

Keen, and i suspect more available than others so i'll fit in on dates.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I'm working in London on Wednesday 28th November - would that date work?

[uncle tom]

Good by me..

[RAYC]

hmmm....next week now looking busy for me throughout so i'll hope to be there but don't plan round me.

[jdaw1]

Seeking permission; if granted adoption will be necessary.

[uncle tom]

if granted adoption will be necessary

Can be arranged..

[jdaw1]

Seeking permission

Sought; granted.

Placemats?
• Known to be Wed 28 Nov.
• Where? (Bung Hole reservation?)
• What? (Borges Tawny Muito Velho, and what else? Please detail in-thread or, less good, by PM.)
• Who? (THRA, RAYC, AHB, JDAW. Anybody else?)

[uncle tom]

Will call Bung Hole tomorrow lunchtime, unless someone has a better venue idea..

Bottle now received, new cork, label and capsule, but original cellar grime from 1947 to date...

Adoptable colheitas:

- Ramos Pinto '59
- Burmester '55
- Royal Oporto '63
- Dalva '40

or

- Ferreira 40yr, bottled 1962

(I also have a rather splendid, Borges 1917 Junco vineyards colheita, which I probably paid a little too much for...)

[RAYC]

hmmm....next week now looking busy for me throughout so i'll hope to be there but don't plan round me.

This remains the case for me. I will either need to arrange a last minute adoption or could bring a 40/30 tawny or old VP.

Just to be clear, the main event is a bottle that is reputed to have spent 80-100 years in casks before being bottled in 1947...?

[uncle tom]

Just to be clear, the main event is a bottle that is reputed to have spent 80-100 years in casks before being bottled in 1947...?

How long it spent in cask prior to bottling is not clear. The label describes the port as belonging to the 'more than 40 years old' category, which shouldn't (- I think..??) include the time spent post bottling..

[Alex Bridgeman]

• What? (Borges Tawny Muito Velho, and what else? Please detail in-thread or, less good, by PM.)

I am being pursued to declare what I will be bringing. How can I do so when I do not yet know what I will be bringing? I am minded to bring something red to act as a counterpoint to the brown sticky stuff that others will be bringing. That way I can determine whether I wish to buy some brown sticky stuff to put in my wine cellar in preference to buying more red stuff.

[jdaw1]

AHB: ‘Red’. ✠“

[uncle tom]

Bunghole booked - our usual room will probably not be available as they have a largish event on that afternoon, but as this is only a small tasting, they are reserving a couple of tables for us.

[jdaw1]

First draft of the placemats [Edit: link removed as tasting cancelled].

• AHB bringing ‘Red’.
• RAYC not certain to attend, so ‘??’.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Gents, I am sorry, but I won't be able to be with you Wednesday night. Unfortunately the Winter Vomiting Virus seems to be having exactly that effect on me!

[jdaw1]

Alex: get well soon.

Tom: it is just the two of us.

[jdaw1]

RAYC has suggested we delay for a day. Cancellation is now probable.

Nonetheless, updated draft of the placemats [Edit: link removed as tasting cancelled].

• ”“AHB, ”“‘Red’.

[uncle tom]

RAYC has suggested we delay for a day. Cancellation is now probable.

This seems sensible..

[Alex Bridgeman]

I am recovered!

It looks like I will be in London and free for at least part of the evening on Wednesday 5th December. If I recall corectly, the Borges Muito Velho is being auctioned on Thursday 6th. Would Wednesday the 5th work for us as a rescheduling for the previous attempted tasting?

[jdaw1]

I am recovered!

Hurray!

the evening on Wednesday 5th December

That immediately follows the Autumn Statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. It is forecast that he will reveal details about the UK finances, how these will be financed, and the maturity of a forthcoming super-long gilt (2070? 22 July 2078?). These are matters of concern to my employer: I am unable to guarantee attendance before 10pm.

But I might be done and thirsty by 6pm.

And I won’t know which until late in the day.

Conclusion. Assume Wiseman non-attendance. Somebody else to print.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Tom has confirmed that he should be able to attend the Bung Hole on Wednesday 5th. Anyone else?

[jdaw1]

New draft of the placemats.

[Deleted_User_1]

Tom has confirmed that he should be able to attend the Bung Hole on Wednesday 5th. Anyone else?

I think I may be persuaded to attend given there is a '59 in the line-up

[jdaw1]

Updated draft of the placemats.

• +RLC. (What are you bringing?)

[Alex Bridgeman]

Tom has confirmed that he should be able to attend the Bung Hole on Wednesday 5th. Anyone else?

I think I may be persuaded to attend given there is a '59 in the line-up

That would be excellent - three confirmed attendees makes it a proper off-line. If you're adopting Tom's 1959 I'll bring a 1963 and we can make it a birth year double.

[RAYC]

Again, i would like to, but it will be an on-the-day decision due to work.

I can either adopt, bring red stuff, or bring a bottle of each of the Quevedo 40yr and LBV 06 (the relevance being that both are in the current FTLOP offer...)

[PhilW]

I can either adopt, bring red stuff, or bring a bottle of each of the Quevedo 40yr and LBV 06 (the relevance being that both are in the current FTLOP offer...)

Hmm. I subscribed to FTLOP earlier this year, but don't seem to have received info on any such offers, unless I missed something... will have to investigate.

[RAYC]

It is in the latest newsletter

[RAYC]

I can either adopt, bring red stuff, or bring a bottle of each of the Quevedo 40yr and LBV 06 (the relevance being that both are in the current FTLOP offer...)

If preferred, i also have a bottle of the Quevedo 2010 VP which is in the offer...

[PhilW]

It is in the latest newsletter

Thanks Rob, I hadn't spotted there was a new one so soon after the last; have looked for a setting to ask it to email me when a new one comes out, but didn't see one; will just have to keep my eyes open better!

[RAYC]

Email should go to the account you are registered with

[Alex Bridgeman]

I can either adopt, bring red stuff, or bring a bottle of each of the Quevedo 40yr and LBV 06 (the relevance being that both are in the current FTLOP offer...)

If preferred, i also have a bottle of the Quevedo 2010 VP which is in the offer...

I suggest that if you're unsure of whether you can make it, that you plan to bring the Quevedo 40yr. The '06 LBV and '10 VP can wait for another day.

[jdaw1]

This FT article, and the Chancellor’s Autumn statement (in Winter), have conspired to ensure that my arrival will be late or not-at-all. Assume the latter.

[uncle tom]

Now returned from a hotel in Tenby where the wifi didn't work...

Will double decant the Borges, and also bring a 1940 colheita. Trains appear to be running on time, so should be on parade c. 6pm

- Sample bottles for those who can't make the event? - I don't have much to hand..

[Alex Bridgeman]

Links to the review thread and the tasting notes:

Borges Muito Velho
Offley Boa Vista 1963 vintage port
Ramos Pinto 1959 colheita (bottled 1973)
Smith Woodhouse 1983
Porto Cabral 1940 white colheita

The review thread can be found here.