1983-1985 Double Horizontal on Tuesday 2 April 2013

[jdaw1]

This post reserved to hold agreed arrangements.

Date: Tuesday 2nd April 2013.

Location: The Bung Hole, 57 High Holborn, London WC1V 6DT, tel 020 7831 8365. Booked.

Ports: {Dow, Graham, Warre, Taylor, Fonseca} × {1983, 1985}.

People:

1. JDAW;
2. DJ;
3. DRT;
4. THRA;
5. PW;
6. AHB;
7. DRT’s +1;
8. CMAG.

Current draft of the placemats.

[jdaw1]

At the tasting of some Churchill and some Dow on Wed 06 Feb 2013 we discussed and liked the idea of an ’83/’85 double horizontal.

Those with long memories will recall that there was an event with the same theme in Brooklyn on Sat 13 Sept 2008, at which we tasted {Dow, Fonseca, Gould Campbell, Graham, Noval Nacional} × {’83, ’85}.

It was a good theme, and well worth doing in London. But when, and with which shippers?

[DRT]

I'm in and offer G83 and T83 as my contribution.

My preference would be to skip the Nacionals on the basis that 80s vintages from that house rarely live up to the hype.

[jdaw1]

My preference would be to skip the Nacionals on the basis that 80s vintages from that house rarely live up to the hype.

It wasn’t meant to be a suggestion of NN, merely a reminder of what was previously tasted.

[uncle tom]

I agree that NN is very poor value from that era.

Suggest we avoid those houses that had problems in '85, and go for:

Dow
Fonseca
Graham
Smith Woodhouse
Taylor
Warre

I can supply any, although my SW83 is still in it's owc

[jdaw1]

Dow
Fonseca
Graham
Smith Woodhouse
Taylor
Warre

Works for me. When?

[PhilW]

Works for me. When?

I'd like to be there if available; Perhaps one day of weeks starting 4Mar or 11Mar?

[DRT]

Dow
Fonseca
Graham
Smith Woodhouse
Taylor
Warre

Works for me. When?

I'd like to be there if available; Perhaps one day of weeks starting 4Mar or 11Mar?

When does the rutting season end?

[Alex Bridgeman]

When does the rutting season end?

Late March, but I'm not sure exactly when.

[uncle tom]

When does the rutting season end?

March 14

[DRT]

When does the rutting season end?

March 14

The seems like an ideal way to welcome you back from the field

[uncle tom]

This seems like an ideal way to welcome you back from the field

- Thankyou!

Give me a day or so to recuperate - what day of the week suits people best?

[jdaw1]

Tuesday 19th March best for me.

Wednesday a no-no, as it’s Budget day. Thursday is publication day. Monday disliked by Mrs W. Hence Tuesday please.

[DRT]

19th March works for me.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Tuesday 19th March best for me.

Wednesday a no-no, as it’s Budget day. Thursday is publication day. Monday disliked by Mrs W. Hence Tuesday please.

And Friday is the Taylor Vertical so we can't do Friday either.

Sadly, March 19th and March 22nd are too close to each other for me to make both. And I would prefer to attend the Taylor vertical.

[DRT]

Ah. The proximity escaped my notice.

Perhaps the 83v85 should be held until April? I think this is a tasting that is worth doing well.

[jdaw1]

Perhaps the 83v85 should be held until April?

Works for me.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Ah. The proximity escaped my notice.

Perhaps the 83v85 should be held until April? I think this is a tasting that is worth doing well.

That seems remarkably restrained for someone posting while pretending to be DRT.

But April will work much better for me.

[DRT]

this is a tasting that is worth doing well.

That seems remarkably restrained for someone posting while pretending to be DRT.

To clarify: "doing well" = 35 shippers of each vintage.

What does "remarkably restrained" mean?

[jdaw1]

Could we set this for early May? When would work best for folks?

[DRT]

Could we set this for early May? When would work best for folks?

Not early May would work best for me.

[djewesbury]

If someone were to say Tuesday 2nd April that might be very good. Just a thought. Perhaps I'll say it.
What about Tuesday 2nd April?

[djewesbury]

Further to the above, if this date (2nd April) were to prove convenient for a number of people and we were to confirm it, I might book flights. I'll be in Berlin until the 1st, and would otherwise fly back to Ireland, but if the date suits I'll gladly have a couple of days in London...

[jdaw1]

Works for me. If, by Sunday, there are no strong objections to Tuesday 2nd April 2013 then that will be the date.

[DRT]

2nd April works for me.

[PhilW]

2nd April will have to be a tentative from me.

[Alex Bridgeman]

2nd April probably works for me

[WS1]

Hi,

sadly I cannot make this day. But please go ahead since my diary is anyway very convoluted these days.

regards

WS1

[jdaw1]

There are two obvious arrangements of the placemats: ‘Vintages by Page’, or ‘Vintages by Column’.

Vintages by Page
     


Vintages by Column
     


Which is preferred?

[RAYC]

Or the whole lot semi-blind?

Or semi-blind by vintage?

[jdaw1]

Rob: that is your first post in this thread. Are you in?

My preference is sighted.

[jdaw1]

@djewesbury:
• Please, what should we call you? And if it is ‟djewesbury”, how is the opening syllable pronounced?
• For tasting there are typically placemats (many examples), to organise our glasses, tasting notes, and everything else. Typically people are named with initials: JDAW, AHB, DRT, etc. Pray, what are your initials?
• And the placemats are chirality sensitive: are you a leftie?

[djewesbury]

• Please, what should we call you? And if it is ‟djewesbury”, how is the opening syllable pronounced?

Ah yes. My cover is to be blown. Much as I would like to tell you that djewesbury is a very common Armenian name, and that it rhymes with 'risotto', the truth is that it simply comprises my initial (which stands for Daniel) and my surname..

• For tasting there are typically placemats (many examples), to organise our glasses, tasting notes, and everything else. Typically people are named with initials: JDAW, AHB, DRT, etc. Pray, what are your initials?

DJ. No middle name.

• And the placemats are chirality sensitive: are you a leftie?

In this sense, no! I am dexter.

Booking my flight now...

[jdaw1]

If, by Sunday, there are no strong objections to Tuesday 2nd April 2013 then that will be the date.

First post updated, as date now fixed to be Tuesday 2nd April 2013, and with other details including the ‟Current draft of the placemats”.

Booking my flight now...

Splendid.

[jdaw1]

Who will bring which bottles?

Tom has said that he can provide many bottles, but it would be fairer if the provision were done more equally. So, who has what ’83s and ’85s? (Obviously of those shippers who declared both.)

JDAW: F85, Mz85, T85, Ch85 and ChAA83 (not well stored and not a full declaration, so I say not Churchill).

[djewesbury]

Shippers non-V.A.tastic

Beg pardon? *scratches head*

JDAW, I see your placemat software licence is 'unported'. Surely this is an oversight..?

[PhilW]

2nd April will have to be a tentative from me.

Now confirmed.

There are two obvious arrangements of the placemats: ‘Vintages by Page’, or ‘Vintages by Column’. Which is preferred?

Vintage by Page.

So, who has what ’83s and ’85s? (Obviously of those shippers who declared both.)

F83,W83*,D83
F85*,Ch85,G85,Ca85,W85*
*=last 1-2 bottles so pref not these if others have

[jdaw1]

2nd April will have to be a tentative from me.

Now confirmed.

PW is a confirmed definite tentative. Cool.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Shippers non-V.A.tastic

Beg pardon? *scratches head*

1985 has something of a reputation for suffering from volatile acidity. I have been known to send back 3 bottles of Croft 1985 at a restaurant as being just undrinkable because of the levels of VA.

However, there are also some terrific examples of 1985 ports that do not have a high incidence of VA - Taylor being one of my current drinking favourites!

[Alex Bridgeman]

There are two obvious arrangements of the placemats: ‘Vintages by Page’, or ‘Vintages by Column’.
Which is preferred?

Vintage by column (and no, that is not just to be awkward!) I like the idea of being able to compare the colour of the ports from the same shipper.

Why not produce both and allow the drinker to choose which layout they prefer? Then I can do vintage by column and sit next to Phil who does vintage by page and we can compare colours on each others' pages.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Who will bring which bottles?

Tom has said that he can provide many bottles, but it would be fairer if the provision were done more equally. So, who has what ’83s and ’85s? (Obviously of those shippers who declared both.)

JDAW: F85, Mz85, T85, Ch85 and ChAA83 (not well stored and not a full declaration, so I say not Churchill).

Not knowing for sure who released both vintages, I can offer the following:
1983: Dow, Fonseca, Graham, Offley, Smith Woodhouse, Taylor, Warre
1985: Dow, Fonseca, Graham, Warre

[djewesbury]

Shippers non-V.A.tastic

Beg pardon? *scratches head*

1985 has something of a reputation for suffering from volatile acidity.

Thanks, and pardon my ignorance.. I did check the list of forum abbreviations - one to add?

I will be travelling back from Germany so unlikely to be able to bring anything that would be good drinking (though Weingalerie in Berlin has a good selection of Vesuvios that may bulk out my bag back to Belfast..)

[jdaw1]

Location: The Bung Hole, 57 High Holborn, London WC1V 6DT, tel 020 7831 8365. Booked.

[jdaw1]

Why not produce both and allow the drinker to choose

I don’t like this. If we are numerous, so pre-pouring, it will confuse those distributing full glasses. Also having them matching means that I can know which glass somebody else has chosen and understand their comments and reaction.

People can express a preference. If there is a consensus, or near-census, we’ll go with that. Otherwise I’ll weigh the arguments and make a binding decision.

[jdaw1]

unlikely to be able to bring anything that would be good drinking

No problem. People will bring what’s most convenient, and there will be a (modest) financial rebalancing. Assume that we have about ≈1½ bottles of port per head, at an average of ≈£35-£40 each, and that you’ll have to pay for your food. So not free, but excellent value.

[PhilW]

Why not produce both and allow the drinker to choose

I don’t like this. If we are numerous, so pre-pouring, it will confuse those distributing full glasses. Also having them matching means that I can know which glass somebody else has chosen and understand their comments and reaction.

People can express a preference. If there is a consensus, or near-census, we’ll go with that. Otherwise I’ll weigh the arguments and make a binding decision.

Further suggestion; pick either of the two methods as previously described, but reverse the order of the columns on the second page. For example, if you do that with the "vintage by page" version and then place the two pages next to each other, you can directly compare 83-85 for G/SW/F and by moving only three glasses, can compare 83-85 of D/W/T; Same theory works for the "vintage by column", with columns swapped on second page would allow comparison of all 85s and all 83s by only moving three glasses. Note, plan would likely be completely screwed in the event of this not being a 12-bottle evening, so should probably be ignored!

[djewesbury]

unlikely to be able to bring anything that would be good drinking

No problem. People will bring what’s most convenient, and there will be a (modest) financial rebalancing. Assume that we have about ≈1½ bottles of port per head, at an average of ≈£35-£40 each, and that you’ll have to pay for your food. So not free, but excellent value.

Most certainly excellent value. I am looking forward to it very much.

[DRT]

Who will bring which bottles?

I have G83, T83, D85, F85 & T85.

[jdaw1]

We are currently six people. Eight bottles on a school night should be sensible. So we need to choose four shippers. Any objection to {Graham, Dow, Taylor, Fonseca}?

If objecting, speak soon, as DRT delivering bottles to me tomorrow.

[DRT]

Any objection to {Graham, Dow, Taylor, Fonseca}?

Not from me.