2014 pre-Harvest Tour tasting, London, 9/23

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 20:19 Wed 10 Sep 2014

Email sent to Roberson's. Very tedious.

Some following posts moved to Apostrophe crimes by jdaw1.

Post by **jdaw1** » 20:46 Wed 10 Sep 2014

The attention of the placemat maker is drawn to a recent post in the software thread.

Post by **PhilW** » 08:07 Thu 11 Sep 2014

Updated placemats here.
Changes: +DJ; -TBH, +Davy's at Woolgate; correction of TV69/G66 circle text transposition.
Pending: Confirmation of RAYC's bottle.

WS1 · Post by **WS1** » 12:17 Thu 11 Sep 2014

PhilW wrote:Updated placemats here.
Changes: +DJ; -TBH, +Davy's at Woolgate; correction of TV69/G66 circle text transposition.
Pending: Confirmation of RAYC's bottle.

Like the new venue! It is the Davies just 50 meters away from my office! To the TBH I needed a bus ride of 15 minutes walk! But it was on the way home.
RAYC indicated I should pick up his bt somewhere, but he has not unleashed to me what and when.

regards

WS1

Post by **jdaw1** » 13:25 Thu 11 Sep 2014

Please could photographs be taken and posted, in a similar manner to those taken for The Bunghole, Tue 10 Jan 2012: a splendid trial.

Glenn E. · Post by **Glenn E.** » 16:33 Thu 11 Sep 2014

DRT wrote:
flash_uk wrote:How about Davy’s at Woolgate Bar and Brasserie
A mere 100 yards from my office

WS1 wrote:Like the new venue! It is the Davies just 50 meters away from my office!

DRT, meet WS1. WS1, meet DRT. You two should have lunch some time.

My hotel (the Premier Inn Holborn) is near TBH. Is that a reasonable walk from Davy's at Woolgate after a Port tasting, or should I be prepared to hail a cab? Google says it is 1.4 miles, which should be fine distance-wise, so I ask primarily regarding lighting and neighborhood safety.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 16:40 Thu 11 Sep 2014

Glenn E. wrote:
DRT wrote:
flash_uk wrote:How about Davy’s at Woolgate Bar and Brasserie
A mere 100 yards from my office

WS1 wrote:Like the new venue! It is the Davies just 50 meters away from my office!
DRT, meet WS1. WS1, meet DRT. You two should have lunch some time.

My hotel (the Premier Inn Holborn) is near TBH. Is that a reasonable walk from Davy's at Woolgate after a Port tasting, or should I be prepared to hail a cab? Google says it is 1.4 miles, which should be fine distance-wise, so I ask primarily regarding lighting and neighborhood safety.

If you're happy with the distance, then it's fine in terms of safety. The City at closing time on a weeknight is not particularly rowdy.

Glenn E. · Post by **Glenn E.** » 16:46 Thu 11 Sep 2014

djewesbury wrote:
Glenn E. wrote:My hotel (the Premier Inn Holborn) is near TBH. Is that a reasonable walk from Davy's at Woolgate after a Port tasting, or should I be prepared to hail a cab? Google says it is 1.4 miles, which should be fine distance-wise, so I ask primarily regarding lighting and neighborhood safety.
If you're happy with the distance, then it's fine in terms of safety. The City at closing time on a weeknight is not particularly rowdy.

Excellent, thank you.

Post by **flash_uk** » 17:33 Thu 11 Sep 2014

flash_uk wrote:
djewesbury wrote: Excellent! The whole Family Flash enjoying the goodness of G85
That would be true, were it not that Roberson have packaged and shipped a Warre 85...

Roberson have now delivered the Graham 85 so we are once again in good shape!

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 19:28 Thu 11 Sep 2014

flash_uk wrote:
flash_uk wrote:
djewesbury wrote: Excellent! The whole Family Flash enjoying the goodness of G85
That would be true, were it not that Roberson have packaged and shipped a Warre 85...
Roberson have now delivered the Graham 85 so we are once again in good shape!

Praise be.

Post by **DRT** » 20:05 Thu 11 Sep 2014

Glenn E. wrote:
djewesbury wrote:
Glenn E. wrote:My hotel (the Premier Inn Holborn) is near TBH. Is that a reasonable walk from Davy's at Woolgate after a Port tasting, or should I be prepared to hail a cab? Google says it is 1.4 miles, which should be fine distance-wise, so I ask primarily regarding lighting and neighborhood safety.
If you're happy with the distance, then it's fine in terms of safety. The City at closing time on a weeknight is not particularly rowdy.
Excellent, thank you.

Glenn, the location is surrounded by a number of tube stations. Bank, Mansion House, Canon Street, St Paul's, Barbican and Moorgate spring to mind. All of them are a 10 minute walk from Davy's Woolgate Exchange. I have regularly walked from my office, close to DWE to The Bung Hole in around 25 minutes. Finding a tube from Holborn to the area around DWE saves very little time. An alternative, if you encounter September seasonal weather in London, is to get a bus along High Holborn to Cheapside and walk the other 5 minutes.

Top tip: download the Citymapper app when (or before) you get to London. You will not regret it

Post by **DRT** » 20:21 Thu 11 Sep 2014

Phil,

Alex and I had a chat with Simon this evening. It seems it would help the venue in you pre-ordered food for this tasting from the menu on their website. Simon asked that you email the restaurant so that he has your email address so that this can be organsied should you wish to go down that route. If you do, the wider range of Donald Russell steaks might be available should you and the team wish to indulge.

AW77 · Post by **AW77** » 20:49 Thu 11 Sep 2014

DRT wrote:It seems it would help the venue in you pre-ordered food for this tasting from the menu on their website.

Just to make sure that everybody is looking at the same menu. Do mean this one:
http://www.davy.co.uk/documents/winebar ... MA1_AW.pdf ?

Post by **DRT** » 21:21 Thu 11 Sep 2014

AW77 wrote:
DRT wrote:It seems it would help the venue in you pre-ordered food for this tasting from the menu on their website.
Just to make sure that everybody is looking at the same menu. Do mean this one:
http://www.davy.co.uk/documents/winebar ... MA1_AW.pdf ?

Yes, that's the one. The rib steak was delicious. I will be going back to try the salt marsh lamb very soon

Glenn E. · Post by **Glenn E.** » 22:48 Thu 11 Sep 2014

DRT wrote:
AW77 wrote:
DRT wrote:It seems it would help the venue in you pre-ordered food for this tasting from the menu on their website.
Just to make sure that everybody is looking at the same menu. Do mean this one:
http://www.davy.co.uk/documents/winebar ... MA1_AW.pdf ?
Yes, that's the one. The rib steak was delicious. I will be going back to try the salt marsh lamb very soon

I always have problems with metric menus. 200g steak is... roughly 7.5 oz? That seems like a nice appetizer.

If such a pre-order is placed, please put me down for a 220g fillet, surf & turf, with a fried egg. I will happily share a side of parm & truffle fries or truffle mac & cheese if sides also need to be pre-ordered. I'll likely pass on dessert (because: Port), but might spontaneously order a cheese plate once there.

Post by **PhilW** » 08:10 Fri 12 Sep 2014

DRT wrote:Phil,

Alex and I had a chat with Simon this evening. It seems it would help the venue in you pre-ordered food for this tasting from the menu on their website. Simon asked that you email the restaurant so that he has your email address so that this can be organsied should you wish to go down that route. If you do, the wider range of Donald Russell steaks might be available should you and the team wish to indulge.

Email sent. Will follow-up to sort food order with attendees once I have the confirmed menu with any extra options.

Post by **PhilW** » 11:53 Wed 17 Sep 2014

I now have the menu for the evening, which I have made available here. Please could all attendees reply either in-thread or by PM to let me know their choice of starter and main course by the end of Thu, and I will place our order on Friday morning. Thank you.

Post by **flash_uk** » 12:15 Wed 17 Sep 2014

Thx for handling the admin Phil. For me, Crispy duck with coriander and a tangy orange dressing followed by RIbeye, med-rare.

Glenn E. · Post by **Glenn E.** » 17:02 Wed 17 Sep 2014

Yes, thank you for handling the arrangements Phil.

I would also like the crispy duck with coriander and tangy orange dressing, followed by a fillet with béarnaise sauce. Since no two steak restaurants cook steaks the same way, I prefer my steak to be pink or red all through, but not bloody. Typically in the US that is considered medium or medium rare.

AW77 · Post by **AW77** » 18:48 Wed 17 Sep 2014

Phil, thanks for taking care of our culinary well-being!

PM with my wishes sent.

Another thing that's on my mind as a newcomer to the TPF tastings: will the water on the table (that we should drink to balance the effect of the port) be still i.e. non-carbonated ? I find it easier to drink large amounts of still water than of the carbonated kind. Here in Germany, where there seems to be a law that every mineral water must be carbonated, I mostly bring along my own (non-carbonated) water.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 18:49 Wed 17 Sep 2014

The water will be still. In another dissimilarity with German restaurants, it will be FREE!

Post by **jdaw1** » 19:18 Wed 17 Sep 2014

djewesbury wrote:FREE!

In the French sense of gratuit (£0), rather than libre (not being trapped by gravity and a transparent cage).

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 19:23 Wed 17 Sep 2014

jdaw1 wrote:
djewesbury wrote:FREE!
In the French sense of gratuit (£0), rather than libre (not being trapped by gravity and a transparent cage).

Or in the sense used by Rousseau.

RAYC · Post by **RAYC** » 08:09 Thu 18 Sep 2014

Apologies - i haven't been checking the board while on sabbatical so didn't see the questions coming my way.

And double apologies - particularly to Glenn - as rain / bike breakages in the Pyrenees means that I am so far behind schedule that I have had to change my flight back and will now miss this tasting. This is particularly awkward as the Garrafeira 64 (a shared bottle between WS1 and I) is sitting in my wine fridge, so instead he will bring the Taylor 1964 single harvest tawny that I had originally intended to supply.

Hope you all have a good one

Glenn E. · Post by **Glenn E.** » 16:04 Thu 18 Sep 2014

RAYC wrote:I have had to change my flight back and will now miss this tasting.

We will miss you. I had no idea that you were riding the Pyrenees! That would have made for some fun stories, no doubt.

I hope that the rest of your trip goes smoothly. We'll meet up next time!

Post by **PhilW** » 11:14 Fri 19 Sep 2014

Orders for food have been submitted, required glass numbers have been checked. I will be away on business from Sun noon until Tue noon, potentially with no internet access, so I will print the placemats tomorrow. Looking forward to Tuesday

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 14:14 Fri 19 Sep 2014

See you Tuesday Phil! Thanks for sorting it all.

Glenn E. · Post by **Glenn E.** » 01:23 Sat 20 Sep 2014

How strange. A 17th bottle seems to have jumped into my luggage.

At the airport now. Flight delayed by ~1 hour. No matter, we have no connections to make and no plans for tomorrow afternoon.

Post by **PhilW** » 13:37 Sat 20 Sep 2014

Latest placemats now here. Would be obliged if someone could check them, last chance for changes will be tonight, printing in the morning before I leave.

Glenn E. wrote:How strange. A 17th bottle seems to have jumped into my luggage.

Strange how that happens

Glenn E. wrote:At the airport now. Flight delayed by ~1 hour. No matter, we have no connections to make and no plans for tomorrow afternoon.

Hope your flight has gone smoothly, and you are safely "UK-side" now.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 13:46 Sat 20 Sep 2014

PhilW wrote:Latest placemats now here. Would be obliged if someone could check them, last chance for changes will be tonight, printing in the morning before I leave.
Glenn E. wrote:How strange. A 17th bottle seems to have jumped into my luggage.
Strange how that happens
Glenn E. wrote:At the airport now. Flight delayed by ~1 hour. No matter, we have no connections to make and no plans for tomorrow afternoon.
Hope your flight has gone smoothly, and you are safely "UK-side" now.

Checking now. Could I have TN Stars please, arranged as yours?

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 13:51 Sat 20 Sep 2014

Only one question, to which there is presumably an obvious answer that I've forgotten. Why is there one additional space (+) next to Glenn's Dl52, as well as the † and ‡ on the second glasses page? Is this because Glenn is bringing something extra but unidentified?

Post by **PhilW** » 16:52 Sat 20 Sep 2014

djewesbury wrote:Checking now. Could I have TN Stars please, arranged as yours?

Thanks. For stars, maybe; the "master" template has them defined for people who have expressed a preference; I'm sure I can do a temporary modification for you on these notes, but if you want them to be like that from hereon in future tastings, a note to the placemat master is worthwhile.

djewesbury wrote:Only one question, to which there is presumably an obvious answer that I've forgotten. Why is there one additional space (+) next to Glenn's Dl52, as well as the † and ‡ on the second glasses page? Is this because Glenn is bringing something extra but unidentified?

I'd added two at the end in case of any extra bottles; given the symmetry, I thought adding one on the first sheet was worth it also - not because of any special knowledge.

Post by **PhilW** » 13:19 Sun 21 Sep 2014

Final placemats now here. They have been printed, and I am now away on business until Tues afternoon. If there are any problems or issues, you are invited to cope; See you all in London on Tues evening

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 13:24 Sun 21 Sep 2014

Invalid URL!!

Post by **PhilW** » 14:36 Sun 21 Sep 2014

PhilW wrote:Final placemats now here. They have been printed, and I am now away on business until Tues afternoon. If there are any problems or issues, you are invited to cope; See you all in London on Tues evening

Damn. Occasional access by tapatalk only now; worked before I set off, too...
Fails here from tapatalk too - think it's not coping with the spaces in the url properly, if anyone can fix that

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 14:47 Sun 21 Sep 2014

I can download it and upload from my server later on. I was able to open the file anyway by copying the URL manually, so it works.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 15:38 Sun 21 Sep 2014

Click on any of the thumbnails to go to the placemats:

Glenn E. · Post by **Glenn E.** » 19:16 Sun 21 Sep 2014

My 17th bottle will be most appropriate on page 2.

Will be delivering my bottles to Woolgate early tomorrow with decanting instructions, then we are off to the Imperial War Museum at 10:00 am. We have a full day planned tomorrow, but I find myself available for dinner. My wife plans to visit her UK office to have dinner and drinks with them.

Since my internet access is so sporadic, I cannot reliably respond to any emergency planning that may or may not spontaneously occur. I can only offer that I will be able to check the forum no later than 6 from the hotel (Premier Inn Holborn) and can follow arrangements from there.

That said, I have zero expectations on this late of notice and plan to dine adventurously somewhere nearby unless otherwise instructed.

Very much excited for Tuesday night!

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 22:55 Sun 21 Sep 2014

I only arrive Tuesday Glenn, or I'd be there. I think the usual emergency diners are unaccountably detained somewhere…

Post by **PhilW** » 06:29 Mon 22 Sep 2014

Glenn E. wrote:I... plan to dine adventurously somewhere nearby

Good luck - I hope to hear tales of the American seen eating hanging from the side of the shard, or by sitting in people's seats while they went to the toilet and scoffing their food while they were gone.

Post by **flash_uk** » 11:03 Mon 22 Sep 2014

The Fonseca 85 was decanted at 1930 on Sunday evening. The cork had some dusty growth on the top and came out wet through and almost whole - just a little break at the bottom. Juice was smelling very fine and a quick sample suggested all was OK.

Post by **flash_uk** » 11:03 Mon 22 Sep 2014

And the extracted cork...

Post by **flash_uk** » 11:06 Mon 22 Sep 2014

Glenn E. wrote:...but I find myself available for dinner.

Would have been delighted to meet for dinner Glenn, but as I am out Tues, Weds and Thurs this week, I need to pass this time.

Post by **flash_uk** » 11:12 Mon 22 Sep 2014

I have had a 1800-1830 meeting slip into my diary, which I will endeavour to bring to a close early, so I expect to be making it to D@W for around 1840. Looking forward to a great evening! Sadly I have an 0720 flight on Wednesday morning so I need to show some kind of restraint. Hmmm.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 11:59 Mon 22 Sep 2014

flash_uk wrote:Sadly I have an 0720 flight on Wednesday morning so I need to show some kind of restraint. Hmmm.

I have a flight next morning at 0850 or something similar. Restraint is all in the attitude with which you attack your port. We can keep pace with one another! And drink plenty of water…

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 12:09 Mon 22 Sep 2014

Did I promise to bring a pork pie?

Better a get a move on with that!

Post by **flash_uk** » 13:16 Mon 22 Sep 2014

djewesbury wrote:And drink plenty of water…

Wise words

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 13:29 Mon 22 Sep 2014

flash_uk wrote:
djewesbury wrote:And drink plenty of water…
Wise words

Don't worry, I'll be Julian and nag everyone about it.

Glenn E. · Post by **Glenn E.** » 13:51 Mon 22 Sep 2014

Dropped many bottles off at D@W early this morning with instructions to decant the Golden White and mystery bottle at noon tomorrow. 12 x QH11 for jdaw1 and 3 x Dolamore were sent down by the lift for storage.

Then spent a pleasant morning at the Imperial War Museum. Am now resting my feet and perusing local restaurants, though one called The Port House looks intriguing.

Post by **flash_uk** » 15:29 Mon 22 Sep 2014

Aiming to decant the G85 tonight and the G66 tomorrow morning. I believe Ian is decanting the T85 tonight also. Not long now