Wed 17 June 2015, The Sweet-spot Vintages (66,70,77)

[jdaw1]

I like Greeks (letters, rather than finance ministers).

[PhilW]

This is a dramatically different menu and very different from the normal B&F menu.

That is because this tasting is not at B&F, but at Woolgate.

[PhilW]

Are you going with Greeks? I thought we concluded that was difficult as not everyone recognises them?

Perhaps this could be an opportunity to bring out the zodiac, symbols with small text underneath?

[flash_uk]

Are you going with Greeks? I thought we concluded that was difficult as not everyone recognises them?

Perhaps this could be an opportunity to bring out the zodiac, symbols with small text underneath?

That would be great, so long as we have only 12 bottles

[jdaw1]

Are you going with Greeks? I thought we concluded that was difficult as not everyone recognises them?

Perhaps this could be an opportunity to bring out the zodiac, symbols with small text underneath?

I would not want folks to think that I thought that they didn’t know the symbols ( ): the words can go in the Circlearrays.

Might “” cause confusion?

Edit: like the Greek letters, the Zodiac symbols have a natural ordering (modulo 12). Might the ordering suggest something untrue? Whereas, say, there is have no such ordering in the Hobbit’s non-Thorin dwarves (Dwalin, Balin, Kili, Fili, Dori, Nori, Ori, Oin, Gloin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur)?

[PhilW]

Are you going with Greeks? I thought we concluded that was difficult as not everyone recognises them?

Perhaps this could be an opportunity to bring out the zodiac, symbols with small text underneath?

I would not want folks to think that I thought that they didn’t know the symbols ( )

They could cope.

Might “” cause confusion?

Probably not, assuming symbol is large enough. Lower text could be small enough to be ignored by those who know the symbols, yet large enough to be easily referred to by those who do not or need reminder without having to put their glasses on and peer closely at the circlearray text. More than 12 bottles would mean this was non-viable anyway of course.

[flash_uk]

Are you going with Greeks? I thought we concluded that was difficult as not everyone recognises them?

Perhaps this could be an opportunity to bring out the zodiac, symbols with small text underneath?

I would not want folks to think that I thought that they didn’t know the symbols ( ): the words can go in the Circlearrays.

Might “” cause confusion?

Edit: like the Greek letters, the Zodiac symbols have a natural ordering (modulo 12). Might the ordering suggest something untrue? Whereas, say, there is have no such ordering in the Hobbit’s non-Thorin dwarves (Dwalin, Balin, Kili, Fili, Dori, Nori, Ori, Oin, Gloin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur)?

Please, can someone translate.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Since Chris is coming as my guest I should be covering his port contribution. If you put me down to bring the G77 as well as the two bottles I'm already allocated then that leaves Chris and me bringing 3 bottles between us and everyone else bringing one or two.

And please, for goodness sake, make an executive decision and tell Julian to go with standard alphabet symbols for the blinding. We are grown ups and are capable of resisting the urge to rank everything in alphabetical order when we come to select WOTN and SSV conclusion.

[DRT]

And please, for goodness sake, make an executive decision and tell Julian to go with standard alphabet symbols for the blinding. We are grown ups and are capable of resisting the urge to rank everything in alphabetical order when we come to select WOTN and SSV conclusion.

**Like**

Simple numbers or letters are the least distracting solution. The options being discussed above are unnecessary fluff that add nothing to the event.

[jdaw1]

Phil and Flash seem to disagree with Alex and Derek.

(Will find the thread/post in a moment with the relevant discussion).

Back to that agreed in Naming blinded bottles: upper-case Roman (I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII).

Might “” cause confusion?

Please, can someone translate.

Maybe the joke about water wasn’t so humorous.

We are grown ups

Is there really no evidence to the contrary?

[DRT]

Phil and Flash seem to disagree with Alex and Derek.

Really? I see no evidence of Flash being on the side of the fence you seem to think he is on.

[jdaw1]

Phil and Flash seem to disagree with Alex and Derek.

Really? I see no evidence of Flash being on the side of the fence you seem to think he is on.

Perhaps this could be an opportunity to bring out the zodiac, symbols with small text underneath?

That would be great, so long as we have only 12 bottles

I read “great” as meaning “great”. YMMV.

[DRT]

I missed that. So it seems to be the case that Phil and Flash are Little-endians and AHB and DRT are Big-endians.

[flash_uk]

(Will find the thread/post in a moment with the relevant discussion).

Back to that agreed in Naming blinded bottles: upper-case Roman (I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII).

Marvellous.

[jdaw1]

great

Marvellous.

Flash likes everything. Twelve tribes of Israel?

[PhilW]

The options being discussed above are unnecessary fluff that add nothing to the event.

I like the variety in placemat styles; many features might be considered unnecessary fluff (use of different fonts except for clarity, or use of the "rays" feature for example), but I would attribute some value to aesthetics provided that the primary functions are not compromised. In that latter regard for example, I would not select Greeks as while aesthetically interesting, they can (and have) cause(d) confusion. Numerals are clear, but less interesting; so be it.

[jdaw1]

Draft of the placemats. These include glasses pages (I, II, III, …); voting pages (I, …); cork-display pages (D66, D70, D77, G66, …); decanter-label pages (both Roman and sighted Port); and personalised small sticky labels (2×D66, 2×D70, …).

This was based on the assumption that we’ll be using a blinding technique similar to that used for the 1958 Horizontal on 3^rd June 2014.

The small sticky labels are for people to affix to their glasses pages as they ‘decide’ what is what. The second set is for use in the unlikely event that any of these decisions should be erroneous: corrections could be over-stuck.


Edit: these placemats have provoked a question about the software. Please answer in that thread.

[PhilW]

Please sir, could I have some little sticky labels that have the roman numerals (along with my initials) on them instead/as well?
That way I could try and arrange them in a year/shipper matrix while still keeping track of which is which.

[jdaw1]

Please sir, could I have some little sticky labels that have the roman numerals (along with my initials) on them instead/as well?

Done.

[flash_uk]

Many thanks Julian for an excellent set of placemats. I like Phil's addition to the sticky labels - I was thinking just the same thing about perhaps wanting to arrange things in a matrix.

[PhilW]

Many thanks Julian for an excellent set of placemats. I like Phil's addition to the sticky labels - I was thinking just the same thing about perhaps wanting to arrange things in a matrix.

I did contemplate asking for a second set of glasses sheets, with year/producer by row/column, to use for this purpose; but decided that as long as I can keep track of which glass is which while not on the original glasses sheets, the rest is more easily manageable (perhaps).

[flash_uk]

Many thanks Julian for an excellent set of placemats. I like Phil's addition to the sticky labels - I was thinking just the same thing about perhaps wanting to arrange things in a matrix.

I did contemplate asking for a second set of glasses sheets, with year/producer by row/column, to use for this purpose; but decided that as long as I can keep track of which glass is which while not on the original glasses sheets, the rest is more easily manageable (perhaps).

I was planning on either:
- turning the existing glasses sheets over, and scribbling years down the left and shippers along the top, or;
- leaving the glasses sheets and just scribbling years and shippers along the side and top.

I think either will be fine when dealing with 12 glasses, anything more and it could get messy. Davy's at Woolgate does have good space on the table to allow some rearrangement to take place.

[CPR 1]

Food order:

Crab toast with fennel, chilli and avocado to start

Rib steak on the bone - rare with Béarnaise sauce and Creamed spinach

Thanks

[DRT]

No Starter.

Rib steak on the bone (medium rare) with skinny fries and a fried egg.

Welsh Rarebit.

No dessert.

[idj123]

Starter-Welsh Rarebit

Main-Davy's Cheese and Bacon Burger (no bun), medium-rare
triple cooked chips
a side order of green beans and peas in lemon butter

Dessert-TBD on the night

[idj123]

The 66s are not easy, with Ian currently taking a double hit here. Ian - let me know if this is hurting your 66 collection too much.

The G66 is I believe my one and only bottle but happy to provide together with a T66. Is the dividing up now complete (subject to additional attendees)?

[flash_uk]

The G66 is I believe my one and only bottle but happy to provide together with a T66.

Thank you.

Is the dividing up now complete (subject to additional attendees)?

Yes. Unless we find two or three more attendees, we'll stick at 12 bottles and the current allocation. If more people sign up, we could add Fonseca or Niepoort, although neither will be easy to sort out for 1966.

[flash_uk]

Food order updated.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Given the relatively small numbers round the table I'd like to bring another guest, initials SM. I'll establish food choice etc tomorrow.

[Alex Bridgeman]

There is a possibility that one or two additional bottles not falling within the theme will also make an appearance. Could the placemats be adjusted to accommodate this please?

[flash_uk]

Given the relatively small numbers round the table I'd like to bring another guest, initials SM. I'll establish food choice etc tomorrow.

First post updated.

[flash_uk]

There is a possibility that one or two additional bottles not falling within the theme will also make an appearance. Could the placemats be adjusted to accommodate this please?

More port. I hear no complaints. For the placemat update, could the current two A4 pages with 6 glasses each be retained, and an additional A4 be added to accommodate the additional bottles. That way we still have a 4x3 matrix across the first two sheets. I know this results in a layout that lacks symmetry, but function over form here.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Stephen has requested mushroom starter followed by rump steak (rare) with mash.

Chris will be chased next week.

[jdaw1]

Forgot to say: I have Dow 1970, from a batch that has previously shown well.

[jdaw1]

There is a possibility that one or two additional bottles not falling within the theme will also make an appearance. Could the placemats be adjusted to accommodate this please?

More port. I hear no complaints. For the placemat update, could the current two A4 pages with 6 glasses each be retained, and an additional A4 be added to accommodate the additional bottles. That way we still have a 4x3 matrix across the first two sheets. I know this results in a layout that lacks symmetry, but function over form here.

Or we could have fourteen (but not more than fourteen) on one page of A3, as was done for the Ramos Pinto vertical on Tuesday 21^st October 2014.


You choose.

[RAYC]

Looks like I will not be in Copenhagen that week, so if there's room for me to attend and Fonseca 66 were still desired, I could provide.

Otherwise I have to hand nice stock of Dow 70, Graham 70, Warre 70, and unproven "odd bottle" stock of a couple of the others (Graham 66 / 77, Dow 77, Warre 66 / 77)

No problem if numbers need to be kept down though.

[flash_uk]

Looks like I will not be in Copenhagen that week, so if there's room for me to attend and Fonseca 66 were still desired, I could provide.

Otherwise I have to hand nice stock of Dow 70, Graham 70, Warre 70, and unproven "odd bottle" stock of a couple of the others (Graham 66 / 77, Dow 77, Warre 66 / 77)...

Plenty of space, welcome aboard. Long time no see at a tasting! First post updated.

As the numbers creep up, the potential to include the three Fonseca vintages increases, so your F66 may well be desired.

Could you please confirm your food order.

[RAYC]

Thanks --


Beetroot salad

Rib steak on the bone (rare) with skinny fries and a fried egg.

[jdaw1]

First post updated.

Not yet to mention the new source of the D70.

The placemats updated: +RAYC.

[DRT]

Beetroot salad

Rib steak on the bone (rare) with skinny fries and a fried egg.

No third course. Hmm? Can I assume we are planning a revival of our previously traditional "Four bacon and egg rolls, extra bacon, trim the fatty bits, and two diet Cokes, please?" en route through Smithfield Market?

[jdaw1]

Can I assume we are planning a revival of our previously traditional "Four bacon and egg rolls, extra bacon, trim the fatty bits, and two diet Cokes, please?" en route through Smithfield Market?

Assume away, but no, you are not to have any such thing.

[DRT]

Can I assume we are planning a revival of our previously traditional "Four bacon and egg rolls, extra bacon, trim the fatty bits, and two diet Cokes, please?" en route through Smithfield Market?

Assume away, but no, you are not to have any such thing.

But, but! But! Eh? What? Seriously? Are you my Doctor? My wife? My Life Coach?

[PhilW]

Can I assume we are planning a revival of our previously traditional "Four bacon and egg rolls, extra bacon, trim the fatty bits, and two diet Cokes, please?" en route through Smithfield Market?

Assume away, but no, you are not to have any such thing.

But, but! But! Eh? What? Seriously? Are you my Doctor? My wife? My Life Coach?

Don't worry Derek, I'll take one for the team and eat it for you

[flash_uk]

First post updated.

Not yet to mention the new source of the D70.

Ah yes. Now updated.

[flash_uk]

Another attendee added to the first post - T?A, father of RDA. Hope his middle name isn't Charles....

[Alex Bridgeman]

Another attendee added to the first post - T?A, father of RDA. Hope his middle name isn't Charles....

That made me LOL while sitting in the middle of Starbucks in Ipswich.

[flash_uk]

Another attendee added to the first post - T?A, father of RDA. Hope his middle name isn't Charles....

That made me LOL while sitting in the middle of Starbucks in Ipswich.

Panic over! Tony's formal initials are AJA.

[jdaw1]

This tasting is at Woolgate, where there is plenty of table space (see pictures in review of Ramos Pinto tasting on Tuesday 21^st October 2014). Some newcomers will be attending. Should placenames be included in the paperwork, in turn necessitating that Names be formatted as ‘Julian W.’ rather than ‘JDAW’?

[CPR 1]

Any views on when to decant the D77? We could pop n pour which some suggest as the best approach given it reputation (In which case I will leave it there this week to settle) or we could take a chance and decant as normal? What do people think?

[Alex Bridgeman]

Any views on when to decant the D77? We could pop n pour which some suggest as the best approach given it reputation (In which case I will leave it there this week to settle) or we could take a chance and decant as normal? What do people think?

Personally I'd do pop and pour and not take the chance on any TCA.