Wed 9th September 2015, Port Fit for a Queen (E2>V)

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 14:47 Sat 05 Sep 2015

jdaw1 wrote:
jdaw1, in an email to Johnny Symington, wrote:I have your two bottles (doff hat, thank you kind sir) of the Graham 1952 tawny. I plan bring them refrigerated, not to decant, and serve direct from the bottle. If this is less than perfect, please tell me what should be done.
For the Dalva Golden White 1952, does anybody have a better suggestion than refrigerating, not decanting, and serving direct from the bottle?

I would go along with this - shouldn't be decanted, but perhaps it should be taken from the refrigerator a little before serving and kept in an ice bucket.

Post by **PhilW** » 15:07 Sat 05 Sep 2015

Sounds fine. No need to worry much about removal from fridge, will warm up quick enough on glass anyway. Ice buckets for G52sht and Da52gw worthwhile.

Post by **jdaw1** » 22:33 Sat 05 Sep 2015

Links:

Review of the evening as a whole;
1924 Offley (THRA);
1952 Graham Single Harvest Tawny (Flora) (JADS);
1952 Graham Single Harvest Tawny (Fauna) (JADS);
1952 Dalva Golden White (JDAW);
1955 Graham (DJ);
1955 Dow (DRT);
1960 Dow (IDJ) (IDJ);
1960 Dow (BMHR) (BMHR);
1960 Croft (WPS);
1960 Warre (W60) (PW);
1960 Warre (£) (PW);
1963 Taylor (JDAW);
1963 Cockburn (RAYC);
1970 Dow (WPS);
1970 Fonseca (CMAG);
1977 Taylor (CPR);
Placemats (and parameters by which made);
Food order (except that the B&F doesn’t do skinny fries);
Planning and arrangements.

RAYC · Post by **RAYC** » 08:32 Sun 06 Sep 2015

My bottle will be a Cockburn 1963, which WS1 will kindly decant and bring to the tasting.

Post by **jdaw1** » 08:46 Sun 06 Sep 2015

Thank you sir. See you then.

(Updates to threads and placemats will happen today.)

Post by **jdaw1** » 13:06 Sun 06 Sep 2015

Reading between the lines this means that, by Royal Command, we must drink lots and well. We will obey.

Post by **DRT** » 13:36 Sun 06 Sep 2015

That is rather splendid.

Post by **PhilW** » 15:32 Sun 06 Sep 2015

Very good. Noting that she did not say whether she would drop by.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 16:23 Sun 06 Sep 2015

PhilW wrote:Very good. Noting that she did not say whether she would drop by.

Or what time, which is rather inconsiderate. Does she know that they don't have skinny fries?

Post by **jdaw1** » 16:54 Sun 06 Sep 2015

The Telgraph wrote: The Queen is expected to address the people of Britain and the Commonwealth in a short speech at a Scottish railway station when she sets her record on September 9

The Queen is expected to make a rare public speech thanking her British and Commonwealth subjects for 63 years of support when she becomes our longest-reigning monarch on Wednesday.

Her Majesty, who had originally wanted to spend the landmark day in private, has already bowed to the clamour for a public appearance by agreeing to interrupt her holiday at Balmoral and open a railway in the Borders.

Now she is said to be contemplating going even further by speaking at the end of her journey aboard a steam train, when she would be likely to pay tribute to her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria, the woman whose record reign she will overtake.

The Queen rarely speaks in public, confining herself to set piece events such as her Christmas message, the State opening of Parliament and speeches at State banquets when she is entertaining or visiting other leaders.

Her Majesty will not be gracing us with her presence, not for Port nor skinny fries.

Post by **jdaw1** » 17:03 Sun 06 Sep 2015

On 10th July 2015, by ordinary ‘snail mail’ non-electronic post, jdaw1 wrote:Sir Christopher Geidt KCB, KCVO, OBE
The Private Secretary to Her Majesty The Queen
Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA

10^th July 2015
Dear Sir Christopher,

On the 9^th of September Her Majesty will surpass Victoria to become our longest-reigning monarch. Some friends and I, some loyal subjects and some citizens of allies, plan to celebrate this occasion with a Port tasting in SE1. The list of Ports is not yet fixed, but is likely to include some bottles from 1952, and some from other excellent years.^†

It has been reported that “The Queen’s hope is for a quiet day”, so we will celebrate quietly. We are very willing to host a representative of The Queen — whether a member of the Royal family, you, or somebody else — but we do understand that this is unlikely.

We wish Her Majesty the very best on the surpassing of Victoria’s sovereign record.

God save the Queen.

Julian D. A. Wiseman

† Planning for this tasting can be followed at www.ThePortForum.com/viewtopic.php?t=9935

A few days after sending it I realised that I had omitted “The Right Honourable” from Sir Christopher’s titles. Hopefully it was apparent from the rest of the letter that no disrespect was intended.

Post by **DRT** » 17:17 Sun 06 Sep 2015

jdaw1 wrote:A few days after sending it I realised that I had omitted “The Right Honourable” from Sir Christopher’s titles. Hopefully it was apparent from the rest of the letter that no disrespect was intended.

No doubt that is why Her Majesty isn't coming. Nothing else could explain it.

Post by **jdaw1** » 17:44 Sun 06 Sep 2015

DRT wrote:
jdaw1 wrote:A few days after sending it I realised that I had omitted “The Right Honourable” from Sir Christopher’s titles. Hopefully it was apparent from the rest of the letter that no disrespect was intended.
No doubt that is why Her Majesty isn't coming. Nothing else could explain it.

I have let down the team. No apology that I could muster would be sufficient—but a feeble apology is all I have. All is ruined and brought to nothing, for want of a title, and I know it, and am truly sorry.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 17:45 Sun 06 Sep 2015

Someone take the boy away. Delete all his posts. And never speak of this again.

WS1 · Post by **WS1** » 18:06 Sun 06 Sep 2015

djewesbury wrote:Someone take the boy away. Delete all his posts. And never speak of this again.

Why? Let us face it the Queen is not a port drinker; so the chances she attending our tasting were always slim. So despite the slightly wrong wording all Ettikette has been served and we can get on with the tasting "underneath the bridge in Southwark".....

regards

WS1

Post by **DRT** » 19:03 Sun 06 Sep 2015

Oh dear.

Post by **jdaw1** » 20:00 Sun 06 Sep 2015

By email, Ben Read wrote:… Dow 60 now standing up in the cellar ready for decanting. I will have a little flexibility on the day so if there is a preferred decanting time let me know.

Similar question from me about Taylor 1963.

Unless there is a contrary consensus, the T63 will be decanted at 14:00.

Post by **PhilW** » 05:45 Mon 07 Sep 2015

jdaw1 wrote:
By email, Ben Read wrote:… Dow 60 now standing up in the cellar ready for decanting. I will have a little flexibility on the day so if there is a preferred decanting time let me know.
Similar question from me about Taylor 1963.

Unless there is a contrary consensus, the T63 will be decanted at 14:00.

I propose 15:00 as decant time for all pot from the '60s. Primarily because it is the time I will have to decant the W60 (the alternative for me being 6am) due to other commitments.

Post by **PhilW** » 08:44 Mon 07 Sep 2015

PhilW wrote:I propose 15:00 as decant time for all port from the '60s. Primarily because it is the time I will have to decant the W60 (the alternative for me being 6am) due to other commitments.

"Port"; I neither own nor intend to bring vintage hallucinogens.

I had forgotten that the Queen will be in Balmoral on Wed. A pity that (The Right Honourable) Sir Christopher does not look like he will turn out to be a secret port lover and join us, but not unexpected; of course he may well be dying to join us, but be busy in Balmoral as well.

idj123 · Post by **idj123** » 11:36 Mon 07 Sep 2015

PhilW wrote:
jdaw1 wrote:
By email, Ben Read wrote:… Dow 60 now standing up in the cellar ready for decanting. I will have a little flexibility on the day so if there is a preferred decanting time let me know.
Similar question from me about Taylor 1963.

Unless there is a contrary consensus, the T63 will be decanted at 14:00.
I propose 15:00 as decant time for all pot from the '60s. Primarily because it is the time I will have to decant the W60 (the alternative for me being 6am) due to other commitments.

I had been thinking of decant times before I'd seen the recent posts. Unfortunately,this is going to be problematic for me since I will be in work and even if I were to be able to decant from work, I will already have had to bring an undecanted bottle with me on the train into work (which wouldn't be ideal). Therefore (and as is the normally the case for me), I will alas have little choice but to decant around 7am.

Incidentally, if Julian is intending issuing a toast to HM at around 5.30pm (when I understand that she formally succeeds QV) followed by a rousing rendition of God Save the Queen then I'm unlikely to make it-my eta being about 6pm!

Post by **jdaw1** » 11:41 Mon 07 Sep 2015

idj123 wrote:I had been thinking of decant times before I'd seen the recent posts. Unfortunately,this is going to be problematic for me since I will be in work and even if I were to be able to decant from work, I will already have had to bring an undecanted bottle with me on the train into work (which wouldn't be ideal). Therefore (and as is the normally the case for me), I will alas have little choice but to decant around 7am.

Simple life rule. When there is no choice, there is no choice.

idj123 wrote:Incidentally, if Julian is intending issuing a toast to HM at around 5.30pm (when I understand that she formally succeeds QV) followed by a rousing rendition of God Save the Queen then I'm unlikely to make it-my eta being about 6pm!

You closet republicans will not be allowed to escape so easily. George VI died in his sleep, so the precise time of accession to the throne of Elizabeth II is not known. The loyal toast will be at 6½pm.

[url=http://www.theportforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=92654#p92654]Here[/url] jdaw1 wrote:A matter of protocol. At a typical feast the Loyal Toast is done after the food, but before the Port. That sequencing ill fits our arrangements. So I propose that we keep the part of doing it before the Port: we will start, at 6½pm, with the Loyal Toast, done with the Graham Single Harvest Tawny 1952.

Objections are hereby scorned as ‘disloyal’, and ignored. Nay, cast out. The Loyal Toast will be at 6½pm, with the Graham Single Harvest Tawny 1952.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 20:19 Mon 07 Sep 2015

See you at 6.31.

Post by **jdaw1** » 20:34 Mon 07 Sep 2015

djewesbury wrote:See you at 6.31.

Her Majesty’s presence on the throne has caused your presence at a magnificent port tasting. Your niggardly ingratitude is unfitting.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 20:52 Mon 07 Sep 2015

jdaw1 wrote:
djewesbury wrote:See you at 6.31.
Her Majesty’s presence on the throne has caused your presence at a magnificent port tasting. Your niggardly ingratitude is unfitting.

I'm sorry, I can't talk about it. I still feel snubbed. After all we did for her.

Post by **DRT** » 21:26 Mon 07 Sep 2015

jdaw1 wrote:
djewesbury wrote:See you at 6.31.
Her Majesty’s presence on the throne has caused your presence at a magnificent port tasting. Your niggardly ingratitude is unfitting.

+1

I think now is a good time for the team to show some gentlemanly behaviour.

As is fitting in any free society, protesters are free to stand outside the door and refuse to take part so long as they do not infringe the civil liberties of those who do.

WS1 · Post by **WS1** » 06:07 Wed 09 Sep 2015

Ck63, Croft 60 and D70 decanted; Ck63 and Croft 60 in carrier bottles and D70 double decanted into its own bt; all looking good.

regards
WS1

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 07:38 Wed 09 Sep 2015

DRT wrote:As is fitting in any free society, protesters are free to stand outside the door and refuse to take part so long as they do not infringe the civil liberties of those who do.

I presume that you mean the protesters are free to stand outside until closing time or until all the port has been consumed, whichever is the earliest?

WS1 · Post by **WS1** » 10:07 Wed 09 Sep 2015

AHB wrote:
DRT wrote:As is fitting in any free society, protesters are free to stand outside the door and refuse to take part so long as they do not infringe the civil liberties of those who do.
I presume that you mean the protesters are free to stand outside until closing time or until all the port has been consumed, whichever is the earliest?

Let us form a guard of honor for Daniel standing outside!

We could raise a glass or two to his unusual strange behaviour! But if it floats his boat......

regards

WS1

Post by **jdaw1** » 10:23 Wed 09 Sep 2015

Imagine being at a dinner in the USA, and there is a toast to ‘The Constitution’. I have grumbles about the US Constitution: the second amendment is wrong, the first amendment has bad consequences, and there is the business of the 60% fraction. That nice Mr Trump dislikes the fourteenth, other right-wing Republicans probably dislike the sixteenth, the eighteenth was always ludicrous, the twenty-second has ill-considered bad consequences, and even the seventh has needless costs. (Happily, it seems that nobody cares about the third amendment.)

There is a toast to ‘The Constitution’: what should I do? Of course, find my wine/Port/Madeira/etc glass(es), ensure that they are adequately supplied, and toast ‘The Constitution’. Partly because I don’t have a chip on my shoulder about a war that happened over two centuries ago.

Post by **DRT** » 11:03 Wed 09 Sep 2015

jdaw1 wrote:There is a toast to ‘The Constitution’: what should I do? Of course, find my wine/Port/Madeira/etc glass(es), ensure that they are adequately supplied, and toast ‘The Constitution’. Partly because I don’t have a chip on my shoulder about a war that happened over two centuries ago.

Indeed.

idj123 · Post by **idj123** » 12:07 Wed 09 Sep 2015

jdaw1 wrote:Imagine being at a dinner in the USA, and there is a toast to ‘The Constitution’. I have grumbles about the US Constitution: the second amendment is wrong, the first amendment has bad consequences, and there is the business of the 60% fraction. That nice Mr Trump dislikes the fourteenth, other right-wing Republicans probably dislike the sixteenth, the eighteenth was always ludicrous, the twenty-second has ill-considered bad consequences, and even the seventh has needless costs. (Happily, it seems that nobody cares about the third amendment.)

There is a toast to ‘The Constitution’: what should I do? Of course, find my wine/Port/Madeira/etc glass(es), ensure that they are adequately supplied, and toast ‘The Constitution’. Partly because I don’t have a chip on my shoulder about a war that happened over two centuries ago.

You're right- I'd be happy to toast Old Nick if it meant partaking of such a tasting as is planned

idj123 · Post by **idj123** » 12:09 Wed 09 Sep 2015

D60 safely single decanted (bottom half of cork had to be pushed into original bottle and no time to fish it out) at 6.30 this morning. All appeared well and good.

Post by **PhilW** » 12:17 Wed 09 Sep 2015

"First shalt thou take out the bottle of Warre '60, then shalt thou wait to three, no more, no less. Three shalt be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shalt be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out. Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then decanteth the bottle, bringeth the filled vessel to London, and passeth thy vessel towards thy leftmost friend, who being joyous in My sight, shall drink of it."

WS1 · Post by **WS1** » 12:58 Wed 09 Sep 2015

DRT wrote:
jdaw1 wrote:There is a toast to ‘The Constitution’: what should I do? Of course, find my wine/Port/Madeira/etc glass(es), ensure that they are adequately supplied, and toast ‘The Constitution’. Partly because I don’t have a chip on my shoulder about a war that happened over two centuries ago.
Indeed.

Hmmm I find it funny you bringing up this example. Since you in England have no constitution if I recall correctly toasting on the American constitution would make me lough.

Cannot shift the vision now of DRT and JDAW toasting in the White House. Am also sure this leading to a row with your American cousins over insufficient proper vintage port supplies......

regards

WS1

Post by **jdaw1** » 13:00 Wed 09 Sep 2015

T63 decanted at 13:30. Cork broke but branding clear, and indeed Taylor 1963. Smells lovely.

Post by **jdaw1** » 13:12 Wed 09 Sep 2015

While the curmudgeons are being curmudgeonly in the Curmudgeon Corner, it seems that across the land, and indeed in many of the further-flung parts of Christendom, quiet celebrations are underway. As ours will soon be.

Post by **PhilW** » 13:27 Wed 09 Sep 2015

Please be advised, especially if you're the first there doing glasses: Having decanted the W60 I am unconvinced by its colour, so have decanted a second bottle from a different source (which looks much better) and will be bringing both.

Post by **jdaw1** » 13:30 Wed 09 Sep 2015

PhilW wrote:Please be advised, especially if you're the first there doing glasses: Having decanted the W60 I am unconvinced by its colour, so have decanted a second bottle from a different source (which looks much better) and will be bringing both.

Thank you for bringing a second.

Had just printed the placemats, so W60(1)=“£”; W60(2)=“W60”. Bottles can be labelled, for which purpose there are both stickies and decanter labels.

Edit: posts made in threads 1960 Warre (W60) and 1960 Warre (£).

Post by **jdaw1** » 16:31 Wed 09 Sep 2015

Problems. We've been moved to the Green Room, without so much as a by-your-leave.

Some of the boxes of glasses were discovered today to be empty. Bring glasses!

Post by **DRT** » 22:47 Wed 09 Sep 2015

jdaw1 wrote:Problems. We've been moved to the Green Room, without so much as a by-your-leave.

Some of the boxes of glasses were discovered today to be empty. Bring glasses!

This might have been mentioned once or twice (or perhaps sixty three times) throughout the evening but I am pleased to report that JDAW did Her Majesty proud by carrying on regardless and refusing to let small details stand in the way of ceremony. God save the Queen, and God help the Duty Manager the next time JDAW makes a booking

Post by **jdaw1** » 22:49 Wed 09 Sep 2015

We had a splendid evening. It could have been an even more splendid evening, but we drank and ate well. Many yummy ports, and only one obvious duffer.

Perhaps this comment should go in the review thread, but it is late and I am tired.