19 September in London at The Steak Exchange

[Alex Bridgeman]

Unless there are objections (and please feel free to raise), I will bring a Niepoort 1977 and a Vesuvio 1996 as a brucie bonus.

The Vesuvio has been on my "to drink" list for a while but in an effort to cut casual consumption for health reasons, it shall wait until this tasting.

I am also looking forward to the Croft 1991. If people think that 5 between 3 is too great a task, i shall attempt to persuade my brother along.

By all means bring your brother along anyway. If we run short of port, we are only a moments walk away from Uncorked.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Croft 1991 acquired

[uncle tom]

Count me in!

The Croft '91 is suspiciously similar to the Morgan '91 (they were made by the same team..) but £55 is far too expensive - can supply a bottle for £30..

I last drank the Cr91 three years ago, and made the note 'come back in 2011' - so timely..

If we're not going blind, I might bring a Mz70..

Tom

[jdaw1]

Updated draft of the placemats.

• +THRA;
• +Mz70.

[WS1]

Hi,

if OK I would like to swap the Croft 77 I intended to bring into a Croft 70. Despite I found the bt of Croft 77 I also realised it is the only one I currently have. Since I accquired a case of Croft 70 a year ago I have more of this port. In addition all bts in the case seem very good, but the corks are not at all and start to leak one after the other.
Also would be a nice theme 2 ports from 77 vs 2 ports from 70 and some Croft 91 to see how good 91 is in comparison. Please let me know

regards

WS1

[jdaw1]

Updated draft of the placemats.

• ”“Cr77, +Cr70.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Count me in!

The Croft '91 is suspiciously similar to the Morgan '91 (they were made by the same team..) but £55 is far too expensive - can supply a bottle for £30..

I last drank the Cr91 three years ago, and made the note 'come back in 2011' - so timely..

If we're not going blind, I might bring a Mz70..

Tom

Happy to count you in and for you to bring the Mz70 and a Cr91 for group adoption.

[jdaw1]

Updated draft of the placemats.

• Cr91 re-assigned to THRA.

[RAYC]

Wolfgang - sounds great.

Alex - if you have already acquired the Croft specifically for this tasting, please do not hesitate to say if you would prefer to bring it and split the £55 cost with me as originally planned. I don't want you to feel like you have been left with the bottle unless you actually want it.

All - let me know if you would like me to bring a Croft '63 instead of the Niepoort '77 (for a croft mini-theme). I'm not particularly advocating this - just struck me as a possible idea and thought i'd offer.

[RAYC]

The Croft '91 is suspiciously similar to the Morgan '91 (they were made by the same team..)

hmmm...i have heard you mention these suspicions before...is this something that you are suggesting should be put to the test by a small panel of experienced tasters...?

[jdaw1]

Morgan '91

Official theme: ‟A Ragbag of Good Port”.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Alex - if you have already acquired the Croft specifically for this tasting, please do not hesitate to say if you would prefer to bring it and split the £55 cost with me as originally planned. I don't want you to feel like you have been left with the bottle unless you actually want it.

All - let me know if you would like me to bring a Croft '63 instead of the Niepoort '77 (for a croft mini-theme). I'm not particularly advocating this - just struck me as a possible idea and thought i'd offer.

Let's stick with the Niepoort '77, it's quite some time since I had one of these.

But if anyone wants to bring a Morgan '91 to taste against the Croft '91, I'd be happy to give my views on the comparison. My Morgans are in Big Yellow and I don't think I'll get the chance to call in there before next Monday. No problem with my having acquired a bottle of the Croft '91 - I'm light on '91s so I'll just add it to the cellar.

[jdaw1]

Updated draft of the placemats.

• +Ni77.

[RAYC]

Updated draft of the placemats.

• +Ni77.

Many thanks - I still plan to bring a Vesuvio 1996 (and hopefully my brother also).

The Vesuvio is a definite, my brother has just started a new job so is not definite.

I can print if required.

[jdaw1]

Updated draft of the placemats.

• +V96.
• Does the brother have a name, with initials?

[RAYC]

Michael/MCC (right-handed), but i would venture insufficiently certain at this stage to merit his own placemat (as opposed to guest space).

[DRT]

I have a need to be in the London area on 20th September so "I'm in"

Can I please adopt the Croft 1991 from Tom and I will happily throw in a Mg91 for good measure

Derek

[jdaw1]

Updated draft of the placemats.

• +DRT;
• +MCC;
• +Mg91;
• Cr91 re-credited again, this time to DRT.

[RAYC]

I have a need to be in the London area on 20th September so "I'm in"

Can I please adopt the Croft 1991 from Tom and I will happily throw in a Mg91 for good measure

Derek

We need a Hannibal Smith cigar-smoking "smilie" for when a plan comes together!

[jdaw1]

Probably not JDAW

Sorry: I won’t be there.

[DRT]

I have a need to be in the London area on 20th September so "I'm in"

Can I please adopt the Croft 1991 from Tom and I will happily throw in a Mg91 for good measure

Derek

We need a Hannibal Smith cigar-smoking "smilie" for when a plan comes together!

[JacobH]

We need a Hannibal Smith cigar-smoking "smilie" for when a plan comes together!

I’d always reserved this one for tasting-organising purposes: . But that’s not to say he couldn’t be improved with a cigar!

[Alex Bridgeman]

I can print if required.

Yes please. Thanks.

[PhilW]

Hi guys - mind if I join you on Monday?

I wasn't expecting to be able to make it, which would have been ironic since you have 2 of my 3 favourite ports on the menu (with the other, F70, being banned on criteria), but issues have resolved which mean I would be able to attend.

I had a quick chat with Tom yesterday when it looked possible as I don't have a suitable bottle outside of the excluded list; he has offered an Offley 70 for me to adopt, if that would be acceptable.

Phil.

[jdaw1]

Updated draft of the placemats.

• +PW, +O70;
• Glasses and TNs now split over two pages of each per person.
• Somebody competent please check.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Updated draft of the placemats.

• +PW, +O70;
• Glasses and TNs now split over two pages of each per person.
• Somebody competent please check.

I've checked them and can spot no errors.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Hi guys - mind if I join you on Monday?

I wasn't expecting to be able to make it, which would have been ironic since you have 2 of my 3 favourite ports on the menu (with the other, F70, being banned on criteria), but issues have resolved which mean I would be able to attend.

I had a quick chat with Tom yesterday when it looked possible as I don't have a suitable bottle outside of the excluded list; he has offered an Offley 70 for me to adopt, if that would be acceptable.

Phil.

Delighted you can join us. Anyone else who is hesitating whether to join or not, please keep in mind that the theme is
A RAGBAG OF GOOD PORT!
so just about anything will fit in.

Clearly, Offley 1970 fits into this theme.

[DRT]

Morgan 1991 is flowing into the decanter now.

It smells like Morgan 1991.

[uncle tom]

The Cr91, Mz70 & OBV70 are stood up and will be decanted at about 10.00 a.m....

Tom

[WS1]

Hi,

Croft 1970 stood up since 4:00 PM yesterday afternoon; just double decanted the port (4:45 AM). On my way to the gym/work now.

cu later

WS1

[benread]

All those 1970's - I can't believe I am going to Coventry for the next 3 days!

[jdaw1]

A Ragbag of Good Port, Monday 19 September 2011, at the Steak Exchange. Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 1970 Martinez;
• 1970 Offley Boa Vista;
• 1970 Croft;
• 1996 Vesuvio;
• 1977 Niepoort;
• 1977 Warre;
• 1991 Croft;
• 1991 Morgan;
• Planning and arrangements;
• Placemats.

[Zelandakh]

I love the delicacy of the Boa Vista 1970 but it is difficult to come by without paying stupid money these days (though I admit my family bought 10 cases which didn't help).

Looks like it was a storming evening.

[Alex Bridgeman]

It was a good evening, and I did like the Offley 1970 for current drinking - so if you have access to your family cellars then you should be a very happy man!