ThePortForum.com

Mike: if you update the first post I’ll make the paperwork.

jdaw1 wrote: ↑10:29 Sun 08 Mar 2020 Mike: if you update the first post I’ll make the paperwork.

Alex is in the driver seat. He’s updated this post with the latest who’s bringing what.

The first post has been updated with the wines each person is bringing.

Draft of the placemats added to first post. Some information still missing. Also assumes no objection to ‘DM’ = Quinta Vale Dona Maria.

Edit: the consensus was for “VDM = Quinta Vale Dona Maria”.

To confirm I will bring Noval to be adopted by CMAG

Very sorry, I am going to have to drop out. Gone down with some form of lurgy, and prefer not to spread it around. I'm having a rubbish winter with far too little Port consumption.

I will bring two halves of Warre adopted by Julian

forest26 wrote: ↑18:32 Wed 11 Mar 2020I will bring two halves of Warre adopted by Julian

Or should I adopt Tony’s magnum? There is a correct answer.

DaveRL wrote: ↑12:02 Wed 11 Mar 2020Very sorry, I am going to have to drop out.

Updated draft of the placemats.

DaveRL wrote: ↑12:02 Wed 11 Mar 2020Gone down with some form of lurgy, and prefer not to spread it around. I'm having a rubbish winter with far too little Port consumption.

Thank you for staying away. Get well.

We now need Dow.

DaveRL wrote: ↑12:02 Wed 11 Mar 2020 Very sorry, I am going to have to drop out. Gone down with some form of lurgy, and prefer not to spread it around. I'm having a rubbish winter with far too little Port consumption.

Sorry to hear that. DRT has also dropped out.

Given the general warnings around the upcoming zombie apocalypse, just wanted to check that we're all generally content to still be doing the tastings planned for next and the following weeks?

I can confirm that I'm OK with this...

nac wrote: ↑14:38 Fri 13 Mar 2020 Given the general warnings around the upcoming zombie apocalypse, just wanted to check that we're all generally content to still be doing the tastings planned for next and the following weeks?

I can confirm that I'm OK with this...

Positively relying on the upcoming tastings to sustain a semblence of normality
And to try and help the B&F team through what I imagine is a barren patch.

I very much plan to be @ B+F on Tuesday

Someone is welcome to pick up Dow 2000 from me in Chiswick if that is easiest.

I plan to be at B&F on Tuesday

I had an exchange of messages with CMAG along these exact lines.

I want to support the B&F and help them get through these tough times.

I will probably be one of the 80-90% who have this mildly.

I want to be an early adopter of the herd immunity.

I am happy to self-isolate as and when I get this, in exactly the same way I would if I had a bad cold or ‘flu.

I am using the outbreak as a reason (aka excuse) not to see my 80 year old mother.

I feel very strongly that I would like our tastings to continue.

Oh yes, and since I am Christopher’s delegated organiser, we are still on for Tuesday.

However, if anyone feels unwell on Tuesday afternoon, please don’t come along!

DaveRL wrote: ↑19:47 Fri 13 Mar 2020 Someone is welcome to pick up Dow 2000 from me in Chiswick if that is easiest.

Dave, that is a really generous gesture but my personal preference is that I’d rather you were able to enjoy your bottle. Perhaps you’d be kind enough to bring it along another day when you’re recovered?

Certainly I could bring along another time, and will if it seems the best choice but I have another few D2000 so am happy for one to be sacrificed for an enjoyable horizontal. Dow probably should be present. Whatever works best for you all.

It is believed that the placemats are in a good shape. Please would somebody check?

And who can print?

jdaw1 wrote: ↑13:22 Sat 14 Mar 2020 It is believed that the placemats are in a good shape. Please would somebody check?

And who can print?

Looks good. I can print Tuesday morning.

I will probably be one of the 80-90% who have this mildly.

I've been trying to make some sense of the numbers on this, notably the disparity between the number of recorded cases - currently one in about 70,000 population in the UK, and the percentage of high profile people saying they've tested positive, which is vastly higher. The incidence among professional footballers is particularly interesting, as the major clubs invest heavily in health monitoring and testing. The data from that source is hinting at infection rates of perhaps one in 100 - possibly higher, as some players will not want to go public about being infected.

Given the incubation time of a week or so, when test results are not thought reliable, there is every chance that the total number of infections is already well into the millions, but with so few getting the infection badly enough to become a medical statistic, it does look as though for the vast majority of people, perhaps 99%, infection will be of no great consequence.

As for TPF, I think we should take our inspiration from the Windmill Theatre in WWII, which ignored the blitz and never closed..

Am still planning to be there on Tuesday. Main concern at the moment is locating the bottle of Graham!

Unless Boris decrees otherwise, I am still planning on attending.

Just to confirm, I will be there on Tuesday and will share my bottle(s) of Port with anyone else who arrives!

DaveRL wrote: ↑01:01 Sat 14 Mar 2020 Certainly I could bring along another time, and will if it seems the best choice but I have another few D2000 so am happy for one to be sacrificed for an enjoyable horizontal. Dow probably should be present. Whatever works best for you all.

Dave - I could pick it up on Monday afternoon if that was convenient? Very kind of you to make the Dow available. Let me know if that works.

I'll be in Monday, works for me. I'll pm you my address.

The placemats updated to re-include Dow — thank you Dave.

Can I suggest we all decant these tonight? I suspect they will show better with 24hrs of air.

CPR 1 wrote: ↑09:39 Mon 16 Mar 2020 Can I suggest we all decant these tonight? I suspect they will show better with 24hrs of air.

An excellent suggestion. I will open my bottle now and decant around 6pm tonight.

CPR 1 wrote: ↑09:39 Mon 16 Mar 2020 Can I suggest we all decant these tonight? I suspect they will show better with 24hrs of air.

Will do - mine and Harry's.

One of my children has a close friend whose siblings are ill, with symptoms that are consistent with being COVID19. My children and I all feel well.

My judgement is that I should stay away. Do people agree with that judgement?

jdaw1 wrote: ↑14:41 Mon 16 Mar 2020 One of my children has a close friend whose siblings are ill, with symptoms that are consistent with being COVID19. My children and I all feel well.

My judgement is that I should stay away. Do people agree with that judgement?

No doubt folks will have a range of views. I don’t mind if you come along. Currently the guidance is self-isolate if you have a persistent cough and/or fever. You have said you have neither.

flash_uk wrote: ↑14:59 Mon 16 Mar 2020No doubt folks will have a range of views. I don’t mind if you come along. Currently the guidance is self-isolate if you have a persistent cough and/or fever. You have said you have neither.

As of a few minutes ago, my resting heart rate was 62 beat per minute, and SpO₂ was 98%. These are better than are deserved by my exercise regime. So I’m good, but scientists claim evidence of pre-symptomatic/asymptomatic infectiousness. Yes, we’ll be protected by Port, but not necessarily the staff and others on public transport.

From The Book, p559:

From a catalogue of Christopher & Co., undated, but in which the youngest dated wine is 1911:

Port is a valuable medicine, and old crusted Wine a rare luxury.

It represents nearly all the elements of a fine wine at its best, besides being most agreeable to a refined palate. It is singularly useful in restoring strength and regularity to the heart’s action, and for certain forms of anæmia it is nearly always beneficial.

In cases of acute hæmorrhage even an excessive quantity of Port Wine administered at the right moment has been found to have the result of resurrection from almost certain death.

The right thing to do is to not go.

The Infantado is unimportant. Not delivering. The Warre is important — Tony, the two halves are still be adopted from you for the team. I owe you. If team out of pocket by my absence (e.g., for food), somebody pay and I will reimburse.

The placemats updated to remove the Infantado and me .

I am interested in the 2000s. Please would people post TNs.

Alas Boris says I should not attend.....
One of the children in George's class has been taken ill - so I won't risk it.

If anyone is out of pocket for the deposit let me know.

Are those of us not dropping like flies agreed that tomorrow night should be considered essential social contact? I suspect that by the end of the week we won’t be allowed to travel so will be looking at our next tasting together being in May.

Julian - if you get driven to distraction, feel free to walk to the B&F and back to avoid possible spreading while on public transport.

AHB wrote: ↑18:50 Mon 16 Mar 2020 Are those of us not dropping like flies agreed that tomorrow night should be considered essential social contact? I suspect that by the end of the week we won’t be allowed to travel so will be looking at our next tasting together being in May.

Just had an email from Davy's saying open as normal, spacing tables out more than usual etc. I'm fine with meeting tomorrow. Especially as the D00 I picked up from Dave has already been opened and decanted...

It's been suggested that I ditch the VDM and bring Fonseca instead (as Tony was bringing).

As such, will do this.

forest26 wrote: ↑18:24 Mon 16 Mar 2020 Alas Boris says I should not attend.....
One of the children in George's class has been taken ill - so I won't risk it.

Sorry - I cannot get the Fonseca or Warre to B&F in time.

To put a little flesh on the bone - there is a confirmed case and also a suspected case in my children’s social circles so there is a small possibility that it is in our household. Whilst none of us are showing symptoms, I think it would be sensible not to travel tomorrow.

Fonseca now extracted from depths of cellar & will be decanted shortly.

CMAG, RGO and CMAG’s guest have all just withdrawn. We are now down to 6. Those being:

• AHB - Ramos Pinto
• HADGE - Vesuvio
• MPM - Niepoort from Ian, Dow from DRL
• IDJ - Graham
• NAC - Fonseca
• CPR - Taylor

Might be worth letting the B&F know we are reduced numbers - 6 now I think, assuming Harry makes it. Who is JD?

flash_uk wrote: ↑19:48 Mon 16 Mar 2020 Might be worth letting the B&F know we are reduced numbers - 6 now I think, assuming Harry makes it. Who is JD?

I’ve been giving Kate a running commentary.

Just had communication for Harry, and unfortunately he's had to withdraw. This means the Vesuvio has also gone unless someone wants to adopt it instead of something else...

Am holding off decanting it.

Gents it is with great reluctance but I must also withdraw given the updated advice. Perhaps we should have a the first TPF virtual tasting? Seems the way forward for the next few months......

nac wrote: ↑20:09 Mon 16 Mar 2020 Just had communication for Harry, and unfortunately he's had to withdraw. This means the Vesuvio has also gone unless someone wants to adopt it instead of something else...

Am holding off decanting it.

I'd say don't bother with the Vesuvio. We've got 5 bottles between 4 now.

Mike

If Ian's Ni isn't out of the bottle yet, I could bring Taylor (which we've just lost ) instead?

NC