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First draft of the placemats.

• List of ports unlikely to be final.

Jdaw, unfortunately the RAF Club has no room available at the proposed date.

Axel

AP: you also have in hand the invitation of an industry guest. Is the guest’s date fixed?

Axel P wrote:Jdaw, unfortunately the RAF Club has no room available at the proposed date.

Obvious alternatives we can be sure of would be The Bunghole, The Steak Exchange and The Crusting Pipe. If looking for something a little more upmarket we could consider the Institute of Directors, whose bistro has a private room, but I have not yet found a reason to visit and review.

Personally, I would probably go for TBH or TSE.

My preference would be The Bung Hole. Perhaps some negotiation could be done so that we could use the private room for the tasting but dine in the main restaurant area?

I think that the Bunghole could work well. I think it is a good private space that is conducive to a relaxed and informal atmosphere, and the food is good. I'm sure they could cater for rented glassware. We could even supply our own white table-cloths!

In addition, a number of us live very close by. This might make it easier to get the old bottles into London at an early date to allow time to settle. For instance, i would be happy to provide space in my wine fridge for them and (either alone or with help from other volunteers) decant at home at the appropriate time before taking the £6 taxi journey over.

Nick has agreed and booked. I will try to persuade David that he would be much welcomed too. I will forward Julian the answer and we will see from there on. Since Nick fixed the date and booked the flight I guess the timing is fixed.

Axel

Location: The Bung Hole, 57 High Holborn, London WC1V 6DT, tel 020 7831 8365.

Booked. We have the function room for drinking; we will eat at other tables. A week or two before I need to give a better estimate of the number of glasses.

Julian,

please let me know ahead of time wich bottles you need from me and where to send them to.

Axel

This may be way too late but if there is a space I would be keen to attend...I would have to adopt though.

jdaw1 wrote:Who?

1. Honoured Guest, 1;
2. Honoured Guest, 2, who we hope won’t be offended by having the #2 slot;
3. JDAW;
4. THRA;
5. RAYC;
6. AP;
7. DRT
8. AHB;
9. JGH;
10. BMHR;
11. WS;
12. ADV;
13. CMAG;
14. RLC.

Done, and first post amended.

When THRA returns the list of bottles will be finalised, and advance monies requested.

Phew...thank you

jdaw1 wrote:

Andy Velebil wrote:Sometime in early to mid January

Splendid. Indeed, end-February would have been ample notice.

We should draw Andy's attention to the thread before getting too far further down the line (before monies are requested, for sure!).

I also now have a 1963 Delaforce that would be available for adoption (purchased from BBR, so i am as confident about provenance as i can be). It is, however, only a 70cl bottle.

Due to work I won't be able to make this, sorry.

Plans, questions and a forewarning of call for money.

People: we are N.D. (middle initial?); JDAW; THRA; RAYC; AP; DRT; AHB; JGH; BMHR; and WS.

Port: we will be having a modest collection of vintages: 1960; 1963; 1966; 1970; 1974 Corte; 1975; 1977; 1980 Corte; 1982; 1984 Corte; 1985; 1987 Corte; 1991 Corte; 1992; 1994; 1997; 2000; 2003; and 2007.

These are coming from various people:
• THRA: 1960; 1963; 1966; 1985.
• AHB: 1970; 1977; 1984 Corte.
• AP: 1975; 1982; 1991 Corte; 1992; 1994; 1997; 2000; 2003; 2007.
• WS: 1980 Corte; 1987 Corte.
• JHG: 1974 Corte (donation).

Total cost of port ≈ £550 ≈ £61 each. A bargain.

Food. Non-vegetarians must choose between two steaks. For £50 an 800g ‘Club Steak’, a ‘Double-Sirloin’; or for £25 a 350g bone-in-rib. Add £5 for a starter; add £5 for pudding. This choice must be made by Thursday 12th April.

I will be writing to you individually asking that you, no later than Friday 6th April, confirm your presence, so that people can be billed based on these numbers.

Current draft of the placemats.


Edit:

AHB wrote:I can confirm that I am coming, that I will provide the 1970, 1977 and 1984 ports, and that I would like the bone in rib and a starter (but no desert).

DRT wrote:! I'm in. ! You know the answer to the steak question. !
PS: for clarity, the answer to the steak question is not "more than one double sirloin".

benread wrote:I can now confirm my attendance.

As to food, I shall have a steak. I really don't mind which - if there is consensus I will follow that. If not, I'll try a club steak. No idea what it may be but I am sure it will be good!

Axel P wrote:Ports are confirmed and are already with Rob.
For me starter, Double Sirloin and pudding, please. I will confirm with Nick and let you know.

WS1 wrote:I also can confirm my attendance and would like to have a starter and the350g bone-in-rib.

THRA, verbally, asked for the Club Steak.

Via AP Nick D. wrote:I hope you are well, sorry for my late reply, here is my choice of food ”“I think I will go for the ‟bone in rib” and a starter and pudding.

Cookie wrote:I may upgrade to the larger steak on the night if available.

(RLC’s request is being interpreted as Club.)

Summary:
• Club Steaks for DRT, BMHR, AP, THRA, RLC.
• Bone-in-rib for AHB, WS, ND, JDAW.
• Vegetarian: JGH.

Suggested variation: we might be a little tight for space. Dropping the ’75, taking the total from nineteen to eighteen bottles, would lessen the number of glasses pages from four to three. Would that be worthwhile?

jdaw1 wrote:Suggested variation: we might be a little tight for space. Dropping the ’75, taking the total from nineteen to eighteen bottles, would lessen the number of glasses pages from four to three. Would that be worthwhile?

Just to throw it out there: perhaps we could replace the '75 with 4 x pre 1960 vintages, thereby achieving perfect equilibrium between "available vintages":"glasses per page"?

jdaw1 wrote:Suggested variation: we might be a little tight for space. Dropping the ’75, taking the total from nineteen to eighteen bottles, would lessen the number of glasses pages from four to three. Would that be worthwhile?

Or we could use the Df75 as an aperitif with which to greet and mingle, diluting the usual "Can we start yet?" questions while waiting for latecomers.

AHB wrote:we could use the Df75 as an aperitif with which to greet and mingle, diluting the usual "Can we start yet?" questions while waiting for latecomers.

A splendid suggestion. Seconded.

It appears I have been missed off the list of attendees

Not sure why. My fault. Anyway, you are extremely welcome to be in: PM coming.

Updated draft of the placemats.

• +Ray C.

jdaw1 wrote:

AHB wrote:we could use the Df75 as an aperitif with which to greet and mingle, diluting the usual "Can we start yet?" questions while waiting for latecomers.

A splendid suggestion. Seconded.

There has been no objection to this: Df75 will be taken out-of-order, as an aperitif.

Some people will be late. Others will save some of this aperitif to be taken in order. Does that mean that it should retain a place on the placemats? And if so, should it be first, or in date order? (Link to latest draft of the placemats.)

Date order.

I suggest removing the glass from the mat entirely - was that not the purpose of the original question? If you wish to help prevent potential confusion then perhaps small stickers for the bases of the 1975 containing glasses?

jdaw1 wrote:Plans, questions and a forewarning of call for money.

People: we are N.D. (middle initial?); JDAW; THRA; RAYC; AP; DRT; AHB; JGH; BMHR; and WS.

...

Food. Non-vegetarians must choose between two steaks. For £50 an 800g ‘Club Steak’, a ‘Double-Sirloin’; or for £25 a 350g bone-in-rib. Add £5 for a starter; add £5 for pudding. This choice must be made by Thursday 12th April.

I will be writing to you individually asking that you, no later than Friday 6th April, confirm your presence, so that people can be billed based on these numbers.

Current draft of the placemats.

I also can confirm my attendance and would like to have a starter and the350g bone-in-rib.

regards

WS1

I know i'm a day late, so i'll get what i'm given (if anything)...

but in case there's still time i'll have the 350g bone-in rib, unless someone else wants to share a rare or medium-rare club steak or double sirloin (in which case i'd be in for that)

AHB wrote:I suggest removing the glass from the mat entirely - was that not the purpose of the original question?

i'm pretty sure the real purpose of the original question was to subtly suggest the addition of 4xpre-60 vintage ports!!

Current draft of the placemats.

• 1975 removed from glasses sheets; at top of first TN sheet (which AHB will therefore think borderline crowded); and retained for pre-pour and voting purposes.

isn't 350g only a 12 oz piece of meat?

and the bone in means that you only get 10oz of steak.

I can honestly say that my wife eats 10oz of steak and she's only 6.7 stone

jdaw1 wrote:Summary:
• Club Steaks for DRT, BMHR, AP, THRA, RLC.
• Bone-in-rib for AHB, WS, ND, JDAW.
• Vegetarian: JGH.

Ordered. I have insisted that the vegetarian thing should be superior to the normal.

Jonathan, manager of the Bung Hole, said that he is to become manager of Grapeshots, and that he will try to persuade us to hold tastings there.

jdaw1 wrote:

jdaw1 wrote:Summary:
• Club Steaks for DRT, BMHR, AP, THRA, RLC.
• Bone-in-rib for AHB, WS, ND, JDAW.
• Vegetarian: JGH.

Ordered. I have insisted that the vegetarian thing should be superior to the normal.

Jonathan, manager of the Bung Hole, said that he is to become manager of Grapeshots, and that he will try to persuade us to hold tastings there.

Some attendees are missing from this list. Is their punishment for late ordering that they are not allowed to eat?

Who are the missing attendees?

jdaw1 wrote:Who are the missing attendees?

Perhaps only one.

RAYC wrote:I know i'm a day late, so i'll get what i'm given (if anything)...

but in case there's still time i'll have the 350g bone-in rib, unless someone else wants to share a rare or medium-rare club steak or double sirloin (in which case i'd be in for that)

RAYC wrote:unless someone else wants to share a rare or medium-rare club steak or double sirloin (in which case i'd be in for that)

Did I forget to mark that DRT was sharing his Club Steak with RAYC? Silly me.

jdaw1 wrote:

RAYC wrote:unless someone else wants to share a rare or medium-rare club steak or double sirloin (in which case i'd be in for that)

Did I forget to mark that DRT was sharing his Club Steak with RAYC? Silly me.

Provided RAYC's meaning of sharing is that he gets to chew on the bones once I've eaten all the steak then that would work. But I suspect not, so best to order him a 350g Ribeye.

DRT wrote:Provided RAYC's meaning of sharing is that he gets to chew on the bones once I've eaten all the steak then that would work.

You meanie!

I believe I am down for this, can I please have the club steak!

Christopher wrote:I believe I am down for this, can I please have the club steak!

I will ask tomorrow, but that may well be too late. In which case you’ll be getting bone-in-rib.

Ok thanks Julian if the default option is that I am a happy man anyway! Many thanks for organising!!!

More Club steaks ordered.

Please could somebody look at the placemats and check that all is well.

Hi Julian,

looks OK to me. Do we have already a time when we start?

regards

WS1

Wish I was going to be there. I had a great time at the April 17th tasting.

Stephanie

jdaw1 wrote:Please could somebody look at the placemats and check that all is well.

I don't know how accurate/pedantic you want to be with the names, but the 80, 91 and 97 are "Delaforce Corte" whereas the 74, 84 and 87 are very clearly labelled "Delaforce Quinta Da Corte". I do also know that Axel was told by someone that certain vintages of "Corte" were not exclusively single quinta, so there may be some significance to this (but no doubt Nick will be able to enlighten).

Couldn't see whether already included from viewer on my ipod but sticky labels would be useful for decanting.

I have in my possession the ports being contributed by WS1, AHB and AP as well as the bottle very kindly donated by g-man. comments on ideal decanting regime would be welcomed. As my flat is a 3 minute walk from work, I can (within reason) accommodate a regime that involves decanting different bottles at different times if instructed.

RAYC wrote:I don't know how accurate/pedantic you want to be with the names, but the 80, 91 and 97 are "Delaforce Corte" whereas the 74, 84 and 87 are very clearly labelled "Delaforce Quinta Da Corte".

Wilco.

RAYC wrote:sticky labels would be useful for decanting.

Wilco.

RAYC wrote:I have in my possession the ports being contributed by WS1, AHB and AP as well as the bottle very kindly donated by g-man. comments on ideal decanting regime would be welcomed. As my flat is a 3 minute walk from work, I can (within reason) accommodate a regime that involves decanting different bottles at different times if instructed.

18 bottles decanted one after the other will take around 2 hours to decant.

My suggestion would be to decant the recent vintages ('07, '03. 00, 97) 24-48 hours in advance in the hope that they might open up. The others around lunchtime.

AHB wrote:18 bottles

Plus the ’75.

With 19 Ports and 12 people I strongly recommend pre-pouring, especially as we will be using the Bung Hole's large glasses.

I am available for duty.

Where are all the bottles? Is it possible to get all of them to TBH by 16:00?