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Axel P wrote:and the 91-92 tasting on 24.

No tasting in the evening of Thursday 24^th April. We won’t have the time to arrange things, nor the sober competence to arrange them well, nor the palate to appreciate them. Instead we might have a few beers, and perhaps a drinking of donated leftovers.

With the organisation up front you are correct, Julian

Axel P wrote:With the organisation up front you are correct, Julian

Axel - if you are not flying home directly after BFT, i'll give you an email about organising a small tasting in the evening. Am happy to do organisation.

jdaw1 wrote:
Rob: starting from here rather than from where we were six hours ago what do you want done?

Sorry - missed this last week. I think we should explain to Sophia Bergqvist that it is a 60-63 tasting she's attending rather than a 91-92 - i can't see her complaining! If we still have a full complement of 14 when the date comes, she can have my place and i'll be fresh for BFT.

RAYC wrote:Sorry - missed this last week. I think we should explain to Sophia Bergqvist that it is a 60-63 tasting she's attending rather than a 91-92 - i can't see her complaining! If we still have a full complement of 14 when the date comes, she can have my place and i'll be fresh for BFT.

Well, yes and no. She’s bringing the de la Rosa to that tasting, so is attending that. Which doesn’t prevent an invitation be extended to this tasting as well.

Is this still on? Shall I bring something?

Axel

Axel P wrote:Is this still on? Shall I bring something?

Axel

I have sent you a PM.

Axel P wrote:Is this still on? Shall I bring something?

Axel

Just spoke to THRA - still on and he has promised to come up with the definitive theme soon....!

Do we need a re-count on this one to see who is still in and who is now out for this one?

RAYC wrote:Do we need a re-count on this one to see who is still in and who is now out for this one?

I saw this and saw the long list plus stand-bys and concluded nobody would be likely to drop out. But if they did and a place appeared I would be very grateful to have the opportunity.

There is a slight problem in that, having heard nothing further about it for a while, a few of us took up an invitation to another event.
Can we postpone this theme given the confusion that has arisen around dates, partly as a result of my own meddling with the 91/92 vs 60vs63 tastings?

djewesbury wrote:There is a slight problem in that, having heard nothing further about it for a while, a few of us took up an invitation to another event.
Can we postpone this theme given the confusion that has arisen around dates, partly as a result of my own meddling with the 91/92 vs 60vs63 tastings?

Surely this could work quite well if there are people on the reserve list wanting of seats that have now become freed? Everyone gets a seat somewhere!

RAYC wrote:

djewesbury wrote:There is a slight problem in that, having heard nothing further about it for a while, a few of us took up an invitation to another event.
Can we postpone this theme given the confusion that has arisen around dates, partly as a result of my own meddling with the 91/92 vs 60vs63 tastings?

Surely this could work quite well if there are people on the reserve list wanting of seats that have now become freed? Everyone gets a seat somewhere!

Please give my place to someone else. I have committed to the other event in the belief that this one wasn't happening and there is also a chance that work will conspire against me attending either of them.

Dirk has this diaried for the 23rd.

- Where is the other event taking place?

Shall I call TBH?

Incidentally, for those who have already committed to another event, there will be a further opportunity to enjoy Dirk's company this year, probably in Porto. Details TBA, but I have a mind to 'set the tone' by popping an N31..

uncle tom wrote:Dirk has this diaried for the 23rd.

- Where is the other event taking place?

Shall I call TBH?

TBH is still booked under the name of "The Port Forum" - I assume for this event.

uncle tom wrote:Dirk has this diaried for the 23rd.

- Where is the other event taking place?

Shall I call TBH?

Tom, I've sent you a PM.

I suggest that we all try to convene together before the end of the evening, subject to our prior commitments. Even if just for a palate-cleansing beer in the Red Lion.

Hi,

I am looking fwd to this event! Especially since we have the 66s the night before . So Easter come later this year!

regards

WS1

DRT wrote:Please give my place to someone else. I have committed to the other event in the belief that this one wasn't happening

Tom, my apologies, I am in the same position as DRT and committed elsewhere for the same reason, so please release my spot; thanks.

PhilW wrote:

DRT wrote:Please give my place to someone else. I have committed to the other event in the belief that this one wasn't happening

Tom, my apologies, I am in the same position as DRT and committed elsewhere for the same reason, so please release my spot; thanks.

Sorry Tom, but this event didn’t seems to be moving, so, after much delay, I committed elsewhere.

But still willing to do my usual task.

RAYC wrote:

Axel P wrote:Is this still on? Shall I bring something?

Axel

Just spoke to THRA - still on and he has promised to come up with the definitive theme soon....!

Do we need a re-count on this one to see who is still in and who is now out for this one?

I think we do need a recount. Unfortunately I will also be elsewhere the night of 23rd April. However, I do hope to see Dirk the night before at the '66 horizontal.

WS1 wrote:Hi,

"crunch match"

WS1

First of all, I love Wolfgang. Second of all, I think "crunch match" in this case actually is more fitting than the typical "grudge match", and adds a special German flair to the event.

Second, I am unlikely to be able to attend, as I expect to still be living outside the UK, but please add me to the reserves in the event this changes.

Sounds like it will be a hell of a piss-up, regardless of the specifics of the format (telling a restaurant to leave three cases of unopened and very expensive wines standing up for a week seems...challenging).

I applaud the initiative Tom
woo woo

uncle tom wrote: Incidentally, for those who have already committed to another event, there will be a further opportunity to enjoy Dirk's company this year, probably in Porto. Details TBA, but I have a mind to 'set the tone' by popping an N31..

I didn't notice this before. 2014 is turning into a very celebratory year for you Tom.

Still room for one more? I'm now trying to make sense of the tastings occurring in London during this time period.

SushiNorth wrote:I'm now trying to make sense of the tastings occurring in London during this time period.

Multiple plans have gone very awry.

jdaw1 wrote:

SushiNorth wrote:I'm now trying to make sense of the tastings occurring in London during this time period.

Multiple plans have gone very awry.

...but this event is still on - I'd give Tom a pm / email.

Tom will refresh the plan / first post this afternoon!

Have now taken delivery of some brand new wine bottles to serve as identical decanters - so no guessing from bottle shapes or remains of capsules!

The plan is to decant into the bottles as pairs with cardboard labels taped to each pair. On the underside of each label will be the vintage. Someone who does not know which pair is which will then bag them up, marking each pair as 'A', 'B' and 'C' etc, in no particular order.

Bottles (except the Niepoorts) will be delivered to Rob's tomorrow morning.

I'm thinking about eight pairs now rather than ten, which I propose to be:

Dow
Fonseca
Graham
Niepoort
Noval
Sandeman
Taylor
Warre

If anyone feels strongly that Cockburn, Croft, Martinez or Offley should displace any of the above, please shout now!

I will update the attendance list presently..

I’ll make placemats soon.

Tom: please may I edit the first post to add the placemats to it?

Tom: please may I edit the first post to add the placemats to it?

Sure

Tom,

Not sure if there is room left at the table with the withdrawals, but if there is I would love to join this tasting as I seem to be at a lose end in London that night!

Thanks

In the first post jdaw1 wrote:Current draft of the placemats.

• Please confirm shippers and ordering thereof.
• Who? People?
• Please inspect carefully (carefully!) to verify everything.

SushiNorth wrote:Still room for one more? I'm now trying to make sense of the tastings occurring in London during this time period.

Just checking in -- any room left at this one, or can I be added to the waiting list?

SushiNorth wrote:Just checking in -- any room left at this one, or can I be added to the waiting list?

Tom is AWOL. When he returns, I expect that he will say that there is room.

jdaw1 wrote:Please confirm shippers and ordering thereof.
• Who? People?
• Please inspect carefully (carefully!) to verify everything.

Shippers should be A1, A2, B1, B2 etc. x 8 pairs. See Tom's earlier post upthread.

Not sure about people - in Tom's court - but could be:

1. EDN
2. THRA
3. THRA + 1 [RLC?]
4. RAYC
5. RAYC+1
6. [AP]
7. AP+1 (Wolfgang, but not WS1)
8. Flash_UK?
9. CPR
10. SushiNorth

But there are various other people in the mix as well.

Am happy to take over placemats - since you are not attending, it seems slightly beyond the course of duty to have to do them!

RAYC wrote:Shippers should be A1, A2, B1, B2 etc. x 8 pairs. See Tom's earlier post upthread.

Oops. Sorry.

uncle tom wrote:- Blind pairs of the ten principal houses - Cockburn, Croft, Dow, Fonseca, Graham, Niepoort, Noval, Sandeman, Taylor & Warre.

What does “Blind pairs” mean? Possibilities:
• Pairs identified as pairs, but without further information?
• Shippers given, but one-bit decision left blind — which is the ’60 and which is the ’63?
• Years given, but shipper blind?
• Other?

RAYC wrote:Am happy to take over placemats - since you are not attending, it seems slightly beyond the course of duty to have to do them!

Other people do lots of things for tastings, such as owning and bringing old bottles. This is my regular contribution, and I’m happy to do it. Also, blind-to-everybody tasting have placemats that are complicated to make, and my making them helps me see how to make the making of them less complicated.

jdaw1 wrote:What does “Blind pairs” mean? Possibilities:
• Pairs identified as pairs, but without further information?

This one, i believe, save that we have additional information through knowing the universe of pairs.

jdaw1 wrote:Also, blind-to-everybody tasting have placemats that are complicated to make, and my making them helps me see how to make the making of them less complicated.

I was pondering a week or so ago how this could be accomplished using a system and something printed with the placemats. This is where I got to:
- the placemats include two pages with lines numbered 1 to 20, or however many bottles there are
- the placemats also include labels for 1 to 20 and A to T
- one person sits with the decanted bottles,hangs 1 to 20 labels on them, and records on one of the numbered pages which shipper is each number. This page is then folded neatly and kept in a safe place only to be referred to at the end
- first person makes sure no way of identifying shipper from bottle/decanter
- second person arrives, and ushers first person away
- second person puts labels A to T next to bottles/decanters in random fashion, then notes which number (1 to 20) is paired with which letter, writing these pairings on the second numbered page. This page is also safely tucked away.
- second person removes all the numbered labels from the bottles/decanters leaving only letters on the bottles/decanters

Now first person can only see letters on bottles/decanters and cannot identify a shipper. Second person only knows letter-number pairs so cannot identify a shipper. Only when both numbered pages are put together can letters be traced to shippers.

Let me help by describing previous practice. There are two sets of decanter labels. Pre-threaded decanted labels say “Dow 1960”, and the like. Things are decanted.

Then Helen (Bung Hole manager) comes in. She takes the second set of decanter labels, and staples onto the first the likes of “A1” and “A2”, in pairs. The team returns, pre-pours and distributes. At the end the second set of labels is torn off, and all is thereby revealed.

Though I don’t like calling them “A1” and “A2”. I’m considering “a” and “a”, with sub-titles “Roman” and “Italic”.

flash_uk wrote:Now first person can only see letters on bottles/decanters and cannot identify a shipper. Second person only knows letter-number pairs so cannot identify a shipper. Only when both numbered pages are put together can letters be traced to shippers.

This decryption might be beyond our end-evening talents.

Regarding Blinds:
Allow me to suggest a different option. Each bottle is decanted into a similar looking decanter/decantBottle, and the original bottle and decanted port are kept together. My nephalist wife then comes by, places random greek letters on the decanters, and records which port goes to which letter. She joins us for dinner, stays mum about which is which, and reveals the mapping when we are ready.

SushiNorth wrote:Regarding Blinds:
Allow me to suggest a different option. Each bottle is decanted into a similar looking decanter/decantBottle, and the original bottle and decanted port are kept together. My nephalist wife then comes by, places random greek letters on the decanters, and records which port goes to which letter. She joins us for dinner, stays mum about which is which, and reveals the mapping when we are ready.

that will certainly work for this tasting. If Julian is trying to adapt the placemat software for a more general solution to blind for everyone, it could prove expensive for the solution to require your wife to fly in each time

SushiNorth wrote:Regarding Blinds:
Allow me to suggest a different option. Each bottle is decanted into a similar looking decanter/decantBottle, and the original bottle and decanted port are kept together. My nephalist wife then comes by, places random greek letters on the decanters, and records which port goes to which letter. She joins us for dinner, stays mum about which is which, and reveals the mapping when we are ready.

Because this requires that your wife not make an error, and everybody believing that. Whereas over-stapling does not require belief in anybody’s competence — even if people are indeed competent.

Axel, Dirk, Tom and I are doing the decanting at my flat - Tom has sourced generic clean wine bottles and we have adequate bodies to ensure that port ends up in pairs that are blind to everyone but which have a safe audit trail to ensure identification at the end. So no need to worry!

RAYC wrote:Axel, Dirk, Tom and I are doing the decanting at my flat - Tom has sourced generic clean wine bottles and we have adequate bodies to ensure that port ends up in pairs that are blind to everyone but which have a safe audit trail to ensure identification at the end. So no need to worry!

So it suffices to have just the following set of labels?

jdaw1 wrote:I’m considering “a” and “a”, with sub-titles “Roman” and “Italic”.

RAYC wrote:Axel, Dirk, Tom and I are doing the decanting at my flat - Tom has sourced generic clean wine bottles and we have adequate bodies to ensure that port ends up in pairs that are blind to everyone but which have a safe audit trail to ensure identification at the end. So no need to worry!

That sounds rather a dangerous group of people to be trusted with large numbers of tasty bottles of port!

Updated placemats, the first post having pictures. There are D60 D63 … decanter labels, the thinking being that these go on the decanters. Stapled over them are the a Roman, a Italic, b Roman, b Italic, … decanter labels. All the glasses and TNs are in the latter format.

There are too few people on the placemats. Who is coming?

AHB wrote:

RAYC wrote:Axel, Dirk, Tom and I are doing the decanting at my flat - Tom has sourced generic clean wine bottles and we have adequate bodies to ensure that port ends up in pairs that are blind to everyone but which have a safe audit trail to ensure identification at the end. So no need to worry!

That sounds rather a dangerous group of people to be trusted with large numbers of tasty bottles of port!

I've lost track.. Are all of them going to be blind once they've finished the 'decanting'?

djewesbury wrote:Are all of them going to be blind once they've finished the 'decanting'?

Yes. Two of them decant into decanters labelled D60, D63, etc. They staple a blank card over the D60, and shuffle the decanters. Switch teams, and staple over those blank cards the labels of the form g Italic. Result: all blind. But later, tearing off the stapled over-labels will reveal truth.

jdaw1 wrote:

djewesbury wrote:Are all of them going to be blind once they've finished the 'decanting'?

Yes. Two of them decant into decanters labelled D60, D63, etc. They staple a blank card over the D60, and shuffle the decanters. Switch teams, and staple over those blank cards the labels of the form g Italic. Result: all blind. But later, tearing off the stapled over-labels will reveal truth.

You misread. The subject of my sentence was not the bottles.
Hence my quoting Alex's post.

Sorry to have gone a bit quiet - opening attendance list now updated

Thanks -- 2 logisitics items:
1) May I add a non-drinker to join us? (otherwise I'm leaving my wife alone, and I'd prefer to bring her along).
2) How are bottles being sorted out? Is there a flat cost for the wine per drinker for the evening (and could someone let me know what it is) so that I come prepared?