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Here Oscar excitedly reports that he will be free and able to join us for a tasting the night before the BFT. Since Daniel can't make it to the BFT and since the GC vertical was his idea I will volunteer to organise the pre BFT offline with Oscar as our guest.

When: 6.30pm on Thursday 21st April
Where: The Red Room, The Boot & Flogger, 10-20 Redcross Way, London SE1 1TA, tel +44 20 7407 1184 (streetmap.co.uk, bing, maps.google.co.uk)
What: see discussion below for ideas on the theme
Who:

1. Oscar Quevedo (something from Quevedo stocks)
2. Alex (Graham 1963);
3. Charles (Graham 1983);
4. Ian (Dow 1960);
5. Mike (Dow 1985);
6. Phil (Dow 1983);
7. Julian (Dow 1970);
8. Simon (Dow 1963);
9. Tom (Graham 1960);
10. Ben (Graham 1970);
11. Dave (Graham 1985);
12. Chris Appleby (possibly Dow 1980 but we may go for a non-themed port since we have no pairing available);

The list above includes a provisional allocation of bottles to attendees and would give us the following vintage pairs:
1960, 1963, 1970, 1983, 1985
1980 is the next pair to add, but we need another person to contribute the Graham 1980 unless we decide to buy one collectively.
I've deliberately left out 1966 because of the tasting in May and 1977 because of the frequency with which the Dow is corked.

Bottles available:
1945 - Dow (Alex)
1960 - Dow (Ian, Ben), Graham (Tom)
1963 - Dow (Alex, Ian, Simon), Graham (Alex, Ian)
1966 - Dow (Ian, Phil), Graham (Alex, Mike, Phil)
1970 - Dow (Ian, Mike, Julian, Charles), Graham (Alex, Ian, Mike, Ben, Phil, Charles)
1977 - Dow (Ian, Charles), Graham (Alex, Ian, Mike, Phil, Charles)
1980 - Dow (Alex), Graham (Alex, Ian, Mike, Julian)
1983 - Dow (Alex, Ian, Mike, Phil), Graham (Alex, Charles)
1985 - Dow (Ian, Mike), Graham (Ian, Charles, Dave)
1994 - Dow (Alex, Charles), Graham (Charles, Dave)
1997 - Dow (Mike), Graham (Mike)

Draft of the food order.

Draft of the placemats.

Somebody at the Vesuvio tasting mentioned that he would be arranging a Dow vertical later this year. Is this Dow semi-vertical arranged in contemplation of that?

Sounds like a great idea. I'm in. Will check which vintages I have.

I guess if we're going to restrict to one bottle each then that would mean picking six/seven vintages for this mini vertical comparison. I'm in and could put up D60, 63,66,70,77, 83 and 85. For G: 63, 70,77,80 and 85.

Sounds good, count me in. Will check what I have, but from memory:
G: 66,70,77,80,85
D: 70,83,85,97

jdaw1 wrote:Somebody at the Vesuvio tasting mentioned that he would be arranging a Dow vertical later this year. Is this Dow semi-vertical arranged in contemplation of that?

If I recall, it was Phil who was suggesting a Dow vertical. This is not intended to replace that, more as a reflection of the discussions we had about favourite shippers from the SFE portfolio and to test the difference in style between the "drier" Dow and the "sweeter" Graham.

AHB wrote:

jdaw1 wrote:Somebody at the Vesuvio tasting mentioned that he would be arranging a Dow vertical later this year. Is this Dow semi-vertical arranged in contemplation of that?

If I recall, it was Phil who was suggesting a Dow vertical.

Not me. I have discussed possibly doing a Calem vertical in the autumn (discussions ongoing amongst people with Calem vintages atm), and the general wish for a full-on Warre vertical at some future point but with no specific plan as yet.

For pre-BFT with Oscar - please count me in.

First post updated.

PhilW wrote:For pre-BFT with Oscar - please count me in.

And me please.

JDAW is in

D: 66, 83
G: 66, 70, 77

flash_uk wrote:...but from memory:
G: 66,70,77,80,85
D: 70,83,85,97

Almost correct. Surprisingly I have no G85, but I do have a G97.

I have Dow 1970 and Graham 1980.

I would love to come to this too.
My only bottle of Dow is 63 or I would need to adopt, offer funds or secure a missing bottle.

Simon

EDIT: we should also save a place for Tom who will be back by then as we had previously done when this was to be the GC RIP

It would be good to catch up with Oscar. I am seeking permission...


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benread wrote:It would be good to catch up with Oscar. I am seeking permission...


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I have permission!

I can offer D70, 77, 94 and G70,77,83, 85, and 94 if that helps

Alex, thank you for organizing the tasting. The theme could hardly be better, two solid houses and plenty of good friends to warm up for the BFT.

I can adopt a bottle or help paying the expenses, whatever works best.

Oscar

I have permission and would love to come please. I have Graham 85 and Graham 94, and of course contribute to any additional costs.

Doggett wrote:I would love to come to this too.
My only bottle of Dow is 63 or I would need to adopt, offer funds or secure a missing bottle.

Any Graham?

Doggett wrote:EDIT: we should also save a place for Tom who will be back by then as we had previously done when this was to be the GC RIP

Good point. Done. I might also be cheeky and assume that Tom - being born in 1960 - has a bottle of Graham 1960 he'd be willing to contribute.

oscar quevedo wrote:Alex, thank you for organizing the tasting. The theme could hardly be better, two solid houses and plenty of good friends to warm up for the BFT.

I can adopt a bottle or help paying the expenses, whatever works best.

Oscar

Oscar,
I'll drop you an email.
Alex

First post updated.

Please could people order from the following menu and let me know what food you'd like:
Starters
Truffle Mac & Cheese £5.25
Potted shrimps with granary toast £8.25
Wild mushrooms on toast with walnut pesto £7.25 v.
Roasted beetroot and goat’s cheese salad with toasted walnuts £7.25 v.
Plate of smoked salmon £7.25
Duck liver parfait with toast £6.95
Smoked mackerel with apple and fennel £7.95
Chilli squid on toast with garlic mayonnaise £8.50

Cold main dishes
served with green salad and buttered new potatoes
Cold poached salmon £13.95
Hand carved home baked ham £12.95
Cured ox tongue £13.95
Rare sirloin of beef £13.95
Mixed meat selection £15.50
Game Pie £13.95

Hot main dishes
Gammon, egg and chips with, or without, black pudding £12.95/£13.95
Grilled scallops and bacon with tiger prawns, spring onion and chilli £17.95
Chargrilled 220g sirloin steak with hand-cut chips and grilled tomato £22.50
* add peppercorn sauce or Café de Paris butter £2.00 *
Bangers and mash with roasted red onion gravy £11.95
Artichoke and spinach tart with mixed leaf salad £13.25 v
Superfood salad with grilled halloumi, edamame beans, quinoa and avocado £10.95 v.
Corn-fed chicken supreme with crispy pancetta and new potatoes £12.50
Wild mushroom risotto with truffle oil £10.95
Sea bass fillet with spiced lentils and rocket £14.95

Sides £3.50 each
Buttered new potatoes| hand-cut chips| peas and beans with minted butter| creamed spinach| mixed salad

Thanks Alex. For me:
Chilli squid on toast with garlic mayonnaise
Chargrilled 220g sirloin steak with hand-cut chips and grilled tomato
peas and beans with minted butter

Alex,

Could I order:

Wild mushrooms on toast with walnut pesto £7.25 v.
Gammon, egg and chips with black pudding £13.95

Thank you

Ben
PS - contribution to proceedings noted!

Hi Alex,

Could I please order...

Starter: smoked salmon
Main: Bangers & Mash with red onion gravy

Also I am afraid to say I have no Graham, other than a 2011 Stone Terraces which is a bit young at this stage!

many thanks for organising this,

Simon

flash_uk wrote:Thanks Alex. For me:
Chilli squid on toast with garlic mayonnaise
Chargrilled 220g sirloin steak with hand-cut chips and grilled tomato
peas and beans with minted butter

Would that be medium rare?

If possible I would like the same as last time, please:
Starter: Welsh rarebit
Main: Chargrilled sirloin steak (black and blue) with hand-cut chips and grilled tomato.
+Side: Creamed spinach
+Sauce: Please, please, please some Béarnaise sauce by special request again

Alex,

Smoked mackerel with apple and fennel
Chargrilled 220g sirloin steak (rare) with hand-cut chips and grilled tomato
Café de Paris butter

I checked with the chef at The Boot and Flogger to let them know that I have Coeliac's, and found that these are OK for me. Could I request please that you add a note by my order for it to be gluten free - I've found it helps restaurants if they are pre warned, and I'm less likely to get something I can't eat!

Thanks

AHB wrote:

flash_uk wrote:Thanks Alex. For me:
Chilli squid on toast with garlic mayonnaise
Chargrilled 220g sirloin steak with hand-cut chips and grilled tomato
peas and beans with minted butter

Would that be medium rare?

Sorry, meant to add rare.

Draft of the food order.

DaveRL wrote:I checked with the chef at The Boot and Flogger to let them know that I have Coeliac's, and found that these are OK for me. Could I request please that you add a note by my order for it to be gluten free - I've found it helps restaurants if they are pre warned, and I'm less likely to get something I can't eat!

Please confirm satisfactorily done.

Red room at the Boot & Flogger is booked although Domnhaill has warned that we will likely not have access to the room until about 6pm due to it being booked for the afternoon.

However, that shouldn't be an issue as I intend to ask everyone to bring their bottles decanted!

It might be helpful if I could know by this weekend which bottles I am bringing. Or I could take an executive decision that I’ll bring Dow 1970, and that’s that.

AHB wrote:The list above includes a provisional allocation of bottles to attendees and would give us the following vintage pairs:
1960, 1963, 1970, 1983, 1985
I've deliberately left out 1966 because of the tasting in May and 1977 because of the frequency with which the Dow is corked.

Alex - could we add 1980 into the mix as well, assuming we have enough attendees to warrant the additional bottles?

1980 was the next vintage to add to the list and with Christopher joining us we have enough people to add the extra vintage.

jdaw1 wrote:Draft of the food order.

DaveRL wrote:I checked with the chef at The Boot and Flogger to let them know that I have Coeliac's, and found that these are OK for me. Could I request please that you add a note by my order for it to be gluten free - I've found it helps restaurants if they are pre warned, and I'm less likely to get something I can't eat!

Please confirm satisfactorily done.

Perfect. Thank you.

Chris Appleby from Sogrape UK will be joining us as one of the group. That allows us to include the 1980 pair.

Chris A requests duck liver parfait followed by the chicken supreme

Alex, for me please:

Roasted beetroot and goat’s cheese salad with toasted walnuts
Corn-fed chicken supreme with crispy pancetta and new potatoes

Email received! Oscar

Chilli squid on toast with garlic mayonnaise followed by
Chargrilled 220g sirloin steak (black and blue) with hand-cut chips and grilled tomato plus a side of spinach.

Thanks

I might also be cheeky and assume that Tom - being born in 1960 - has a bottle of Graham 1960 he'd be willing to contribute

Actually a dozen bottles - five from one well proven stash and a further seven from an as yet un-sampled stash, but which came with other old bottles that have shown extremely well..

Am in...

I'd like no starter and a black and blue sirloin steak please.

Christopher has had to withdraw from the tasting so we have another spare space.

Please could people let me know if there is a problem with the bottle that they are bringing. For ease of administration on the day, please bring your bottle decanted and ready to be poured.

Ian, Tom - please indicate what you would like to eat or you will be given the default order of smoked salmon and medium rare sirloin steak.

the default order of smoked salmon and medium rare sirloin steak

I think I could suffer that..

Sorry,not been keeping up:

Starter-Truffle Mac

Main-the old stalwart of gammon,chips and black pudding (no egg unless it's hastily removed to elsewhere beforehand) with a side order of the peas and beans

Dessert-TBD

The food order is believed to be complete. Please could somebody check it.

jdaw1 wrote:The food order is believed to be complete. Please could somebody check it.

Only thing I can see missing is Dave's request for Café de Paris butter with his steak.

Alex - I can pull a G80 from storage if helpful...need to know sharp-ish though otherwise will be too late!

flash_uk wrote:Alex - I can pull a G80 from storage if helpful...need to know sharp-ish though otherwise will be too late!

CMAG was adopting the G80 from me — it is already standing awaiting duty. And it’s coming. (So please have Chris Appleby bring the Dow 1980.)