Thu 21st April - Before the BFT

[Alex Bridgeman]

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.

[jdaw1]

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?

[CPR 1]

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

[idj123]

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.

[flash_uk]

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

[Alex Bridgeman]

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.

[PhilW]

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.

[Alex Bridgeman]

First post updated.

[jdaw1]

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

And me please.

[Alex Bridgeman]

JDAW is in

[PhilW]

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

[flash_uk]

...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.

[jdaw1]

I have Dow 1970 and Graham 1980.

[Doggett]

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

[benread]

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


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[benread]

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


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have permission!

[CPR 1]

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

[oscar quevedo]

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

[DaveRL]

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

[Alex Bridgeman]

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?

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.

[Alex Bridgeman]

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

[Alex Bridgeman]

First post updated.

[Alex Bridgeman]

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

[flash_uk]

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

[benread]

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!