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The original face to face tasting and dinner has been cancelled - the Boot & Flogger is now shut anyway - but Mike has volunteered to set up a Zoom Conference for any who would like to participate in an experimental online tasting. We tried a Skype call with Charles at the tasting last Tuesday and that worked rather well.

The theme is almost the same: drink a blinded bottle of Port to share a description with other Port lovers.
Location: Online - Mike will send the invitation
Time: 19.30
Food order: buy your own sirloin steak, green beans and chips

Attendees

1. AHB
2. MPM
3. CPR
4. GEAG
5. CMAG
6. SCD
7. NAC
8. JDAW

Since this is a virtual tasting, any member of TPF in any country is welcome to join in!

CANCELLED

A supporter of TPF who lives and works in Vila Nova de Gaia is visiting the UK in late March and has confirmed that he would be available to join us on Wednesday 25th March.

We are booked into the Ovens (the Red Room being already booked for a different wine tasting). I suggest arriving at 18.00 to start at 18.30.

The theme is to bring a blinded bottle of Port to share with other Port lovers.

Attendees

1. AHB (confirmed)
2. JV (confirmed)
3. BMHR (confirmed)
4. CPR (confirmed)
5. MPM (confirmed)
6. JDAW (confirmed by SCP-DFF)
7. NAC (confirmed)
8. GEAG (confirmed)
9. IDJ (confirmed)
10. --Vacant
11. MC (confirmed)
12. CMAG (confirmed)
13. RGO (confirmed)
14. TC

if you are on the list above, please confirm that you are definitely available.

I'll follow up on the food order 10 days or so before the event.

If it was 25th March I'd make a very strong case to be allowed out and use it as an excuse to drink something from 1970! 26th I would not be allowed out. Ben

It is never too soon; I am available either day but have a preference for 26th if that works for others.

Either date Ok for me.

Permission granted for either date. Not sure whether I can fairly interpret the permission as being for both.

Can definitely do 25th, probably can't do 26th.

Can definitely do 25th, definitely can't do 26th.

Should be ok for either date.

Either possible, 25th preferred

I’m available on either day.

Either work for RGO and myself
Great idea

25th would work for me

AHB wrote: ↑11:08 Tue 21 Jan 2020 I’m available on either day. Is anyone else?

I think that makes 14 available including your guest

Tastings fill up fast.

I'm currently checking that the guest is willing and able to commit to Wednesday 25th since that seems the majority preference.

First post has been updated with the arrangements for the day.

AHB wrote: ↑11:08 Tue 21 Jan 2020 The theme is to bring a blinded bottle of Port to share with other Port lovers.

"Port" only, or can we go a bit wi(l)der again?

Our guest is from the Port industry, so Port only this time please.

Port it is then.

I confirm I am definitely available.

Yes def available.

I confirm I am definitely available.

Confirmed. And approved!

confirmed

jdaw1 wrote: ↑14:00 Tue 21 Jan 2020 Permission granted for either date. Not sure whether I can fairly interpret the permission as being for both.

Permission for Julian hereby confirmed.

SCP-DFF wrote: ↑16:47 Fri 24 Jan 2020

jdaw1 wrote: ↑14:00 Tue 21 Jan 2020 Permission granted for either date. Not sure whether I can fairly interpret the permission as being for both.

Permission for Julian hereby confirmed.

First post updated.

Confirmed.

I have to withdraw from this event due to other commitments; my apologies.

Yes RGO and me good

Apologies all, but I have cancelled this tasting. Given the reduction in numbers for tonight's tasting from 14 to 4 with only a few hours notice it is clear there will not be adequate interest for this tasting to happen physically. I strongly suspect the 1992 and 1960 horizontals and the Warre and Kopke / Krohn verticals are likely casualties since we are being advised we are 12 weeks from the peak of this crisis, but those are decisions for other people.

If ayone is interested in participating in a virtual tasting on 25th March, please say so here. If there's enough interest I'll investigate whether / how to set up a Skype video call for us.

Thanks Alex
I am up for my first ever virtual tasting on the 25th

Alex, I also am up for a virtual tasting on the 25th, since we are otherwise unlikely to be able to drink port together for a while.

Me too. I can set up a Zoom videoconf call. Can handle lots of people.

yes I am up for this

flash_uk wrote: ↑18:49 Fri 20 Mar 2020 Me too. I can set up a Zoom videoconf call. Can handle lots of people.

Mike - please do. It would be a bit of fun to try something out and see if we can make it work - even if we only have 40 minutes of banal chat whilst drinking our own bottle of Port.

AHB wrote: ↑21:55 Fri 20 Mar 2020

flash_uk wrote: ↑18:49 Fri 20 Mar 2020 Me too. I can set up a Zoom videoconf call. Can handle lots of people.

Mike - please do. It would be a bit of fun to try something out and see if we can make it work - even if we only have 40 minutes of banal chat whilst drinking our own bottle of Port.

What time should we start?

I think my travel plans will allow me to join this tasting if there is room? Any particular theme or just something you want to enjoy at home? Best wishes to all and I hope you and your families stay safe and healthy.
Simon

flash_uk wrote: ↑09:25 Sat 21 Mar 2020
What time should we start?

7:30pm would be good for me, does that work for others?

7.30pm works for me. First post updated.

7.30 all good for me too.

I've sent everyone an invite for 7.30 on Wednesday.

Please add me in.

JDAW has just advised me he will be participating.

AHB wrote: ↑09:42 Mon 23 Mar 2020 JDAW has just advised me he will be participating.

Splendid. Julian now added to the video call. It transpires that I will still be at work at 7.30pm on Wednesday, so I will most likely get the video call up and running and leave you to it. A small chance that I’ll be in a hotel and can then join in.

I’d like the format for tomorrow’s tasting to be Reverse Blind.

Reverse Blind? I taste my Port, and tell you what I taste. You ask questions — “X on the aftertaste?” — and I answer honestly.

Then you guess what my Port is.

Objections?

jdaw1 wrote: ↑22:17 Tue 24 Mar 2020 I’d like the format for tomorrow’s tasting to be Reverse Blind.

Reverse Blind? I taste my Port, and tell you what I taste. You ask questions — “X on the aftertaste?” — and I answer honestly.

Then you guess what my Port is.

Objections?

Like it!

jdaw1 wrote: ↑22:17 Tue 24 Mar 2020 I’d like the format for tomorrow’s tasting to be Reverse Blind.

Reverse Blind? I taste my Port, and tell you what I taste. You ask questions — “X on the aftertaste?” — and I answer honestly.

Then you guess what my Port is.

Objections?

That was precisely what I meant by the theme. I fully support your interpretation of the theme.

Plus we can all see the colour / appearance of the wine in your glass.

Wine decanted at 0700 this morning. Into a proper decanter. Quite excited.

Mine was opened at 09.00 and decanted at 13.00, also into a proper decanter.

There is an almost irresistible temptation to having a decanter of Port sitting on my desk while I am working from home.

Do I need to open a cellar defender to ensure my decanter survives intact to 19.30?