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Morning all, I was wondering if there was an appetite to get together on Zoom in the run up to Christmas for an informal gathering? I would think maybe the 15th Dec could work, but if course I'm open to other dates.

I will be quarantining prior to seeing my parents over Christmas so won't be indulging in any in-person drinks with friends, so a Zoom with the group here would be a delightful break from what I expect to be a rather monotonous couple of weeks.

Interested

1. RN
2. ZDR
3. SCD
4. WHW
5. NAC
6. CPR
7. JMK
8. BMHR
9. AHB
10. JDAW
11. MPM
12. PW
13. ADV
14. JGH*
15. GEE*
16. AP
17. MC
18. HTWH

*Christmas commitments allowing.

I'd be keen Rich. An excuse to open something is always welcome.

Yes please... most dates would probably work for me, so I look forward to the ‘farewell to 2020 TPF virtual tasting’!

Likewise keen.

If I must.

Doggett wrote: ↑17:14 Thu 26 Nov 2020 Yes please... most dates would probably work for me, so I look forward to the ‘farewell to 2020 TPF virtual tasting’!

So do I, but assume that will be anther separate evening one

CPR 1 wrote: ↑11:44 Fri 27 Nov 2020

Doggett wrote: ↑17:14 Thu 26 Nov 2020 Yes please... most dates would probably work for me, so I look forward to the ‘farewell to 2020 TPF virtual tasting’!

So do I, but assume that will be anther separate evening one

If there's a tasting in the depths of Dec after Christmas, my father might join as I'll be with them for that period!

I have heard no objections to the 15th so unless there are any in very near future I shall change the date to reflect that.

Count me in.

Sounds fun. I might try and find some thing a little special - unless you have a specific theme in mind?


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benread wrote:Sounds fun. I might try and find some thing a little special - unless you have a specific theme in mind?


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I had no specific theme in mind, so go for something special!

Yea please. Great idea.

Yes please.

yes please!

I'm in.

At this point I have no work obligations that day, so sign me up.

My diary is a bit chaotic that week but I would love to join you if it works out. Do let me know if someone needs me email address.

It will depend on my work schedule that week (things get busy in the lead-up to Christmas), but I would like to join you if my schedule works out!

JacobH wrote: ↑14:09 Mon 30 Nov 2020 My diary is a bit chaotic that week but I would love to join you if it works out. Do let me know if someone needs me email address.

I'm hoping to convince Mike or Alex to run the Zoom since I don't have a Pro account... Gents, are either of you willing?

I can run it. My pro subscription expires on the 16th!

Thanks Alex! I guess we'll have to make sure we finish by midnight and your Zoom turns into a pumpkin.

Just a thought. Would it be a good idea for us all to have a meal; say a lump of steak (horns off, arse wiped). It would make it seem more like a normal get together.

I could cope with that.

Could I also have a cheesy Welsh rarebit with extra cheese?

Yes, please. Much looking foward to seeing you there...

Yes please from me, too.

What time? That will help me keep my schedule clear at the appropriate time.

Glenn E. wrote:What time? That will help me keep my schedule clear at the appropriate time.

We can aim for a 7pm GMT start time, that has seemed to work for most people on these virtual gatherings.

please can you add me to the invite list, thanks

I appreciate this post is going to jinx it but I am pretty confident I should be able to join you now.

Afternoon everyone, I hope you're all excited for whatever port you've selected. Could I please ask that if you've not joined one of the virtual sessions before, or if you have but Alex wasn't the host, please could you make sure you DM him your email so he can send you an invite ahead of tomorrow evening.

You’ve just reminded me I need to prepare a bottle!


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Rich has just reminded me that I need to send the invite out. I’ll do so tomorrow morning.

And I’ll select my bottle!

AHB wrote:And I’ll select my bottle!

I struggled. Mainly because so many bottles I want to share with people who will appreciate them. Not finish on my own. I’ve selected an old LBV of which I have multiple bottles.


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I decided to open an unknown. I've tonged the top off the bottle and now it's Audouzing gently in the cellar. I'll push the cork out this evening.

Invites are going out now. If you don't receive one by 10am (UK time) text, PM, email or otherwise get hold of me.

AHB wrote: ↑09:10 Tue 15 Dec 2020I decided to open an unknown. I've tonged the top off the bottle and now it's Audouzing gently in the cellar. I'll push the cork out this evening.

Following Alex's initiative, I decided to follow his example as I have an unknown "believed 63" with destroyed (black) capsule and unreadable label (though a BBR label, not BOS). Opened by tongs this am also.

I have received my invitation and have arranged to be free at 11:00 am.

Alas, I will not be opening something old and interesting. Instead I will be finishing off a bottle of 2015 Graham's LBV - which is absolutely delicious if you haven't had the chance to try it yet - and then moving on to the remains of a S. Leonardo 30 Year Old Tawny.

Does anyone know if the Graham is a 2019 or 2020 bottling? I assume 2020, but it could be 2019. It does not say on the label, which seems to be a new habit that the producers have picked up. I very much wish that they would go back to declaring when an LBV was bottled because it matters whether it was 4, 5, or 6 years after harvest. It does not say "Unfiltered" on the label so I assume it is filtered. Even so, I think it could pass for a VP. It's that good!

Glenn E. wrote: ↑17:29 Tue 15 Dec 2020 Even so, I think it could pass for a VP. It's that good!

And available for as little as £8 this silly season in the UK.

Unfortunately I am too silly to join. Teams is working good in GER, but the link does not. Wish you all a great christmas.

Axel

Great to chat with everyone, and glad Axel made it on despite the technological odds. Thanks Alex for hosting! See you all in the new year (unless someone decides we should do one of these in the lull between Christmas and New Year).

Thanks, everyone. My first link actually got me to teams. Thats why it took me some time to figure out the correct link, but Alex was very helpful as usual.

You can see the "Portbeer" here. The one in the middle is actually a blend of German Hefeweizen and Martha's Ruby Port, whereas the two others are Belgian beer stored in Cockburn casks: The Billionare's vinegar, fantastic read:

Axel P wrote:Thanks, everyone. My first link actually got me to teams. Thats why it took me some time to figure out the correct link, but Alex was very helpful as usual.

You can see the "Portbeer" here. The one in the middle is actually a blend of German Hefeweizen and Martha's Ruby Port, whereas the two others are Belgian beer stored in Cockburn casks:

Portbeer.jpg

The Billionare's vinegar, fantastic read:

BV.jpg

Fascinated by the strong golden ale (am assuming it's somewhat akin to a Belgian dubbel), that sounds rather tasty. I may try and track it down... Thanks for sharing!

Great evening, as always. Thanks to Rich and Alex for organising and all for their company.

Really good to see everyone for this. Thank you, AHB, for sorting out the Zoom and for Rich for proposing / arranging it.

I wasn’t around when you started discussing the Billionaire’s Vinegar but it’s a good book: I enjoyed reading it many years ago.