1955 Horizontal 13th June

[cem]

On Tuesday the 13th June 2023 at the Boot and Flogger, I’m holding a 1955 Horizontal. While I don’t claim 1955 to be the greatest vintage, it has given me the greatest pleasure over the last 10-15 years. Perhaps because of the drinking window it’s in but also the consistent high-quality of the producers I’ve been fortunate to drink on numerous occasions, as my liver can attest to.

Here are the VP bottles:

1. Fonseca
2. Graham
3. Taylor
4. Warre
5. Dow
6. Cockburn
7. Croft
8. Noval
9. Offley (from Charles)
10. Sandeman
11. Niepoort
12. Smith Woodhouse
13. Theinpoint (likely Butler Nephew, from Phil)
14. Gould Campbell
15. Mackenzie
16. Martinez
17. Gonzalez Byass
18. Tuke Holdsworth
19. Morgan
20. Rebello Valente
21. Real Vinicola
22. Spratley
23. Hooper
24. Burmester
25. Ferreira
26. Amandio's Silva & Filhos
27. Mystery - Peatling and Cawdron Bottling (Unknown or Own Label?)

Other bottles:

Romanée St. Vivant - Louis Latour Les Quatre Journaux
Cheval Blanc
Lafite
Climens
D'Yquem
Kopke Colheita

And

Pol Roger (Double Magnum)

I am searching out for a Nacional 1955 with help from others, so that may get added too.

There will be places for 12 people in total:

1. Cliff M.
2. Harry H.
3. Harry’s Guest
4. Alex B.
5. Tony C.
6. Neil C.
7. Julian W.
8. Mike M.
9. Charles R.
10. George G.
11. Ian J.
12. Phil W.

A reserve list will operate in case any of the 12 are unable to attend.

This is happening under “the cellar reduction party” protocol so if you want to attend you are not required to bring any bottle, just put your name down. However if someone has a VP from 1955 that is not on the above list they’ll be given preference.

Julian is providing the Cockburn due to a prior private arrangement.

All other bottles have been sourced from the trade by me over the last 15 years apart from two that I got via auction (Romanée St. Vivant and Pol Roger) so hopefully poor bottles will be at a minimum.

The day will start at noon and end when we are kicked out no doubt.

The only request is that if you come that you fully commit to the whole day/evening so we don’t waste fine wines!

Finally a thank you to Harry for arranging the booking and organising the day at the B&Fas I am currently overseas.


Current draft of the placemats.

[flash_uk]

Splendid tasting - count me in! No surprise my 55s are on the list above but very happy to bring one if required.

[CPR 1]

Very much yes please - I can add Offley to the line up if 'needed'

[winesecretary]

Yes please (please). I may be slightly late as I have a meeting 1100-1200 that may overrun slightly. But my office is 10 minutes away, and I can run.

[winesecretary]

I only have Mackenzie.

[idj123]

Not sure where the seven came from but yes please!

[idj123]

And yes, all the suspects appear to have been accounted for and so nothing additional I can offer.

[PhilW]

I would love to join you. In terms of 55s not listed I could provide either or both of Offley Boa Vista '55 (though I think Charles has that covered) and Theinpont '55 (unknown shipper, most likely Butler Nephew; I would tong to find out, if opening that one).

[mcoulson]

I would so love to join in with this but I'm in Canada then

Do have a fab time as I'm sure you all will.

[jdaw1]

I have already accepted.

[cem]

Thanks for the offer of the Offley, Charles and for the the likely Butler Nephew Phil, that is most appreciated and accepted. If an NN55 is procured then we'll have 4 VP flights of 7. So all 12 places are spoken for, and we'll start a waitlist in case of a drop out.

[Alex M]

May I be placed on the reserve list pending release from work?

[uncle tom]

Doesn't feel that long since I last went to a 55, so I'll let this one be enjoyed by others.

Can supply bottles however

Available to spare I have:

Butler Nephew
Cockburn
Dow
Fonseca
Gonzalez Byass
Graham
Mackenzie
Martinez
Noval
Offley
Taylor

If you want to be indulgent, I can also supply the Taylor as a magnum

[nac]

Cliff

I have a bottle of the Chateau Rauzan-Gassies 1955 which I'm happy to bring.

We had another battle from the same source at a TPF Wine Dinner a couple of years ago and it was still pretty good.

I'll put it aside, but let me know.

Cheers
Neil

[winesecretary]

I am extremely sorry to say that I am going to have to drop out of this.

It is hard to express how extremely sorry I am.

[winesecretary]

Clutching at straws - might be able to engineer an arrival with a co-taster (Jo) at about 1830 if that worked for the assembled multitude.

[jdaw1]

Current draft of the placemats added to first post. Including bonus line “/PaperType /A1 def”!

The Ports need an ordering better than that in the thread. Please suggest.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Cliff/Harry - do you need a hand decanting and getting things ready? I can get to the B&F around 10.30 if needed.

Current draft of the placemats added to first post. Including bonus line “/PaperType /A1 def”!

The Ports need an ordering better than that in the thread. Please suggest.

I thought we were doing this as two flights of 14 rather than one flight of 28? If so, despite the impressive look of the exiting draft placemats, should we not have 2 different placemats? And a separate placemat for the wines since these will go with food?

[flash_uk]

I thought we were doing this as two flights of 14 rather than one flight of 28?

I thought Cliff was proposing 4 flights of 7...

Thanks for the offer of the Offley, Charles and for the the likely Butler Nephew Phil, that is most appreciated and accepted. If an NN55 is procured then we'll have 4 VP flights of 7. So all 12 places are spoken for, and we'll start a waitlist in case of a drop out.

[hadge]

CONFIRMING PLANS for the celebration of 1955

Start time 12:15 for 12:30pm

Arrival
Champagne and Canapés

Flight 1 – 6 Reds
Starters – to be pre-ordered.
Mains – Steak and Kidney pie, fries and veg

Flight 2 – 14 ports
Pudding – to be pre-ordered (idealy)
Cheese

Flight 3 - Sweets for afternoon break

Flight 4 – 14 ports
Dinner to be ordered on day

Please can everyone confirm what starter they would like, otherwise I will order for you.

[flash_uk]

Burrata starter for me please.

[PhilW]

Starter please: Grilled pitta, lemon and coriander houmous.

[cem]

Potted crab starter for me please.

[cem]

Thanks Alex, that would be most welcome.

Cliff/Harry - do you need a hand decanting and getting things ready? I can get to the B&F around 10.30 if needed.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Potted crab starter for me please.

I’ll pass on a pre-ordered pudding (as in, please may I pre-order no pudding).

[idj123]

Starter please: Grilled pitta, lemon and coriander houmous.

+1 please!

[forest26]

Potted crab starter for me please
Pass on S&K pie


Can help decanting - can be there about 11

[CPR 1]

Starter Pitta and hummus please

Sent from my SM-S911B using Tapatalk

[nac]

Potted crab starter please.

[jdaw1]

Re the Cockburn, absent contrary instruction, I’ll open Monday morning, and decant Monday evening.

Soup starter please.

[jdaw1]

The placemats have been updated, and reshaped per Harry’s requests. Please could somebody check them for errors?

[hadge]

Re the Cockburn, absent contrary instruction, I’ll open Monday morning, and decant Monday evening.

Soup starter please.

the Ck is flight 4, the other ports are being decanted that morning but it is your call when you open and decant it.

[hadge]

Food order has been sent in. if there is any changes please let me know

[flash_uk]

The placemats have been updated, and reshaped per Harry’s requests. Please could somebody check them for errors?

I've had a look - couldn't spot any issues with the placemats...all bottles accounted for and credited correctly, with all 12 attendees in the pack.

[jdaw1]

Re the Cockburn, absent contrary instruction, I’ll open Monday morning, and decant Monday evening.

the Ck is flight 4, the other ports are being decanted that morning but it is your call when you open and decant it.

Then the Cockburn will be opened Monday evening, decanted Tuesday morning.

When do you want helpers to be on parade? (I have the whole day off work.)

[PhilW]

Then the Cockburn will be opened Monday evening, decanted Tuesday morning.

I will be doing the same with the Thienpont.

[hadge]

all printing has been completed!

[jdaw1]

Links:

• Review of the event as a whole;
• Tasting notes, grouped by tasting-note pages in the placemats:
  • • 1955 Pol Roger Double Magnum;
    • 1955 Château Climens;
    • 1955 Château d’Yquem;
    • 1955 Kopke Colheita;
  • • 1955 Romanée St. Vivant Louis Latour Les Quatre Journaux;
    • 1955 Château Rauzan-Gassies;
    • 1955 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou;
    • 1955 Château Beychevelle;
    • 1955 Château Cheval Blanc;
    • 1955 Château Lafite;
  • • 1955 Offley;
    • 1955 Niepoort;
    • 1955 Theinpoint (likely Butler Nephew);
    • 1955 Mackenzie;
    • 1955 Gonzalez Byass;
    • 1955 Amandio’s Silva & Filhos;
    • 1955 Tuke Holdsworth;
    • 1955 Morgan;
  • • 1955 Rebello Valente;
    • 1955 Real Vinicola;
    • 1955 Spratley;
    • 1955 Hooper;
    • 1955 Burmester;
    • 1955 Unknown Bottled by Peatling and Cawdron;
  • • 1955 Fonseca;
    • 1955 Taylor (Newcastle Breweries);
    • 1955 Taylor (Harvey’s);
    • 1955 Croft;
    • 1955 Dow;
    • 1955 Warre;
    • 1955 Graham;
    • 1955 Gould Campbell;
  • • 1955 Smith Woodhouse;
    • 1955 Martinez;
    • 1955 Cockburn;
    • 1955 Quinta do Noval;
    • 1955 Sandeman;
    • 1955 Ferreira;
• The placemats;
• Planning and arrangements.

[jdaw1]

Small problem. That bottle of Cockburn that I’d promised to bring, from which the cork has been removed, smells fabulous. But the cork, ahem, says Taylor.

I implore other attendees not to be too offended by the switch.

Edit: bottled by Harvey’s.

[CPR 1]

Small problem. That bottle of Cockburn that I’d promised to bring, from which the cork has been removed, smells fabulous. But the cork, ahem, says Taylor.

I implore other attendees not to be too offended by the switch.

Oh what a disaster! do we still want a Cockburn 55? I happen to have one to hand I can bring - decision needed by 22:00

[jdaw1]

Thank you for being the saviour — I’ve pinged Harry, whose decision it is.

[cem]

Don't worry. I have a backup CK55 with me and I will bring it.

[jdaw1]

There are now two of the Taylor 1955s. (Just in case we would otherwise have been thirsty — can’t be too safe.)

[Alex Bridgeman]

But there’s no space for a second Taylor on the placemats!

[jdaw1]

But there’s no space for a second Taylor on the placemats!

I know. And the second A4 could have held another circle.