ThePortForum.com

Further to some off-line discussion, a repeat of the VE Day 75th Anniversary Tasting has been proposed. This also, conveniently, offers an opportunity to conduct a small tasting of the 1945s.

The Green Room at the Boot & Flogger has been booked for the evening of Thursday 8th May 2025.

This tasting is limited to 10 heads, and the organiser may give preference to those already holding suitable bottles or able to obtain suitable bottles via adoption.

A number of places are already taken, and a reserve list will operate.

Please indicate interest and declare (here or via PM) offering.

Attendees and bottles:

• Gusbourne 2018 Blanc de Noirs (magnum) [NAC]

1. NAC - Ferreira
2. IDJ - Croft
3. MSC - Taylor
4. TC - Dow
5. AHB - Graham
6. MPM - Ramos Pinto
7. CMAG - Warre
8. GEAG - Constantino
9. HTWH - Sandeman, Noval, Delaforce
10. MJRM - Fonseca

Reserves:

1. PW
2. JDAW

Current draft of the placemats.

Yes please

If I make the list I will confirm bottles Friday

Bertie3000 wrote: ↑08:43 Wed 02 Apr 2025 Yes please

You're in - await bottle info

Now full for the moment. Reserves accepted.

I definitely have Taylor and Fonseca but will confirm any others

PhilW requested reserve spot.

Those unfamiliar with the back editions of this website are reminded of Sat 09 May 2015, RAF Club, 1945s.

Please add me to reserve
I have Croft and Taylor and I think a late bottled Dow
But need to check that if make the list

Christopher wrote: ↑19:29 Tue 08 Apr 2025 Please add me to reserve
I have Croft and Taylor and I think a late bottled Dow
But need to check that if make the list

Added. If a space becomes available I'll message you.

Could I have your food orders please.

Special steaks availability:
- Tomahawk (900-1000g) to share £82
- Fillet 230g £46
- Sirloin on the bone 600g £60
- Chateaubriand £86
All include two sides and two sauces

If people are sharing then I'll take this into account with the seating plan.

Will aim to send B&F the food order by 28th April.

If OK, I'm going to wait until after Monday's tasting, to get some reports on special steak quality.

For food can I have the avocado starter and the vegan burger please

I don’t have a bottle, and there are reserves who do. So I think the fair thing is to relinquish my seat. Phil: you’re on.

Pictures of the draft of the placemats have been added to the first post.

jdaw1 wrote:I don’t have a bottle, and there are reserves who do. So I think the fair thing is to relinquish my seat. Phil: you’re on.

Appreciate the thinking - doff hat.
However, I can't commit with certainty right now - so suggest leave me on reserve as may be able to take spot at last-minute if available then, and if that the seat is offered to Christopher who also has.

Christopher wrote: ↑19:29 Tue 08 Apr 2025 Please add me to reserve
I have Croft and Taylor and I think a late bottled Dow
But need to check that if make the list

You’re in.

The bottle list needs to be updated, but the draft placemat accurately reflects the bottles already secured for this tasting.

nac wrote: ↑22:34 Sun 13 Apr 2025

Christopher wrote: ↑19:29 Tue 08 Apr 2025 Please add me to reserve
I have Croft and Taylor and I think a late bottled Dow
But need to check that if make the list

You’re in.

The bottle list needs to be updated, but the draft placemat accurately reflects the bottles already secured for this tasting.

Christopher - apologies. I’m told that Julian might now have a bottle. Will confirm later today if you’re in or still on the bench.

Bottle list now updated.

Can now confirm availability (with a Cr45) should the need for a reserve arise.

Christopher wrote: ↑19:29 Tue 08 Apr 2025 Please add me to reserve
I have Croft and Taylor and I think a late bottled Dow
But need to check that if make the list

You're in as JDAW has confirmed withdrawal. Please confirm you still want to attend.

nac wrote: ↑13:40 Tue 22 Apr 2025

Christopher wrote: ↑19:29 Tue 08 Apr 2025 Please add me to reserve
I have Croft and Taylor and I think a late bottled Dow
But need to check that if make the list

You're in as JDAW has confirmed withdrawal. Please confirm you still want to attend.

Accepted via WhatsApp. Bottle tbc.

Could I have food orders by the end of this week please.

We'll be kicking things off with a magnum of Gusbourne's 2018 Blanc de Noirs.
Had one of these on Christmas Day and it was excellent.

Hurrah for magnums of Gusbourne's BdN 2018!

Ham hock terrine

Burger (with no salad, no tomato, no mayonnaise or any similar unguent, just bun, meat and dill pickle)
Fries
Chimichurri broccoli

Lemon tart

Welsh rarebit

I have located the Delaforce 1945, and will be bringing it too, so please add this to the list.

there seems to be a little bit of change to the menu and the Smoked Salmon now has Chili with it.

Ham Hock Terrine

If someone wants to share a Chateaubriand (crispy on the outisde, M-R)
or
Lemon and Herb Chicken Schnitzel (no Roasted peppers),

if possible NO skin on fries
Honey Roasted Carrots

Lemon Tart

Hadge
Very happy to share below and can I have same starter and pudding
On please can I have a copy paste!
Many thanks

Can I have fillet medium UNLESS somebody else wants to share Chateaubriand in which case I'll do that with them

Green beens with what ever I end up with - Ollie does accommodate this - no butter on them tho - just bung them in boiling water for 2 mins

Starter pate please and crumble with ice cream as a desert please

Same as Harry skinny fries ... no skin

hadge wrote: ↑18:47 Tue 22 Apr 2025 I have located the Delaforce 1945, and will be bringing it too, so please add this to the list.

Excellent news!

Food for me, please:

Peppered Smoked Mackerel

Sirloin on the bone 600g
Chimichurri Broccoli
skinny fries ... no skin

Welsh rarebit

nac wrote: ↑12:59 Thu 10 Apr 2025 Could I have your food orders please.

Special steaks availability:
- Tomahawk (900-1000g) to share £82
- Fillet 230g £46
- Sirloin on the bone 600g £60
- Chateaubriand £86
All include two sides and two sauces

If people are sharing then I'll take this into account with the seating plan.

Will aim to send B&F the food order by 28th April.

No starter

Sirloin on the bone, skinny fries (with or without skins on) and roasted carrots. No sauces.

Dessert to be decided on the night.

jdaw1 wrote: ↑20:45 Fri 11 Apr 2025Pictures of the draft of the placemats have been added to the first post.

Updated. Please check.

jdaw1 wrote: ↑21:14 Tue 29 Apr 2025

jdaw1 wrote: ↑20:45 Fri 11 Apr 2025Pictures of the draft of the placemats have been added to the first post.

Updated. Please check.

Checked. Appear correct. Many thanks.

BTW - loving the typeface.

jdaw1 wrote: ↑21:14 Tue 29 Apr 2025

jdaw1 wrote: ↑20:45 Fri 11 Apr 2025Pictures of the draft of the placemats have been added to the first post.

Updated. Please check.

Very nice. One letter amiss on the RP initials

Food order - going in shortly.

Food order queries resolved and has been sent to B&F.
Any changes now will need to be sorted on the night.

Given the age of these ports, and the likelihood some need pretty short decanting times, what is the thinking here? Just trying to plan where I need to be work wise!

My current plan is, I'm aiming to get to the B&F around 5:30pm.

i will be bringing 6 decanters/carafes (all similar Riedel) with all of the decanting kit, plus the 5 or 6 bottles for the event.

I was going to open all of the bottles straight away and then start the decanting around 6:15pm.

This is on the basis that we are starting with Champagne at 6:30pm, moving onto the ports around 7:15pm until closing.

Happy to change plans but don't really want to decant at home as i believe this could be too long for some of these. We can do smaller pours, if we think a port is to closed and then top up later?

I'm in agreement with Michael and Harry; relatively short decant time if possible.

I'm likely coming direct from Southwark, so will decant my Ferreira and Mike's Ramos Pinto around 1700 and then bring the decanters to B&F. I should also be there around 1730.

I'll print the paperwork.

nac wrote: ↑13:49 Thu 01 May 2025 ...will decant my Ferreira and Mike's Ramos Pinto...

Many thanks.

I'm not sure what time I'll be able to get away from the Excel Centre on Thursday next week, but sometimes it's been as late as 6.30pm. It'll then take me 40 minutes to get to the B&F.

If there's a decanter waiting for me when I get there, I'll decant on arrival.

Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑20:19 Thu 01 May 2025 I'm not sure what time I'll be able to get away from the Excel Centre on Thursday next week, but sometimes it's been as late as 6.30pm. It'll then take me 40 minutes to get to the B&F.

If there's a decanter waiting for me when I get there, I'll decant on arrival.

I'll ask B&F for some decanters.
Anyone other than Alex and Michael need one?

nac wrote: ↑07:17 Fri 02 May 2025

Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑20:19 Thu 01 May 2025 I'm not sure what time I'll be able to get away from the Excel Centre on Thursday next week, but sometimes it's been as late as 6.30pm. It'll then take me 40 minutes to get to the B&F.

If there's a decanter waiting for me when I get there, I'll decant on arrival.

I'll ask B&F for some decanters.
Anyone other than Alex and Michael need one?

Yes please. I will bring my undecanted bottle of Cr45 with an eta of 5.30pm at the B&F.

OK - I’ll ask Ollie for three decanters.

nac wrote: ↑13:49 Thu 01 May 2025 I'm in agreement with Michael and Harry; relatively short decant time if possible.

I'm likely coming direct from Southwark, so will decant my Ferreira and Mike's Ramos Pinto around 1700 and then bring the decanters to B&F. I should also be there around 1730.

I'll print the paperwork.

Bottles now in London & resting.
Paperwork printed.
Quite looking forward to this.

Really looking forward to this. I will be there at about 530 ready to decant (thank you for arranging a decanter Neil). Starting with one of my favourite UK sparkling wines is a real bonus too.

Bottles are resting - I’m intending to decant just before I leave for the train (about 2:40). I’ve opened a few 45’s this year and they have stood up well and not fallen off a cliff.

Sounds like we all have a plan - excellent news!
See you all tomorrow.