ThePortForum.com

LadyR and I plan to be back in Europe late June through July. Since this is probably the only time this year that we'll be back, I thought it might be a good idea to see if we can arrange some sort of offline.

I don't know yet if our plans allow a stopover in the UK, but maybe some of the British members can be persuaded to cross the Canal for the occasion? If Alex B. is still on for his Rotterdam trip 1/2 July, we could perhaps arrange something around that.

Ryanair flights are dead cheap, and they fly twice a day, including an evening flight, which is perhaps the most safe option for Derek.

Any volunteers?

(BTW, we also plan to go to Porto/Douro that period, so an offline there is also very well possible. )

I'm in provided the dates don't cross with our family holiday in late July or anything else that has already been planned for me that I don't know about and also if I can have assurance that someone will take responsibility for getting me up in time to catch the flight

Derek

I can give you a wake-up call. I believe I've done that before.

I should be up for it, but Rotterdam? All of my Dutch students say less-than-complimentary things about Rotterdam.

And they're right. It's just the place where Alex B. is supposed to be. But I wouldn't mind Amsterdam at all. (Or even The Hague / Scheveningen if AHB wants to stay close to Rotterdam.)

I am most certainly still going to Rotterdam in early July (I'll be there the nights of July 1 and 2, but need to be sober and alert on the day of July 2 so could really only make a serious offline on Wednesday July 2 - but would be happy to meet anywhere in the vast country that is the Netherlands. I fly in and out of Amsterdam so would prefer to be closer to Amsterdam on the evening of July 2 than anywhere else.)

Alex

July 2 is perfect for us. I will try to find a place in Amsterdam that allows BYO. Maybe StevieCage can point me in the right direction for that. Or if the weather permits, we could even organise an "offline on the canal". That'd be fun.

Should we pick a theme for this offline? Some suggestions:

- Warre
- 1977
- Magnums

Other ideas?

I'm happy to go with a theme; I'm happy for us not to have a theme but just "Bring a bottle of port wrapped in foil"

I will struggle to do magnums as I own exactly none!

If we use 1977 as a theme we will certainly be able to enjoy some great wines...

I've edited the title, it now shows the final date.

I'm quite happy with the familiar theme "bottle in foil" as well, but let's see what the others say.

I'd like to attend!
Is it a diner time appointment or do I have to take the day off?

Might be wise to take the next day off, altogether.

I will be working in Rotterdam during the day on July 2 so I would hope that we will be able to get together in the early evening, say at a time that allows me to leave Rotterdam around 6pm and drive to wherever the tasting takes place.

I would also be very grateful when we have organised a venue if someone who knows the area could recommend me a hotel - comfort and closeness being more important than price.

Alex

Our good friend, and fellow Utrechter, Joost is also most likely to attend, depending on if everything goes well with the baby they expect any day now. He also kindly offered his house for the venue.

Alex, I'll send you a PM with information on places to stay in Utrecht and travel arrangements from Rotterdam and to Schiphol (which is only 30 minutes by direct train).

If we organise the offline at Joost's, we don't need aluminium/tin/silver foil. He has his blind tasting toolset all worked out, including numbered bags...

As a recap:

Confirmed attendees:
- AHB
- Rubby
- StevieCage
- LadyRoots
- RonnieRoots

Most likely to attend:
- Joost

Possible attendees:
- KillerB
- Derek T.

Possible themes:
- Something in a numbered bag
- 1977
(Votes (or other ideas) please)

Location:
- Utrecht (at Joost's house)

Excellent location sir!

Excellent - count me in! '77VP sounds like a nice theme to me.

If the theme is looking to be 1977, LadyR and I can bring Warre and Graham. This can be changed, if necessary, but let's see how far we get.

KillerB and Derek, do you still have the intention to fly over? A Ryanair return flight is only £10 pp including taxes (but excl. of course all the silly charges they come up with during the booking process). I'm sure we can also arrange a place to sleep somewhere...

Ronnie,

Sorry, I can't get the time off work that week and I know I'm going to be as sick as a dog knowing you guys are supping all those 1977s

Hopefully we will meet up again another time soon.

Derek

'77 sounds like a great theme. I don't have my cellar list with me but I know that I have Gould Campbell - I just hope it's not a corked GC77! I'm pretty sure that I have some other shippers apart from the ones already mentioned, but I'm not sure which they are.

Alex

Derek: That's a shame, but quite understandable ofcourse.

Alex: I'd love to taste the GC again. I had it once, about 3 years ago, and remember it needed more than a day in the decanter to open up!

Marieke (aka LadyCage ) would also like to join us. So we've settled on 77VP as the theme? Nice! I can provide Dow, Niepoort and / or Taylor.

I may still be able to make it - hold a place for me.

KillerB! Should you need a place to crash afterwards, I'm sure we'll have a place for you either in Amsterdam or Utrecht.

So time for a first posting in this forum.

Ronald mentioned my name as 'most likely to attend' and possible host for the tasting. Last week my son is born and every thing is going so very well, I am already now quit sure of my attendancy and hosting will not be any problem.

A dinner at my place is possible as well, but I don't think I will have enough inspiration and time to make a full dinner. But with some help and inspiration it won't be a problem...

I am not sure if I will have a '77 vintage port in my cellar, most of my Vintages are much younger...

Santé,
Joost

Hi Joost! Congratulations on your son!

Joost,

Hello and congratulations! My son is due in about 8 weeks so we share a common dilemma. The attached link may be of interest - collective thoughts on which vintage port to lay down for a child of 2008!

viewtopic.php?t=1577

Congratulations Joost! And good to hear that all went well.

I'm sure we'll manage to put together some sort of dinner, and I know for a fact that LadyR and I are craving for some good chunks of cheese!

If you don't manage to find a '77, just shoot me an e-mail, maybe we can work something out. But I also wouldn't mind a pirate in the line-up.

And now for a name for the boy. How about Graham? Sounds stylish doesn't it?

KillerB wrote:I may still be able to make it - hold a place for me.

Good! We will certainly keep your place open.

@ Ben,

Finding good 2008-wines will of course be the next part of the job, but I allready sceduled for the next years:
2009: Find good Loire and German 2008-wines
2011: Vintage Port, Bordeaux (Sauternes) and Rhone
2012-2015: Barolo
So there is plenty of time left to fill my cellar with 2008

Before thinking on wine, be sure you enjoy as much as possible during the birth and the week after. Your only task is to be there and open up the champagne... I am much more exited about the first week as I always might have thought. It is really great...

Santé,
Joost

@ Ronnie,

We didn't name the boy after a wine. I think it is a little too risky unless you also name him after the year as well . The boy is named Abel and you will find the card in your post one of these days...

I contact you about the Port I will bring in...

Santé,
Joost

A new, updated list, including the ports:

Theme: 1977

Confirmed attendees:
1. AHB (possibly Gould Campbell)
2. Rubby (?)
3. StevieCage (Dow / Niepoort)
4. LadyCage aka Marieke (Dow / Niepoort)
5. Joost (Taylor)
6. Mrs. Joost (with baby)
7. Jasper (?)
8. LadyRoots (Warre, Graham or Fonseca)
9. RonnieRoots (Warre, Graham or Fonseca)

Possible attendees:
- KillerB

Location:
- Utrecht (at Joost's house)

RonnieRoots wrote:And now for a name for the boy. How about Graham? Sounds stylish doesn't it?

...or how about:

Martin(ez) - 229th most popular in UK in 2007
Taylor - 88th
Warre(n) - 208th
Callum (Calem) - 22nd (A bit tenuous I know!)
(Quarles) Harris - 367th
(Gould) Campbell - 1056th
Morgan - 93rd
Robert(sons) - 84th
Adam - 26th
(Duff) Gordon - 1611st

Every one lifted from the tasting notes!

I doubt Mrs Joost will approve thogh, much as Mrs Read does not approve of any names I suggest with cricket themes! Maybe she would miss a port theme?!

I've edited the list to include Joost's contribution: Taylor.

Stevie, because the Taylor is the only '77 in Joost's cellar, I've put you and Marieke down for the Dow and Niepoort. Hope that's ok? It's been a very long time since I tasted the Dow, really looking forward to that!

Jasper is also now a member.

Uh ooh, the list of "reserved" bottles is getting longer. Time to hunt down a '77 quickly...

Jasper

Hi Jasper, welcome!

I've edited the list to add Jasper to the confirmed attendees. I've also added Fonseca to the possible ports that LadyR and I can bring. This broadens the possibilities for others on what to bring, and is perhaps a good way to secure the attendance of KillerB. You never know, this might just be the perfect bottle you've missed so far...

That is good news! In that case, please put me on the list for a Warre.

Jasper

OK, done! Here's another updated list:

Theme: 1977

Confirmed attendees:
1. AHB (possibly Gould Campbell)
2. Rubby (?)
3. StevieCage (Dow / Niepoort)
4. LadyCage aka Marieke (Dow / Niepoort)
5. Joost (Taylor)
6. Mrs. Joost (with baby)
7. Jasper (Warre)
8. LadyRoots (Graham / Fonseca)
9. RonnieRoots (Graham / Fonseca)

Possible attendees:
- KillerB (Smith Woodhouse)

Location:
- Utrecht (at Joost's house)

I like the line-up so far! Dow and Niepoort - check.

Pfff, I am not that expert on Vintage Port, but with:
Fonseca, Taylor, Dow, Graham, Niepoort, Gould Cambell, Warre, Smith Woodhouse

I assume we'll have 8 of the best 10 VP's of 1977, which top 10 VP's are missing?

Quarles Harris, Cockburn, Rebello Valente, Sandeman, Croft, Offley or Ferreira? Am I missing some? I thought this was a bad period for Noval...

I am looking forward to this great tasting...

Santé,
Joost

It seems my hopes of flying with hand luggage have been dashed

You can put me down as definite for the Gould Campbell 1977. That is what I shall bring with me.

This was a bad period for Noval, they preferred to declare 1978 for both Nacional and the regular wine.

In my opinion, the best wines that are missing are Croft and Ferreira, although I always enjoy and have a bit of a soft spot for Quarles Harris and haven't had one of those for a while.

Alex

This is the list of scores from James Suckling's recent 1977 retrospective. From the top 10 we are only missing Sandeman and Cockburn. The latter is incredibly difficult to find, because it was not officially declared. If anyone knows of a source, please let me know!

1. FONSECA - 100

2. GOULD CAMPBELL - 97

3. TAYLOR - 97

4. SMITH WOODHOUSE - 96

5. NIEPOORT - 94

6. WARRE - 93

7. DOW - 92

8. COCKBURN - 91

9. GRAHAM - 91

10. SANDEMAN - 91

11. CALEM - 87

12. CROFT - 87

13. QUARLES HARRIS - 87

14. FERREIRA - 86

15. DELAFORCE - 85

I've got no 1977 in my 'collection' either, so if there is anyone left with a spare bottle that they don't mind bringing along, I'll gladly buy it off you.
Thanks!

Rubby, take a look here. Uncle Tom may be able to help you. If you can arrange something today, he can hand the bottle over to KillerB or AHB tomorrow.

In the light of attempting to complete the 'top 10' a Sandeman would be most welcome but any other is very much appreciated too of course!

Thanks for the tip.

I had forgotten about that most recent article by JS...would be very cool if we could indeed get the entire top-10! We are in for a treat!
Ruddy, I have a (trusted) source for a Sandeman '77 - not to expensive either: PM me for details, should you like to get it.

Is it LadyR who was born in 1977? A 1977 Top 10 horizontal would be tremendous fun to do.

Alex

Indeed. A good excuse, isn't it?