ThePortForum.com

Posted: **06:56 Tue 28 Jul 2009**

Updated:

Confirmed attendees:
Benread
AHB
JacobH
JDAW1
DRT
UncleTom

Non-attendees:
KillerB (subject to no last minute commitments elsewhere)

Location: The Crusting Pipe "boardroom", booked from 6.30pm onwards in my name.
Theme: 1970's night or "soixantes"(which we are yet to receive confirmation that it has been correctly interpreted!)

Original text: It was confirmed to me last night that my MiL will be staying from 14th August to 5th September. That means I will be mostly excused the usual duties regarding Edward. It also means I have more flexibility for a tasting in August, Test matches at the Oval excluded! (20th - 24th).

Presently, week of 24th - 28th looks best. Anyone feel like a TCP night?

Posted: **08:05 Tue 28 Jul 2009**

It seems that I am free that entire week. Any day would suit me, but TCP will only offer their fixed price menu Monday-Wednesday (I think).

Posted: **19:39 Wed 29 Jul 2009**

Is Wednesday 26th August a good starting bid to generate more interest. A couple of ideas for a theme have emerged elsewhre. Plus I have some of my own.

70's night
1987 (declared too young by Uncle Tom)
1982 horizontal - if we can find enough
Olympic years - perhaps one for 2012?

Thoughts?

Posted: **20:35 Wed 29 Jul 2009**

Hi Ben,

as said in the Warre Cavadinha 1987 thread I fear I may not be in London on that Wednesday the 26th.

Will let you know definitely as soon as I know it.

regards

WS1

Posted: **20:39 Thu 30 Jul 2009**

I think I could do the 26th; and am happy to leave the theme to others!

Posted: **20:55 Thu 30 Jul 2009**

Given we are now 3 minimum able to make 26th August, I have amended the title to relfect that. Wolfgang - I did note your absence, but this is driven by my mother in law being in residence and me being excused childcare duties - a rare occurrence!

Tom seems very keen on the 1982 theme, but I certainly cannot supply a bottle for that. We can either adopt or have an alternative theme. Views?

Posted: **21:53 Fri 31 Jul 2009**

I do like the idea of a 1982 horizontal as I have tasted very few of this vintage and have the usual biased view where I dismiss them all.

However, we drank my only 1982 vintage port at the Vargellas tasting. I will also have to adopt unless I happen to come across a suitable bottle.

Posted: **09:43 Sun 09 Aug 2009**

Having returned to the UK and checked my diary, I can confirm for the 26th. Any further views on a theme?

Posted: **18:29 Sun 09 Aug 2009**

I now make that myself, Alex and Jacob as definite and Tom as very likely, with Wolfgang an outsider to attend. GIven only one of the 4 probable attendees has any 1982 I think that may not be a great idea for a theme, unless Tom can put up for adoption and bring along sufficient bottles. I think that is probably a lot to ask, so for the sake of fairness and ease I think we need another theme.

1987 has been deemed to young for a tasting and Olympic years premature for other reasons ( but I would like to progress that debate elsewhere!). That leaves 70's night from my original suggestion, which I would be very happy to propose. Any other thoughts, or shall we adopt that theme?

Also, any other likely attendees, failing which I shall book the boardroom!

Posted: **18:44 Sun 09 Aug 2009**

There is nothing in my diary during that week that would permit a trip to London on the 26th, but nothing that would prevent it if circumstances conspire to make it necessary. Put me down as a "possible"

Derek

PS: I have no 1982s

Posted: **19:50 Sun 09 Aug 2009**

benread wrote:That leaves 70's night from my original suggestion, which I would be very happy to propose. Any other thoughts, or shall we adopt that theme?

Sounds good to me

Posted: **14:33 Fri 14 Aug 2009**

I'm a possible.

Posted: **22:31 Sat 15 Aug 2009**

I’m a possible too.

(We could make the theme ‟Soixantes” think before commenting!)

Posted: **17:21 Sun 16 Aug 2009**

Please would the probables (UncleTom) and the possibles (WS1, DRT, angeleyes, KillerB and JDAW1) confirm their status so I may confirm arrangements with TCP.

We also need to finalise the theme. We did seem to have settled on 70's night until JDAW1's recent cryptic post about "soixantes"! Any guesses or shall we stick with 1970's night?

Posted: **18:14 Sun 16 Aug 2009**

French numbers beginning with ‟soixante” run from soixante to soixante-dix-neuf. Thus the ‘soixantes’ cover two mature decades.

Well, I liked it.

And I’m in.

Posted: **18:47 Sun 16 Aug 2009**

jdaw1 wrote:French numbers beginning with ‟soixante” run from soixante to soixante-dix-neuf. Thus the ‘soixantes’ cover two mature decades.

Although, presumably, any Belgiums or Québécois would be limited to the first decade!(Thus giving this thread the second possible theme which would be realised in different ways depending on the nationalities of the participants)

How blind shall we do this evening?

Posted: **18:51 Sun 16 Aug 2009**

Blind is normally fun. I am up for that. Happy for "soixantes" to be adopted as well. I can still bring what I had in mind!

Posted: **18:52 Sun 16 Aug 2009**

JacobH wrote:(Thus giving this thread the second possible theme which would be realised in different ways depending on the nationalities of the participants)

(On reflection, the ‟Olympic theme” seems somewhere else. Oh, well!back to the glass of Crasto!)

Posted: **15:01 Mon 17 Aug 2009**

So have we settled on TCP as the venue and Something from the '70s as the theme?

Posted: **11:52 Tue 18 Aug 2009**

AHB wrote:So have we settled on TCP as the venue and Something from the '70s as the theme?

Yes and partially yes. JDAW1 has requested an extension of the theme to "soixante" being French for 1960's and 1970's - at least in his view. If he is inclined to bring a bottle from the 1960's I am not objecting! I shall be bringing a bottle from the 1970's!

Still waiting on DRT, KillerB and UncleTom to confirm their status.

Posted: **12:17 Tue 18 Aug 2009**

benread wrote:Yes and partially yes. JDAW1 has requested an extension of the theme to "soixante" being French for 1960's and 1970's - at least in his view. If he is inclined to bring a bottle from the 1960's I am not objecting! I shall be bringing a bottle from the 1970's!

There's a certain assumption there about what Julian is thinking about brining. I wonder if it is a clever double-bluff: he brings a Cockburn '75 and, as a result of his "soixante" confusion, we will blind-guess as a Fonseca '63...

Posted: **17:29 Tue 18 Aug 2009**

Cannot guarantee yet but still would like to be there.

Posted: **19:53 Tue 18 Aug 2009**

I'm in

Posted: **20:02 Tue 18 Aug 2009**

DRT attendance noted. I currently have the boardroom at TCP booked.

Jacob - can you do the honours with placemats please? I believe we have agreed to taste blind within the context of the agreed theme.

Posted: **21:38 Tue 18 Aug 2009**

I feel I ought to defer to the author of the Postscript if he is attending the tasting but some preliminary thoughts are here.

I’m a big fan of Jos Buivenga’s new typefaces, particularly Museo and Museo sans which are what I’ve used here.

Posted: **22:34 Tue 18 Aug 2009**

JacobH wrote:I feel I ought to defer to the author of the Postscript if he is attending the tasting but some preliminary thoughts are here.

May I request a little less toner: white is helpful for seeing the port. Other than that, well, of course not my usual style (e.g., I would have italicised the Soixante, but enjoyably striking.

Posted: **23:15 Tue 18 Aug 2009**

JacobH wrote:I feel I ought to defer to the author of the Postscript if he is attending the tasting but some preliminary thoughts are here.

Oh my goodness!

How has Jacob become a member of the DRT school of tasting mats?

Could I respectfully suggest that some consideration be given to the "less is more" theory of life and offlines? Actually, I like the font but find the heavy shading around the lettering rather oppressive. Perhaps if it could be lightened a little?

Posted: **07:13 Wed 19 Aug 2009**

AHB wrote:How has Jacob become a member of the DRT school of tasting mats?

Alex: seemingly yes. We made the same suggestion albeit in different form.
Jacob: that isn’t a compliment.
Derek: ‟that isn’t a compliment” isn’t a compliment.

Posted: **17:31 Wed 19 Aug 2009**

JacobH wrote:I’m a big fan of Jos Buivenga’s new typefaces, particularly Museo and Museo sans which are what I’ve used here.

For port abbreviations such as ‘F85’ I thoroughly dislike numbers having descenders. Indeed, whilst perhaps acceptable for lower-case number, I think descenders generally bad for large or tabular digits.

Posted: **19:01 Wed 19 Aug 2009**

jdaw1 wrote:
JacobH wrote:I’m a big fan of Jos Buivenga’s new typefaces, particularly Museo and Museo sans which are what I’ve used here.
For port abbreviations such as ‘F85’ I thoroughly dislike numbers having descenders. Indeed, whilst perhaps acceptable for lower-case number, I think descenders generally bad for large or tabular digits.

Yes, quite right; that’s on of the things that Opentype aims to support. Each Opentype font can have several different types of numbers (e.g. Old-Style which descend below the line; Lining which sit on the line; and Proportional which have the same width and so are ideal for tables) which can then be selected by the user. Museo seems to have both lining and old-style:

: examples.png (11.68 KiB) Viewed 6189 times

Anyway, with regards to the placemats, I was aiming to touch on the ’70s theme:

But in a bow to public pressure, I’ve tried to tone it down. A new version is here.

jdaw1 wrote:e.g., I would have italicised the Soixante

How do I change fonts in the middle of the title? I seem to remember there being something less-than-obvious about it...

Posted: **20:53 Wed 19 Aug 2009**

JacobH wrote:

Ooops: failed to notice that until just now and then I noticed that you’re far ahead. Even so, is it a bit typewriter-ish.

JacobH wrote:But in a bow to public pressure, I’ve tried to tone it down. A new version is here.

Much nicer. Thank you. Could the innermost white space be a mite larger perhaps with a slower growth in white-space size?

JacobH wrote:How do I change fonts in the middle of the title? I seem to remember there being something less-than-obvious about it...

Following www.jdawiseman.com/papers/placemat/placemat-code.html, how about a variation of:

Code: Select all

[ /quoteright (70 or )  {/TimesNewRomanPSMT CurrentFontSize selectfont} (Soixante) {/Helvetica CurrentFontSize selectfont} ( Night) ]

PS: I might be ‟+1”: details to follow if appropriate.

Posted: **05:42 Thu 20 Aug 2009**

We are close to outgrowing the boardroom!

Posted: **10:24 Thu 20 Aug 2009**

jdaw1 wrote:PS: I might be ‟+1”: details to follow if appropriate.

benread wrote:We are close to outgrowing the boardroom!

Just me no ‟+1”.

Posted: **16:17 Fri 21 Aug 2009**

Please express a preference:

Rarer; or
Better?

Also, would there be fierce objections if I were to bring an additional bottle?

Edit: if somebody wants to adopt I could bring all three?

Posted: **16:46 Fri 21 Aug 2009**

And!

And there is the 40% full bottle of Sandeman 20Y tawny, formerly belonging to my mother, that has been open, apparently for at least ten and maybe fifteen years. Do we want that as an amuse bouche whilst waiting for slow coaches?

Posted: **16:53 Fri 21 Aug 2009**

Either rarer or better work for me.

I have no objection to additional bottles.

In addition to my contribution I will be bringing a Crasto 2007 cask sample. This is a replacement for the one that many of us tasted previously that was thought to be "off".

Derek

Posted: **21:51 Fri 21 Aug 2009**

DRT wrote:Either rarer or better work for me.

I have no objection to additional bottles.

Me too. I think the choice is the bringer’s prerogative!

Can I clarify the lineup? I currently have:
Alex
Ben
Derek
Jacob
Julian I
Julian II (‟no objections to additional bottle” bottle)
10 Y/O Sandeman 20 Y/O Tawny
2007 Crasto VP

Posted: **06:04 Sat 22 Aug 2009**

JacobH wrote:Can I clarify the lineup? I currently have:
Alex
Ben
Derek
Jacob
Julian I
Julian II (‟no objections to additional bottle” bottle)
10 Y/O Sandeman 20 Y/O Tawny
2007 Crasto VP

The original post is up to date. JDAW1+1 is not attending and we may have two Alex's - AHB and KillerB. Other than that, you are correct, although Uncle Tom remains a possibility depending on "Bill" who may impact his walking plans!

BBcode fixed by jdaw1.

Posted: **08:47 Sat 22 Aug 2009**

I think the two versions of me represented two bottles, rather than two people.

Decision: better. It is also quite rare, though has been tasted (and liked) by at least some of those present. The rarer bottle, being OBV 1972, can be saved for an OBV vertical.

So I'm bringing Julian α, Julian β, and long-opened Sandeman 10Y tawny. (Does anybody have a virgin Sandeman 10Y tawny to which it could be compared?)

Posted: **09:20 Sun 23 Aug 2009**

The Sunday Times, §4, page 16 wrote:A group of 20 former pickpockets have turned over a new leaf. Targeting the busy areas of Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square the group of ‟put pocketers” plan to sneak £5, £10 and £20 notes into unguarded handbags and open pockets of unsuspecting ‟victims”. The initiative, funded by a broadband provider, will give away £100,000 in an attempt to cheer people up during the recession.

Posted: **06:09 Mon 24 Aug 2009**

Sorry but I'm out. Change of plan for this week so won't be there. Enjoy yourselves without me, if you can find it in your hearts to be so cruel.

Posted: **06:22 Mon 24 Aug 2009**

Am I going to have to listen to you all banging on about whether or not Freddie Flintstone should be knighted?

...and has anyone asked Christopher to join us?

Derek

PS: KillerB - we will obviously miss you terribly but will struggle on regardless in true stiff-upper-lip fashion

Posted: **07:48 Mon 24 Aug 2009**

DRT wrote:Am I going to have to listen to you all banging on about whether or not Freddie Flintstone should be knighted?

...and has anyone asked Christopher to join us?

Derek

PS: KillerB - we will obviously miss you terribly but will struggle on regardless in true stiff-upper-lip fashion

Calling him "Freddie Flintstone" isn't actually a joke, that's where his nickname came from, sorry

and no, he shouldn't be knighted. Botham was knighted at 50, more for his charity work than cricket.

Posted: **08:31 Mon 24 Aug 2009**

My plans to spend three days walking the Somerset coast have been reduced to two by the remains of hurricane Bill, so I can now make the event (if there's space still..) I don't have any ten year old 20yr Sandeman, but I could furnish a twenty five year old bottle of 10yr Noval (in addition to a VP)

Tom

Posted: **08:35 Mon 24 Aug 2009**

Save the old Noval 10Y for a tawny tasting. The distinctive feature of my fraction of a bottle is that I rescued it from my mother, in whose house it has been open and partly-drunk for so long.

Posted: **18:45 Mon 24 Aug 2009**

KillerB wrote: Calling him "Freddie Flintstone" isn't actually a joke, that's where his nickname came from, sorry

I claim plausible deniability. I have no idea what his nickname is. Feel free to enlighten me.

Posted: **19:16 Mon 24 Aug 2009**

Wikipedia wrote:Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff, MBE, (born 6 December 1977 !) is an English cricketer who plays for Lancashire County Cricket Club, England and Indian Premier League team, Chennai Super Kings. ! His nickname "Freddie" or "Fred" comes from the similarity between his surname and that of Fred Flintstone, and was first used in the press as a quip because of the issues he had with his weight when he first emerged onto the scene.

You may call him Mr Andrew Flintoff.

Also, Scotland play Australia later this month. Good luck.

Posted: **19:38 Mon 24 Aug 2009**

jdaw1 wrote: You may call him Mr Andrew Flintoff.

Hmmm. I have to confess that if I had been asked "who is Freddie Flintoff's cricket-playing brother?" I would have said "Andrew"

jdaw1 wrote:Also, Scotland play Australia later this month. Good luck.

Now that Andrew has retired from the England team perhaps he would like to change his nickname to "Jock McFlintoff"?

Posted: **21:31 Mon 24 Aug 2009**

jdaw1 wrote:(Does anybody have a virgin Sandeman 10Y tawny to which it could be compared?)

I don’t, nor do any of the merchants which I use. However, Ocado seems to stock it for £16.45. Is anyone doing some shopping in the next few days?

Alternative possibilities might be Waitrose or John Lewis...

Posted: **00:07 Wed 26 Aug 2009**

I just decanted my bottle and it smells horrible. I have decanted a reserve just in case it turns out to be a terminal problem. Unfortunately, this means we may have to taste both of these tomorrow evening

Derek

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26th August in London - 70's night ("soixante" for JDAW1!)

26th August in London - 70's night ("soixante" for JDAW1!)

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