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Ronnie. This sounds a great idea....Could you please count me in if there is still space. I also do not have a preference but a Fonseca Vertical is something I haven't experienced as yet.

Thank you

Cookie

Our dates in Holland are now clear. We are in Utrecht from Saturday July 3 until the next Saturday, the 10th.

We don't have a preference for a specific date, but either Friday the 9th or Saturday the 10th would suit Joost very well, so let's look at those dates first. If these don't work, we can always try another.

So far, we have a potential number of attendees of 16 people. That's a bit much, both in terms of accommodation and to secure a decent taste of port for everyone. After consulting Joost, we came to an ideal number of 12. Let's see how far we get and please confim your attendance so. I will compose a waiting list once we reach a confirmed number of 12 attendees.

Definite attendees:
- LadyR
- RonnieRoots
- Joost
- Sandra
- Gerwin
- Herman

Likely / possible / definite possible:
- jdaw1
- DRT
- Axel P
- Gerwin +1
- KillerB
- Jeroen
- Thijs
- Chris Doty
- Dries
- Cookie

When? Somewhere in the week of 3-10 July 2010, preferrably 9th or 10th

Where? Joost's place in Utrecht

What? Some ideas:
- The 'Port Matrix'
- The 'F' Plan II (a Fonseca vertical)
- The Off-Years (ports from years that were not generally declared, such as 2001, 1999, 1995, 1987, 1976 etc.)
- Portuguese vs. British style vintage ports
- The knights who say NI(epoort)

Other ideas are most welcome.

Ronnie,

personally I would prefer the 9th and the F-Plan.

Best

Axel

Axel, since you will be able to attend, I think it's only fair to skip the Niepoort option. People interested in doing a Niepoort vertical can join you in November in Germany.

I like both the F-Plan and Off-Years themes, and will go with whatever the majority decided.

LadyR (who is about to pop any minute now) has a preference for The Off-Years, her reasoning being that this theme will give us the opportunity to taste a larger variety of styles. Makes sense.

For both themes we have some nice contributions.

There’s been a lot of teasing talk about 1975: surely it is time to gather evidence rather than rely on anecdote. What about a big 1975 horizontal?

Also, my wife now has me on a non-port holiday across early July, so, alas, I’m out. Happy to make placemats though.

Sorry to hear you won't be there Julian. We'll save the 1975 theme for a time you will be there.

RonnieRoots wrote:We'll save the 1975 theme for a time you will be there.

That is the politest dis-invitation that I have ever received.

jdaw1 wrote:

RonnieRoots wrote:We'll save the 1975 theme for a time you will be there.

That is the politest dis-invitation that I have ever received.

RonnieRoots wrote:

jdaw1 wrote:

RonnieRoots wrote:We'll save the 1975 theme for a time you will be there.

That is the politest dis-invitation that I have ever received.

Hi Ronnie,

It's my wife's birthday that week so please put me on the reserve list since we usually invite some people on the Friday or Saturday. If there's space available and the actual date is decided, I'll try to join.

About the theme: Personally I do not have a major preference but I do believe that the Off-Years theme is the easiest for all participants with regards to the availability of bottles and it might give some nice surprises.

I've put the date on July 9th for the moment. If there are major with that please let me know.

Dries, everybody knows birthday celebrations are best done on Saturday.

I'm afraid I will be unable to make this event, as my family is visiting London from the States that weekend.

Sounds like a lovely time. Save a drop for my spirit.

RonnieRoots wrote:I've put the date on July 9th for the moment. If there are major with that please let me know.

Dries, everybody knows birthday celebrations are best done on Saturday.

Hi Ronnie,

I have just learned that my wife has booked a surprise-weekend away (the surprise being the actual location) for her and me from 9-11 july for our wedding anniversary . And I am afraid that the weekend will not be in the Utrecht region.

So if the offline stays on the 9th of July, unfortunately I will not be able to join you this time .

Gerwin

gerwin.degraaf wrote:

RonnieRoots wrote:I've put the date on July 9th for the moment. If there are major with that please let me know.

Dries, everybody knows birthday celebrations are best done on Saturday.

Hi Ronnie,

I have just learned that my wife has booked a surprise-weekend away (the surprise being the actual location) for her and me from 9-11 july for our wedding anniversary . And I am afraid that the weekend will not be in the Utrecht region.

So if the offline stays on the 9th of July, unfortunately I will not be able to join you this time .

Gerwin

Are you available earlier in that week and would that be a problem for the others?

RonnieRoots wrote:

gerwin.degraaf wrote:

RonnieRoots wrote:I've put the date on July 9th for the moment. If there are major with that please let me know.

Dries, everybody knows birthday celebrations are best done on Saturday.

Hi Ronnie,

I have just learned that my wife has booked a surprise-weekend away (the surprise being the actual location) for her and me from 9-11 july for our wedding anniversary . And I am afraid that the weekend will not be in the Utrecht region.

So if the offline stays on the 9th of July, unfortunately I will not be able to join you this time .

Gerwin

Are you available earlier in that week and would that be a problem for the others?

Yes, I am availble on Monday through Thursday.

Sorry Gerwin, but Friday is the only option for Joost, so we'll have to keep it on that date.

Theme: there seems to be a slight preference for Fonseca, and I'm happy to go for that theme. LadyR and I can easily supply the 1985 and 2003, but could also do 1977 should that be necessary. We will definitely bring one extra bottle: Fonseca Guimaraens 1976.

Joost said that he can provide 1992 and Guimaraens 1987. Both excellent choices as far as I'm concerned.

I can bring 86, 88 and 96 Guimaraens - willing to supply two, three would just be getting heavy.

Great, if you take along the 86 and 88 we have a very nice comparison to make: 85 through 88.

So far we have:

• Fonseca 2003 (RonnieR / LadyR)
• Fonseca 1992 (Joost / Sandra)
• Guimaraens 1988 (KillerB)
• Guimaraens 1987 (Joost / Sandra)
• Guimaraens 1986 (KillerB)
• Fonseca 1985 (RonnieR / LadyR)
• Guimaraens 1976 (extra bottle ”“ RonnieR / LadyR)
• If someone else wants to bring 85 or 03 we can supply 1977 alternatively.

Definite attendees:
- LadyR
- RonnieRoots
- Joost
- Sandra
- Axel P
- KillerB

Likely / possible / definitely possible:
- Jeroen
- Thijs
- Dries
- Cookie
- Herman
- Chris

1986 and 1988 have been extracted from their coffins

KillerB wrote:1986 and 1988 have been extracted from their coffins

So they weren't next to the Vesuvio 1994 then?

A bit late perhaps, but if it is still possible, than Petra and myself would like to attend as well! We can provide 85, 95, 96, 97, 00 and / or 03. I'll let Ronnie pick his favourites, but I do think a '77 should be included...

Ronnie,

I am very sorry, but cannot be there on your July tasting as my boss arranged a flight for him and me over the weekend to work. Although I am aware that there will always be another time and another port, but I very much would have liked to meet you guys there.

So best wishes for an excellent tasting with no faulty bottles

Axel

StevieCage wrote:A bit late perhaps, but if it is still possible, than Petra and myself would like to attend as well! We can provide 85, 95, 96, 97, 00 and / or 03. I'll let Ronnie pick his favourites, but I do think a '77 should be included...

Of course that is possible! Chris (who you probably know from the Utrechtse Wijnsociëteit) may want to adopt a bottle of 1985. If you want, it would be great if you and Petra could contribute the 1997 and 2000. That way, we have a couple of very nice comparisons to make, being:

• 1976 vs 1977
• 1985 vs 1987
• 1986 vs 1988
• 1992 vs 1997
• 2000 vs 2003

Axel P wrote:Ronnie,

I am very sorry, but cannot be there on your July tasting as my boss arranged a flight for him and me over the weekend to work. Although I am aware that there will always be another time and another port, but I very much would have liked to meet you guys there.

So best wishes for an excellent tasting with no faulty bottles

Axel

I am very sorry to hear that Axel, I would have loved to have finally being able to meet eachother. Hopefully a next time.

I can provide:
1983 Fonseca
1986 Guimaraens
1995 Guimaraens

Considering that the 1986 is already provided and the 1995 was recently tasted be Chris Doty and considered WAY too young (viewtopic.php?p=33854) I suggest to bring the 1983 Fonseca.

rgrds,
Dries

Good to hear you'll be joining Dries. The 1983 sounds fantastic.

Definite attendees:
- LadyR
- RonnieRoots
- Joost
- Sandra
- KillerB
- Smisse
- StevieCage
- Petra
- Chris

Ports so far:

• Fonseca 2003 (RonnieR / LadyR)
• Fonseca 2000 (StevieC / Petra)
• Fonseca 1997 (StevieC / Petra)
• Fonseca 1992 (Joost / Sandra)
• Guimaraens 1988 (KillerB)
• Guimaraens 1987 (Joost / Sandra)
• Guimaraens 1986 (KillerB)
• Fonseca 1985 (likely to be adopted by Chris)
• Fonseca 1983 (Smisse)
• Fonseca 1977 (RonnieR / LadyR)
• Guimaraens 1976 (extra bottle ”“ RonnieR / LadyR)

Hi Ronald,

Jeroen will attend as well! I assume his contribution will be revealed soon...

Santé,
Joost