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I'm feeling deprived of port and of the company of like-minded fellows with whom to share some port. I was also alarmed to see that the next offline date in my diary is not until April 4.

Is anyone interested in an offline (or two) in what remains of February and / or the first half of March?

Would 22 February work for people?

I also have to be in London on Thursday 10th March. Would that date also work?

There have been a number of themes suggested recently. At the end of the LBV Offline (Part 2) it was suggested that the next theme be "Bring a bottle of vintage port that you'd like to share with a fellow port lover" (this would include Single Quinta vintage ports and second label vintage ports). The "Daily Drinker" theme is still open and might be a nice theme for March so that it could contrast with the Fonseca Guimaraens offline in early April. There has also been the suggested themes of "Which is the best Single Quinta then?" and Derek's Intersection theme - but perhaps these are better left until a major tasting event.

So, to get the organisation rolling and to offer some hope to me for some port and company, how about:
1) Tuesday Feb 22 - "Bring a bottle of vintage port wrapped in foil, to share with a fellow port lover" at TCP
2) Thursday Mar 10 - "Daily Drinker" at TCP (and depending on the number of people who attend, we might just throw in some ringers to compare the daily drinkers against).

Alex

I'm afraid I can't make the 22nd but am keen for a "daily drinker" on the 10th!

JacobH wrote:I'm afraid I can't make the 22nd but am keen for a "daily drinker" on the 10th!

Derek has requested a change to the March date to the 9th. Title and first post changed to reflect this. Would the 9th still work for you?

AHB wrote:

JacobH wrote:I'm afraid I can't make the 22nd but am keen for a "daily drinker" on the 10th!

Derek has requested a change to the March date to the 9th. Title and first post changed to reflect this. Would the 9th still work for you?

Sorry, I'm afraid I have an orchestral rehearsal on the 9th. Do go ahead without me, though.

My presence in London on 9th March is by no means certain so please switch back to the 10th.

Derek

DRT wrote:My presence in London on 9th March is by no means certain so please switch back to the 10th.

Derek

OK, back to the 10th we are.

Count me in for next Tuesday. Are we bringing in tin foil?

I must admit i would be more excited by the prospect of a VP tasting (even if it were a "value VP" tasting) than the "daily drinker" on the 10th, but if I am free i will be there either way.

Caroline says she can make the 10th, too. Happy to bring some VP as well, if that's the consensus!

For some unknown reason my meeting in London on 21st Feb has had to be inexplicably moved to the following day

I'm in.

Praise be to DRT’s secretary!

(Yes, I know.)

And I’ll oblige with placemats after instructions are posted in this thread.

Summarising arrangements so far:

22nd Feb - DRT, RAYC and AHB attending; Crusting Pipe (will be) booked for 7pm; theme = bring a bottle of vintage port wrapped in kitchen foil (TCP will provide kitchen foil if asked very nicely or there is a Tesco Metro on the corner of King Street and Garrick Street). The alternative theme with only three of us attending is to bring two half bottles (or two full size bottles) of vintage port wrapped in foil.

10th Mar - AHB, JGH, CHR; RAYC and WS1 may attend; Crusting Pipe (will be) booked for 7pm; theme = bring a bottle of daily drinker (which might be vintage port) wrapped in kitchen foil.

First draft of the placemats for Tuesday 22nd February 2011.

• Are sticky labels (8 per A4) needed?
• As ever, please check.

[I edited as DRT posted below.]

jdaw1 wrote:First draft of the placemats for Tuesday 22nd February 2011. As ever, please check.

I like the two half bottles idea

DRT wrote:For some unknown reason my meeting in London on 21st Feb has had to be inexplicably moved to the following day

I'm in.

You must have sent lots of positigve vibes. Strangely, and without any influence from me, a meeting booked for Thursday next week is now scheduled for 3pm on Tuesday in central London.

What should I do afterwards?

Would 1/2 bottles work with 4 of us?

Updated draft of the placemats for Tuesday 22nd February 2011.

• +BMHR; +‟?”.
• Are sticky labels (8 per A4) needed?
• As ever, please check.

benread wrote:Would 1/2 bottles work with 4 of us?

1/2 bottles should work fine with up to 6 people. I'm bringing two halves.

Alex, the Boardroom would be ideal for this.

Derek

I'll call TCP today and see if we can get the Boardroom.

Tasting mats look good - thank you Julian - and have been printed but more attendees are welcome, should an opportunity present itself.

Question:

Does the half bottle have to be an original half bottle (as in, a half bottle filled by the shipper or original bottler) or can it be a half bottle filled from a full bottle at home?

AHB wrote:and have been printed

That was early. Did you manage to print the sticky bottle labels?

AHB wrote:Does the half bottle have to be an original half bottle (as in, a half bottle filled by the shipper or original bottler) or can it be a half bottle filled from a full bottle at home?

It may be a 750ml half bottle.

AHB wrote:Question:

Does the half bottle have to be an original half bottle (as in, a half bottle filled by the shipper or original bottler) or can it be a half bottle filled from a full bottle at home?

I will be opening two 750ml bottles and bringing half of each to TCP.

jdaw1 wrote:

AHB wrote:and have been printed

That was early. Did you manage to print the sticky bottle labels?

It was early, but needs must.

I did print the labels - on both sides of the label sheet to make sure that they would be useable.

DRT wrote:

AHB wrote:Question:

Does the half bottle have to be an original half bottle (as in, a half bottle filled by the shipper or original bottler) or can it be a half bottle filled from a full bottle at home?

I will be opening two 750ml bottles and bringing half of each to TCP.

Noted. I shall probably bring two original half bottles, but that will be as much for convenience as for any other reason.

AHB wrote:Does the half bottle have to be an original half bottle (as in, a half bottle filled by the shipper or original bottler) or can it be a half bottle filled from a full bottle at home?

If you are to do the later, then I hope at least one person will bring a third half-bottle, being a mixture of the other two

I had a text from Cookie today to say he will be joining us tomorrow evening

AHB has printed. If somebody will re-print, I will re-make.

Updated draft of the placemats for Tuesday 22nd February 2011.

• +RLC.

Please let me know which version was used (this latest, or that printed by AHB a few days ago), so that the ‘correct’ placemats can remain on my website after the tasting.

Many thanks for updating - I can print this version, and will aim to arrive at 7ish.

Enjoy tonight - count me in for March 10th..

Tom

Just decanted my contribution for tonight and I get a distinct smell of violets ...apologies if this changes to petrol before we drink it

Review of the evening of 22nd February
Placemats

The Ports:

• Warre Quinta da Cavadinha 1982
• Cask Sample 2010
• Sandeman 1927
• Quinta de la Rosa 1991
• Martinez 1985
• Croft Quinta de Roeda 1967
• Graham's 1977
• Smith Woodhouse Madalena 1988
• Quarles Harris 1980

What’s the theme for the 10th?

JacobH wrote:What’s the theme for the 10th?

I suggest that we make it "Daily Drinkers, Which Could Include Vintage Port". If everyone brings 2 half bottles, as seemed to work very successfully last week, we could get a decent spread of styles and ports.

Why not ‟More Half Bottles”?

First draft of the placemats for Thursday 10th March 2011.

• Header = ‟More Half Bottles”.
• Are sticky labels (8 per A4) needed?
• As ever, please check carefully.

I hope to make this though will not be able to confirm until tuesday/wednesday next week unfortunately.

As with previous tasting, I will need to seek dispensation from the theme and bring regular bottles as I do not own halves.

Cheers

Rob

Hi Rob,

do you want to adopt some port halves from me? I have at the moment 7 different ones on offer

regards

WS1

jdaw1 wrote:Why not ‟More Half Bottles”?

That's fine, but I want to emphasise that it is not Vintage Port in half bottles as it was on Feb 22. March 10th is much more open, with daily drinkers a real option.

I shall bring one current (if a little obscure) ruby and one vintage port.

New thread started specifically for the arrangements for March 10.