Intensive Training - 2nd April 2011

[DRT]

With only two days to go before the big event, a few brave soldiers are conducting an intensive training exercise:

Smith Woodhouse Madalena 1988
Smith Woodhouse 1977
Gould Campbell 1970
Graham's Malvedos 1965
Dow 1963
Croft 1945

This is hard work, but will be worth it in the end.

[benread]

Looking at the date, I think you may be stuck in last night's time warp!

[DRT]

Looking at the date, I think you may be stuck in last night's time warp!

Move along, move along. Nothing to see here.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Top three wines of the night were voted as:
Croft 1945 - 1, 1, 1
Dow 1963 - 2, 2 ,3
Malvedos 1965 - 3, 3, 2

Smith Woodhouse Madalena 1988 was lovely, but not up to the competition. Smith Woodhouse 1977 was great, but was behind in maturity and not able to compete. Gould Campbell 1970 fell apart a little overnight but was still very drinkable if it hadn't been up against such competition.

[Andy Velebil]

Top three wines of the night were voted as:
Croft 1945 - 1, 1, 1
Dow 1963 - 2, 2 ,3
Malvedos 1965 - 3, 3, 2

Smith Woodhouse Madalena 1988 was lovely, but not up to the competition. Smith Woodhouse 1977 was great, but was behind in maturity and not able to compete. Gould Campbell 1970 fell apart a little overnight but was still very drinkable if it hadn't been up against such competition.

And the 1945 Croft and Dow's were amazing. Followed closely by the 1965 Malvedos.

[Alex Bridgeman]

There were also three cheeses on the night. These were Spenwood, Wigmore and Oxford Blue.

Cheese of the night:
Spenwood 1, 1, 2
Wigmore 2, 2, 1
Oxford Blue 3, 3, 3

[Alex Bridgeman]

A question was asked of the attendees: If you were to be taken to a remote island for three years and provided with a Eurocave that could accomodate 10 cases, what proportion of these three WOTN candidates would you take to store in the Eurocave. You cannot obtain any new supplies of port in the three years and cannot take any remaining bottles with you at the end of the three years.

Answer 1 - 60% Malvedos 1965, 30% Dow 1963, 10% Croft 1945

Answer 2 - 60% Croft 1945, 20% Dow 1963, 20% Malvedos 1965

Answer 3 - 60% Malvedos 1965, 10% Dow 1963, 30% Croft 1945

And the discussion is lively!

[DRT]

OBJECTION!!!

I voted 150% Croft 1945, 200% Dow 1963 and 500% Malvedos 1965.

I want a re-count!

[Andy Velebil]

OBJECTION!!!

I voted 150% Croft 1945, 200% Dow 1963 and 500% Malvedos 1965.

I want a re-count!

I second the motion.

[Alex Bridgeman]

OBJECTION!!!

I voted 150% Croft 1945, 200% Dow 1963 and 500% Malvedos 1965.

I want a re-count!

I second the motion.

In the absence of a UN Security Council motion to the contrary, executive power lies with the self-appointed leader of the tasting and all objections are deemed irrelevant and frivolous and are hereby dismissed with no further consideration and no right of appeal.

[benread]

A question was asked of the attendees: If you were to be taken to a remote island for three years and provided with a Eurocave that could accomodate 10 cases, what proportion of these three WOTN candidates would you take to store in the Eurocave. You cannot obtain any new supplies of port in the three years and cannot take any remaining bottles with you at the end of the three years.

Answer 1 - 60% Malvedos 1965, 30% Dow 1963, 10% Croft 1945

Answer 2 - 60% Croft 1945, 20% Dow 1963, 20% Malvedos 1965

Answer 3 - 60% Malvedos 1965, 10% Dow 1963, 30% Croft 1945

And the discussion is lively!

Any reason why? After last years Graham vs Malvedos tasting, I resolved to buy more Malvedos and am interested to know why 2 from 3 of you would take more Malvedos but did not vote it WOTN?

[DRT]

I was "Answer 1". My rationale was (and, remarkably, still is) is that:

1. All three Ports were fantastic so I would be happy to drink all of them on any day;
2. I wouldn't want to have to drink the same Port every day for three years;
3. Being stuck on an island would perhaps be difficult to cope with, so incentives might help;
4. With GM65 as the "daily drinker", it would be good to have something even better to look forward to occasionally, so a Dow 63 every few weeks would be good;
5. Spectacular Ports deserve respect, anticipation and a sense of rarity. Too much Croft 45 might take the edge off the experience after a while.

[Alex Bridgeman]

My logic was similar, except that I don't find the Dow as ready to drink as either of the other two. Hence I would have the Malvedos as my daily drinker, Croft for special occasions and the Dow for curiosity and variety from time to time.