ThePortForum.com

UPDATE

Theme: VP from the 1990s
Location: Steak Exchange
Time/Date: Monday 8th August, 6.30 p.m.

Attendees:
1) RAYC
2) DRT
3) WS1
4) AHB
5) PhilW
6) THRA
7) BenR
8) CMAG

----------------------------------------
Original post:

I'm keen to meet up for a TCP tasting sometime in first two weeks of August.

Open as to theme - perhaps a blind tasting of ports from one of the 70 or 77 vintages might be fun? (plus make it non-Symington non-Taylor Fladgate to avoid clashes with October/November tastings)

Provided I can be in London on the chosen date, I'm in.

I have a clear diary for those two weeks - on the assumption that others who might be interested will be more constrained, I will let someone else pick a date and fall in line.

Hi Rob,

sounds a good idea. Will check my diary but would prefer the second week in August e.g. Monday the 8th of August. With regards to your tasting ideas I am not so fond. We should try something younger which I feel is better in the summer. Since it is on our list anyway what about we have a sneaky preview of some 1991s and 1992s? Despite early there is a good availbilty and in my eyes they will drink better in the summer than some 77s or 70s.

regards

WS1

That's a good call by Wolfgang, especially if we are at TCP.

What about "VP from the 1990s" as a theme?

DRT wrote:That's a good call by Wolfgang, especially if we are at TCP.

What about "VP from the 1990s" as a theme?

Am fine with this theme; anyway forgot to mention that some 1995s are drinking beautifully now as a couple of friends in Germany found out

In case we are going with the VP from the 1990s theme i would like to bring three halves to add some variety

regards

WS1

Theme sounds good to me!

One request: if anyone has any bottles of Morgan 1991 remaining, perhaps they could bring one along for the group to adopt - i would love to try it.

Let's firm up second week of August (unless there are major objections) but leave date open until DRT/WS1/anyone else has a definite preference.

I could make Monday 8th August or, at a push, Thursday 11th.

I like the idea of a theme of "port from the '90s" as port this young can be chilled and still be very enjoyable (or I find it so, anyway). To try and combat the heat and humidity that you can get in the Crusting Pipe in the summer, how about using the Steak Exchange again? They have air conditioning!

Hi Alex,

super, i also prefer Monday the 8th. Am open to use the Steak exchange since i have not been there yet.

regards

WS1

I'd be up for joining you on the 8th as well, happy to try steak exchange or be at TCP. Would have brought a bottle of Warres 91, but have just drunk it

Phil.

First post updated - i will ring the Steak Exchange to book.

First draft of the placemats.

• PW: please suggest extra initial(s).
• Somebody please check carefully.

Updated draft of the placemats.

• At PW’s suggestion, with sticky bottle labels.

jdaw1 wrote:Updated draft of the placemats.

• At PW’s suggestion, with sticky bottle labels.

I think Wolfgang mentioned that he would be bringing 3 half bottles. I also think that Uncle Tom is going to be with us.

That makes 6 people, 8 wines = 48 glasses needed. We might need to ask TSE to get some extra small wine glasses in.

Are we going to do this fully blind (and end up with 5 bottles of Morgan 1991) or do we need some direction? Perhaps we could use the good services of our impartial Director of Tastings in Paris to provide guidance.

AHB wrote:Are we going to do this fully blind (and end up with 5 bottles of Morgan 1991) or do we need some direction?

Subject to final confirmation of attendance, Tom has kindly agreed to bring a Morg 91 as a group adoption for benchmark purposes. I am particularly excited about this as i have not yet tasted it.

Happy to send a list to the Director of Tastings, but my collection of accessible 90s ports is not large - particularly when ports that have received outings at tastings held in the previous 12 months are discounted.

AHB wrote:That makes 6 people, 8 wines = 48 glasses needed. We might need to ask TSE to get some extra small wine glasses in.

I will speak to Steak Exchange re: glasses. Do you recall the name of the friendly manager? My flat is a short walk away - it would not be problematic to bring a crate of ISO glasses if required.

Updated draft of the placemats.

• Extra bottles;
• And, slightly kludged, a ‘What is it?’ page. Comment encouraged.

I don't see the "what is it?" page - and I have refreshed my cache

Page 37 of 42. I have re-uploaded, in case it was my error. Please try again.

AHB has emailed me his possible 199- VPs. Others please do likewise.

Steak Exchange have confirmed that glasses will not be a problem.

Since it is a Monday night, they hope to be able to give us a reasonable amount of table space to spread out.

PW has PM’d me his possible 199- VPs. Communication from others awaited.

jdaw1 wrote:AHB has emailed me his possible 199- VPs. Others please do likewise.

As has DRT. Others: you know what to do, just do it.

jdaw1 wrote:Page 37 of 42. I have re-uploaded, in case it was my error. Please try again.

I see it as page 29 of 34, but I do see it.

I like the idea. A way to record guesses for posterity. I'm happy to try this out on 8th August.

AHB wrote:I see it as page 29 of 34, but I do see it.

Now, one would. Good.

AHB wrote:I like the idea. A way to record guesses for posterity. I'm happy to try this out on 8th August.

Also good. Please scan and upload the sheet it’s OK, you will all be rubbish, as would I if I were there and comment on the technology.

Updated draft of the placemats.

• +WSâ‚„.

Lists received from WS and from RAYC (and previously from AHB and DRT and PW).

jdaw1 wrote:

• +WSâ‚„.

Cripes!

Wolfgang - I trust you don't have one of your usual early morning gym sessions planned for Tuesday then!

jdaw1 wrote:Updated draft of the placemats.

• +WSâ‚„.

Lists received from WS and from RAYC (and previously from AHB and DRT and PW).

RAYC wrote:Wolfgang - I trust you don't have one of your usual early morning gym sessions planned for Tuesday then!

Placemat-maker confusion also possible: earlier today, by PM, I asked for clarification.

jdaw1 wrote:

jdaw1 wrote:Updated draft of the placemats.

• +WSâ‚„.

Lists received from WS and from RAYC (and previously from AHB and DRT and PW).

RAYC wrote:Wolfgang - I trust you don't have one of your usual early morning gym sessions planned for Tuesday then!

Placemat-maker confusion also possible: earlier today, by PM, I asked for clarification.

Three are but half bottles. I therefore think it entirely reasonable a fourth is added, and in no way should my earlier comment be read as discouraging this!

It does place WS1 at a disadvantage if points are to be awarded for correct identification of vintage/producer (fewer chances that the usual wild guess will pay off...).

The flip side, if the guess recorder really is to be posted online, is that he will have somewhat less scope than the rest of us for embarrassment!

DRT attendance can now be confirmed

Given that everything else is blind, could we please have placemats that would allow the blinding of the Mg91? (that might also necessitate a reallocation of the responsibility to supply the Mg91)

Updated draft of the placemats.

• Alas, showing who brought which bottle would give a clue as to which might be the Mg91. So, tediously, reverting to α β γ δ ε ζ η θ ι κ λ μ.

DRT wrote:Given that everything else is blind, could we please have placemats that would allow the blinding of the Mg91? (that might also necessitate a reallocation of the responsibility to supply the Mg91)

I have wanted to try the Mg 91 for a while and this seemed a good occasion - for those familiar with it, I thought it would make a nice (low cost) benchmark by which to judge the others.

Given the extra admin that re-foiling/re-covering the bottles to conceal who brought what would involve, is it necessary to do that one blind as well?

On second thoughts, no. Let's have the non-blind Mg91 as the benchmark.

Updated draft of the placemats.

• Serves me right for heeding the words of DRT.

Perhaps someone else should also bring a blind bottle of Morgan 1991 so that we can all see whether we can identify the blind bottle against the benchmark bottle.

Or perhaps I will ignore the instructions of the Director of Tasting and bring a blind bottle of Morgan 1991 anyway.

Or perhaps I won't...

That’s too easy. People would need to make just one comparison: ‘AHB’ versus ‘Mg91’. Easy.

But if ten bottles are labelled completely information-free (α β γ δ ε ζ η θ ι κ) then there are ½n(n”“1) = 45 comparisons to be made, which is much more work.

jdaw1 wrote:That’s too easy. People would need to make just one comparison: ‘AHB’ versus ‘Mg91’. Easy.

You understimate my deviousness. There are other courses of action available.

RAYC wrote:

jdaw1 wrote:

• +WSâ‚„.

Cripes!

Wolfgang - I trust you don't have one of your usual early morning gym sessions planned for Tuesday then!

No I have not! Have currently gym sessions only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays

RAYC wrote:

jdaw1 wrote:

jdaw1 wrote:Updated draft of the placemats.

• +WSâ‚„.

Lists received from WS and from RAYC (and previously from AHB and DRT and PW).

RAYC wrote:Wolfgang - I trust you don't have one of your usual early morning gym sessions planned for Tuesday then!

Placemat-maker confusion also possible: earlier today, by PM, I asked for clarification.

Three are but half bottles. I therefore think it entirely reasonable a fourth is added, and in no way should my earlier comment be read as discouraging this!

It does place WS1 at a disadvantage if points are to be awarded for correct identification of vintage/producer (fewer chances that the usual wild guess will pay off...).

The flip side, if the guess recorder really is to be posted online, is that he will have somewhat less scope than the rest of us for embarrassment!

Indeed! I stumbled upon the 4th halve when locating the other three and thought this maybe a good idea especially if one of them is showing not so well. On top I remebered JDAW's comments about thirsty people and the initially slim port outline of our American friends and I thought: Let us do this differently in the old world!

cu

WS1

Updated draft of the placemats.

• WSâ‚„ altered to be a half.

My attendance confirmed - two bottles in mind..

Tom

Who is to bring the non-blinded Mg91?

jdaw1 wrote:Who is to bring the non-blinded Mg91?

Subject to re-confirmation, THRA is slated to bring (unless AHB has been scheming behind the scenes).

RAYC wrote:(unless AHB has been scheming behind the scenes).

1. Please would everybody planning on bringing an extra Mg91 tell that to the Tasting Director (me), so that I can attempt to prevent an excess.

2. How many would be more than ideal?

Please may I join you on Monday? I shall send JDAW1 an email with options, in the hope there is space for a (not so) little one at the table!

Updated draft of the placemats.

• +BMHR.

I believe that everybody (WS, PW, AHB, DRT, RAYC, BMHR, THRA) now knows what to bring. THRA is also bringing an unblinded Mg91.

If anybody who needs to know, doesn’t, please say so soon.

Have a good evening: enjoy the tasting. Text me when all unblinded, with a list of any extras that appeared, and I will make TN threads.

benread wrote:Please may I join you on Monday? I shall send JDAW1 an email with options, in the hope there is space for a (not so) little one at the table!

Good stuff - confirmed with Steak Exchange.

Who is to print the placemats? Ideally it will be somebody with access to some of Ryman’s 2×8 A4 sheets of labels.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to do the printing.

End-page blank post.