Delaforce vertical, Tue 24 April 2012

[jdaw1]

Date: Tuesday 24th April 2012.

Location: The Bung Hole, 57 High Holborn, London WC1V 6DT, tel 020 7831 8365.

Other details will be put here once they are agreed.

[jdaw1]

Questions:

• Where? The RAF Club? Other suggestions welcomed.
• Who?
  1. Honoured Guest, 1;
  2. Honoured Guest, 2, who we hope won’t be offended by having the #2 slot;
  3. JDAW;
  4. THRA;
  5. RAYC;
  6. AP;
  7. DRT
  8. AHB;
  9. JGH;
  10. BMHR;
  11. WS;
  12. CMAG;
  13. RLC.
  If the date should change, perhaps CRS.
• Who can supply which vintages of Delaforce?
  • JDAW: 1970 and 1977, subject to confirmation.
  • JHG via JDAW: Corte 1974.
  • AHB: 1963, 1977; Corte 1984.
  • WS: 1966, 1970, 1977 (need to check); and Corte 1980 and 1987.
  • AP: 1966, 1970, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2003 and 2007.
  • RAYC: 1992.
  • CRS: 1994.

[jdaw1]

A list of some good (and some not-so-good) ideas that have not yet reached fruition:

!
The Delaforce Vertical suggested by jdaw1 in May 2008

Delaforce is the one to take forward IMO, with at least one, and preferably two members of the family in attendance..

I have a dozen vintages of Delaforce VP in my cellar, the most notable absentees being '27, '45 & '55

'Delaforce, a celebration' might be the theme, at the RAF club perhaps (preferably upstairs..) and timed to suit the family..

In the same thread (link to first unread post) others concurred, including:

I very much would like to join a Delaforce tasting as well. I do have many Vintages from 66 and younger (I guess pretty much all of them), so how about this for a January tasting? Anybody volunteers for organising. I would book the club and get the VIP.

[jdaw1]

Vintages of Delaforce we have:

• 2003 (UK: THRA);
• 2000 (UK: THRA; DE: AP);
• 1994 (UK: THRA; US: MJB);
• 1985 (UK: THRA; DE: AP);
• 1982 (DE: AP);
• 1977 (UK: THRA, JDAW, SL; DE: AP);
• 1970 (UK: THRA, JDAW; DE: AP);
• 1963 (UK: THRA);
• 1960 (UK: THRA);
• 1950 (UK: THRA);
• 1935 (UK: THRA; US: JDAW);
• 1927 (US: SC);
• 1917 (UK: THRA (unavailable)).

[jdaw1]

I'd like to resurrect this tasting as I'm sending Julian back with a bottle of 1974 Delaforce to taste.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I have little to contribute to a Delaforce vertical - but I do have the Corte 1984 (otherwise only the 1977 or 1963).

[WS1]

Hi,

if possible I would like to join as well. With regads to Delaforce ports I think I have 66, 70 and 77 (need to check) and Corte from 80 and 87.

regards

WS1

[Axel P]

Delaforces I have are:
1966
1970
1975
1977
1980
1982
1985
1991
1992
1994
1997
2000
2003
2007

Axel

[DRT]

Delaforce is the one to take forward IMO, with at least one, and preferably two members of the family in attendance..

Assuming Uncle Tom has an inside track to make this happen, should we be reserving two spaces for honoured guests?

[jdaw1]

Updated to include ports from AHB, AP, WS; and the addition of two honoured guests.

[g-man]

is there a location for said tasting?

[jdaw1]

is there a location for said tasting?

'Delaforce, a celebration' might be the theme, at the RAF club perhaps (preferably upstairs..) and timed to suit the family..

I would book the club

So the current plan is the Royal Air Force Club, 128 Piccadilly, London W1J 7PY.

[jdaw1]

Delaforce vertical - would appreciate date set after about March 12th.

The ‟about” complicates interpretation: absent contrary instruction, I declare this to mean on or after Monday 19th March 2012.

[RAYC]

When setting date, we should bear in mind that an early spring placeholder has also been reserved for Wolfgang's 1980 Horizontal in Leverkeusen.

[jdaw1]

Good observation and warning.

THRA is unlikely to go to Germany for a 1980, so, ideally, the Leverkusen event would be before mid-March. Ideally.

[RAYC]

I can also offer the 1992 VP.

[griff]

I just worked out I have a 1994 Delaforce I would be interested dependant on date as it is a relatively busy period.

cheers

Carl

[DrDirk]

Hi,

this sounds like a fantastic idea to fly to London again for some port tasting in 2012. I would be very happy if I could join this tasting.

Dirk

[RAYC]

Is this losing momentum?

Should we be planning a date, particularly if people are willing to fly to attend?

[Axel P]

I am willing to fly to attend. Easter is not good due to holiday reasons.

Axel

[jdaw1]

• • Easter Sunday is 8 April 2012. Other E&W public holidays include Mon 7 May, Mon 4 June, and a special for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Tue 5 June.

What about late April?

[Axel P]

Suits me.

[Andy Velebil]

I'm a little late, but if there is a tentative list I could join, put me down. I don't know travel and work plans yet, but I typically try to get to the UK around April time.

[Axel P]

Julian, could I please ask you to set up a date for this as I could try to contact the industry guests if wanted by you?

Thanks and best

Axel

[jdaw1]

Julian, could I please ask you to set up a date for this as I could try to contact the industry guests if wanted by you?

A Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday in late April. ¿When works for the industry guests?

[jdaw1]

The date is now likely to be one of Mon 23rd April 2012, Tue 24th April 2012, Wed 25th April 2012.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Aprl 23rd always seems an appropriate date for a port tasting.

[DRT]

Aprl 23rd always seems an appropriate date for a port tasting.

Absolutely. It is an appropriate day to celebrate the life of one of our countries great heros, King Alexander I of Scotland.

[jdaw1]

Apostrophe crime.

[DRT]

{sackclothandashes}

[jdaw1]

Gentlemen,

Delaforce plans are being gently firmed, and the week of 23rd April should be bright in your diaries. Indeed, we will soon have agreement on a date, and hence a first draft of the placemats.

In the first few posts of the Delaforce thread you are listed as a candidate provider of bottles. Some time before mid-January please would you send me a list of what you would be willing to provide, and at what cost?

Thank you.

Julian W.

If anybody with bottles was not a recipient of that email, please accept this slight apology, and act as if you were.

[jdaw1]

Next question: the venue? Has anybody a better plan than the RAF Club?

[griff]

I sadly will have to bow out as I will be at a conference that week. A shame!

cheers

Carl

[jdaw1]

I sadly will have to bow out as I will be at a conference that week. A shame!

Sorry, I hadn’t noticed. (Is it a bad guess?)

[jdaw1]

It seems that between us we have about nineteen moderate-cost vintages ≥1960, a 1935, and possible access, not certain, to two others ≤1950.

We ‘need’ bottles of:
• Delaforce 1870, ’73, ’75, ’78, ’81, ’84, ’87, ’90, ’94, ’96, 1900, ’04, ’08, ’12, ’17, ’19, ’20, ’27, ’44, ’45, ’47, ’50, ’55, ’58, and ’75.
• Delaforce Quinta da Corte 1978, ’95, ’97, 2001, and ’04.

1975 widely available on Wine-Searcher. The wrong seventy-five: should we even bother? And what is our enthusiasm level for 1958 at £95?

[jdaw1]

Since I seem to be chief organiser, I need some ground rules. Urgent matters are urgent and I can decide. Non-urgent matter I post here. After a week without clear-cut dissent, I can decide.

[DRT]

Since I seem to be chief organiser, I need some ground rules. Urgent matters are urgent and I can decide. Non-urgent matter I post here. After a week without clear-cut dissent, I can decide.

Those are good rules. Perhaps they should be explained a little more clearly and added here?

[Alex Bridgeman]

1975 widely available on Wine-Searcher. The wrong seventy-five: should we even bother? And what is our enthusiasm level for 1958 at £95?

1975 - no we shouldn't bother.

No enthusiasm for a 1958 at £95 - vastly overpriced.

[jdaw1]

We have a date: Tuesday 24th April 2012.

Thread title and the first post have been amended.

Also needed is some guidance from the team on how completeist this should be. The last half-century is satisfactorily covered. Earlier vintages are likely to be more damaging to the team wallet. On a range from ‘We Are ThePortForum’ to ‘Do Not Be Silly’, my preference is something like ‘A Few If Fair Value’. Dissent? A better objective?

[DRT]

A Few If Fair Value

Works for me.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Date is in my diary and currently is my only commitment that day.

‘Do Not Be Silly’

This is how I vote. I would rather have a smaller tasting that is within reach of a wider range of potential participants. My preference would be to keep costs as low as is reasonable and use port from attendees' stocks so that attendees contribute a bottle and some cash.

[jdaw1]

¿

Next question: the venue? Has anybody a better plan than the RAF Club?

?

[Andy Velebil]

I have a bottle of 1997 Corte, so add that in the list (Keeping my fingers crossed I can make it of course).

As for the other recent questions by Julian, I'll defer to what everyone else wishes since I don't know my travels plans fully yet.

[Axel P]

Jdaw,

perfect, put the date in. Shall I ask for the club or do you want to do this elsewhere?

Axel

[jdaw1]

Shall I ask for the club or do you want to do this elsewhere?

I am asking others whether they have a better plan, If no better plan is suggested by next Wednesday, the 4th of January, then I’ll ask you to book the RAF Club.

I have a bottle of 1997 Corte, so add that in the list (Keeping my fingers crossed I can make it of course).

Noted. By when will we know whether you are in or out?

[Andy Velebil]

As soon as I know

Sometime in early to mid January I should know my work schedule and have a firm yes or no then.

[jdaw1]

Sometime in early to mid January

Splendid. Indeed, end-February would have been ample notice.

[Christopher]

Hi Julian
Can you please add me to the reserve list for this tasting.
Many thanks

[jdaw1]

Hi Julian
Can you please add me to the reserve list for this tasting.
Many thanks

There are seats. So you were added to the ‟reserve list”, and immediately promoted to the list of attendees.

[WS1]

We have a date: Tuesday 24th April 2012.

Thread title and the first post have been amended. ...

fine by me

regards

WS1