ThePortForum.com

Date: Tuesday 13 November
Time: 18.45 for seating at 19.00
Location: Davy's Bar and Grill, High Holborn WC1V 6DT
Theme: Graham and Malvedos in good drinking windows

This will be on a "bring a bottle" basis, budget for the meal (including tip) being about £50-55 on top (subject to menu choices, to be circulated in due course).

As it is my birthday, i will provide a few vintages to start us off. Others have already declared generous contributions. If stuck for a bottle, i have options for adoption (others may do too) or please feel free to offer to share the costs of others. I would suggest avoiding the years 1997 to 2003 (inclusive) for the major vintages due to potentially awkward drinking phase.

Tim Stanley-Clarke, whose presentation of a Graham vertical (63-07) at Jeroboams in December 2009 first got me hooked on port, will be our guest of honour. I am also very pleased to say that Cynthia Jenson, who will be passing through London en route back to the Douro after the 2012 EWBC - Digital Wine Communications Conference in Turkey, will also be able to join us.

Current line-up (confirmed):

Graham 1942 (jdaw1+MW+DRT via THRA)
Graham 1955 (THRA)
Graham 1960
Graham 1963 (WS1)
Malvedos 1965 (AP)
Graham 1966
Malvedos 1968
Graham 1970 (SCP)
Graham 1975 (PW via THRA)
Malvedos 1976
Graham 1977 (Griff)
Malvedos 1978 (RAYC via THRA)
Malvedos 1979 Magnum (TS-C)
Graham 1980 (AHB)
Graham 1983
Malvedos 1984
Graham 1985
Graham 1985 Crusted
Malvedos 1987 (Jacobh)
Malvedos 1990 (jdaw1)
Graham 1991 (PW)
Graham 1994

Attendees: TS-C, CJ, RAYC, THRA, WS1, AP, Griff, AHB, jdaw1, AFNB, DRT, MW, Jacob-H, PW, SCP (Reserves: ...)

Initial email correspondence to determine level of interest has caused this to fill, so reserve spots only at the moment.

I’m in thank you.

Placemats presumably two A4 sheets of six glasses, unless you instruct to the contrary.

I have a G91 I could bring, if wanted?

PhilW wrote:I have a G91 I could bring, if wanted?

Great! list updated

jdaw1 wrote:I’m in thank you.

Also, until i hear to the contrary, SCP-DFL (who, for the avoidance of confusion, remains SCP-DFF in the registers) has a place

I didn't twig that it will be a birthday tasting. In that case I'll make it by hook or by crook!

Carl

RAYC wrote:

jdaw1 wrote:I’m in thank you.

Also, until i hear to the contrary, SCP-DFL (who, for the avoidance of confusion, remains SCP-DFF in the registers) has a place

Does that mean we are all paying for Team Wiseman to eat again?

Sounds like a fantastic tasting and I kindly ask to be added to the list of reserves.

Thanks
Magnus

I think I should forever be known as SCP-DFF. Any objections?

SCP-DFF wrote:I think I should forever be known as SCP-DFF. Any objections?

Quite right too! You've changed your name once, almost 10 years ago. Surely one name change in a lifetime is enough?

And it confused me utterly. I couldn't work out where Brixton came into SCP-DFL.

Or you could follow Prince's lead, and become "The Poster formerly known as SCP-DFF"

SCP-DFF wrote:I think I should forever be known as SCP-DFF. Any objections?

Be careful...this might mean that Julian can claim he is no longer within your Port Jurisdiction....!

RAYC wrote:

SCP-DFF wrote:I think I should forever be known as SCP-DFF. Any objections?

Be careful...this might mean that Julian can claim he is no longer within your Port Jurisdiction....!

He's not that brave.

Very pleased to say I am in, with bells on! I have offered a couple odd bottles for tasting, neither graham's nor malvedos nor good red herring (which is a good thing!), so not sure if they will fit with this event, otherwise I will leave them with Derek for the future. Also still hoping to dredge up some other oddity to bring along, wish me luck! Look forward to seeing all of you! bjs

A bump to remind people that the date is approaching, and to request two volunteers available from 5-5.30ish (T.B.C.) to help me pour.

Bunghole have asked me for menu choices in advance - here's the link to the menu, the usual off-menu bone-in rib is also available (but mushroom toast appears to have gone ). I'll send a chase-up email soon.

Anyone wanting to stay at mine after, please let me know.

RAYC wrote:two volunteers available from 5-5.30ish (T.B.C.) to help me pour.

Private DRT reporting for duty, Sir!

Hmm! Tried to PM but was told you don't exist, Rob... is this whole tasting a figment of my imagination then? Give the bunghole my regards and ask them to save me an artichoke starter and the pavé rump, as well cooked as they can do it in good conscience, which I realise is still pretty rare-ish. I would offer to help pour but I am a rotten sommelier and do not want to cost you a bottle of wine on the floor... also I will have the two mystery bottles with me, as hoped, which might make a nice aperitif. See you soon. Edit to add: bearnaise sauce for me too please!

I'm happy to help pour.

Is the Bunghole also offering us the Christmas menu to choose from? In which case I would like to have what is probably going to be my only traditional Christmas dinner:
Chicken Liver Parfait
Turkey Breast in Port gravy
Christmas pudding

I've also had a whisper in my ear that if we order at least a week ahead, we can have some of our old favourites cooked to order so there may be hope for those who would like to start with mushrooms and stinking bishop on toast.

If the lists of ports and people are correct, I’ll soon do my standard trick.

it's official....stinking bishop mushroom toast is STILL an option...especially for us.

Unfortunately - even for us - they are not so willing to move the Xmas menu forward to the first half of November!

Offers for help to set up from DRT and AHB gratefully accepted - i don't think further help is required (except from jdaw1 with placemats!).

Due to the travel plans of various people, i would suggest a later-than-usual 6.45pm arrival for 7.00pm start. Dinner will be 8.30-8.45ish.

1 of 3 possible beds at my place taken so far (floorspace with own sleeping bag is also possible).

RAYC wrote:i don't think further help is required (except from jdaw1 with placemats!).

First draft of the placemats.

RAYC wrote:Unfortunately - even for us - they are not so willing to move the Xmas menu forward to the first half of November!

Bah humbug!

So I'll have no starter; a burger (rare) with cheese, a side of mushrooms and bone marrow gravy; portions of Waterloo and Wigmore to finish with

Very much looking forward to this line-up and the evening. My contribution seems too small by comparison to others; I would be happy to additionally part-adopt with a more significant contributor, or kick in some extra towards the food bill, whatever would help.

Am not sure whether I will be able to be there early enough to assist with pre-pour, but will be if possible.
Food-wise, would like the stinking mushrooms and to try the Pave this time please (medium-rare) with Bernaise sauce. Looking forward to it.

No (fish, fish, fish or fish!) starter for me. Pave rump medium rare with field mushrooms and French fries, please.

Will possibly order some cheese on the night but please don't pre-order.

AHB wrote:So I'll have no starter; a burger (rare) with cheese, a side of mushrooms and bone marrow gravy; portions of Waterloo and Wigmore to finish

The same please.

What's all this "no starter" nonsense?

RAYC wrote:What's all this "no starter" nonsense?

I don't fancy any of the fish options.

jdaw1 wrote:First draft of the placemats.

Rob: please do check.

Will do, and thank you.

Some behind the scenes changes to the personnel line-up may be occurring so i'll let you know when resolved.

DRT wrote:

RAYC wrote:What's all this "no starter" nonsense?

I don't fancy any of the fish options.

I won't insult you by noting that there's also braised artichoke and fennel on the menu, but if a pate/terrine/pie/salt beef sandwich could be arranged, would that be of interest? Mushrooms with stinking bishop on toast is also available.

"Braised artichoke and fennel" = nothing worth eating.

I don't like the look of the mushroom toast.

The pressed beef terine would probably persuade me to have a starter but Bessie told us we would need 14 people to want it before they would agree to make it.

Are you worried that I might suffer from malnutrition during the evening?

DRT wrote:Are you worried that I might suffer from malnutrition during the evening?

He's angling for a larger portion of port...

Update:

-CMAG
+MW

RAYC wrote:-CMAG
+MW

Is MW taking adopting all CMAG’s adoptions?

jdaw1 wrote:

RAYC wrote:-CMAG
+MW

Is MW taking adopting all CMAG’s adoptions?

Yes

Updated draft of the placemats.

• PopulusTremula wrote:

  jdaw1 wrote:

  RAYC wrote:-CMAG
  +MW

  Is MW taking adopting all CMAG’s adoptions?

  Yes

Very sorry I have to drop out of this at short notice. Sadly have to travel for work unexpectedly. I hope you all have a great evening!

jdaw1 wrote:Updated draft of the placemats.

• PopulusTremula wrote:

  jdaw1 wrote:

  RAYC wrote:-CMAG
  +MW

  Is MW taking adopting all CMAG’s adoptions?

  Yes

+G75 (executive decision that this will be a group adoption to complete the 55-94 full blend line-up...hopefully THRA will give us a nice price!)
+GM87 (JacobH)
+sticky labels please (8xsheet)

If possible, I'd suggest a 3x7 layout in the interests of space. I seem to recall that glasses fitted ok here, but that funny parameters might have been needed (and printer testing too).

RAYC wrote:If possible, I'd suggest a 3x7 layout in the interests of space. I seem to recall that glasses fitted ok here, but that funny parameters might have been needed (and printer testing too).

I found that too tight. Would you be OK with 1×A4 of 6, and 1×A3 of 15? And if so, in which order? (I.e., should the A4 to hold the oldest, or the youngest?)

Edit: 15 on A3 packs as a column of 3, then a column of 2, then 3, 2, 3, and 2.

Updated draft of the placemats.

• RAYC wrote:+G75 (executive decision that this will be a group adoption to complete the 55-94 full blend line-up...hopefully THRA will give us a nice price!)
  +GM87 (JacobH)

• RAYC wrote:+sticky labels please (8xsheet)

• jdaw1 wrote:1×A4 of 6, and 1×A3 of 15

- AFNB.

Spare space now available

Updated draft of the placemats.

• ”“AFNB;
• A4 page of glasses re-arranged to be more similar to A3.

Rob: please check that all is good.

Could I trouble people for decanting advice for the 77? Past experience has been fairly long (24 hours plus) demonstrating benefit. Any thoughts?

jdaw1 wrote:please check that all is good.

The placemats are only up to 1966 - what about the youngsters?

DRT wrote:

jdaw1 wrote:please check that all is good.

The placemats are only up to 1966 - what about the youngsters?

The pages are sorted, first, by paper size. So the A3 pages are not interleaved with the A4, they being, approximately, in separate blocks for ease of printing. So turn to page 87.


Glasses:


Tasting notes:


Pre-pour pages:




Stickies:

Looks great - thanks.

Phil has kindly offered to take on the 1975, and should be credited for that.

at the risk of annoying you, i would perhaps prefer to order the ports differently across the two pages:

- one possibility would be to change the A4 layout to 2-3-2, with 42, 55, 60, 63 across the top row when you look at the two pages together (this will require finding another port for the line-up....let me have a think).

- another possibility would be to just go for 7 columns of 3. Possibly with 42, 55, 60 first column, 63, 65, 66 second column etc.

I haven't been paying attention. Thank you for explaining the layout.

RAYC wrote:- another possibility would be to just go for 7 columns of 3. Possibly with 42, 55, 60 first column, 63, 65, 66 second column etc.

This would be much uglier.

RAYC wrote:- one possibility would be to change the A4 layout to 2-3-2, with 42, 55, 60, 63 across the top row when you look at the two pages together

But if there are three across an A4, those circles would be tiny. So I must have misunderstood. Please explain more.


Updated draft of the placemats.

• RAYC wrote:Phil has kindly offered to take on the 1975, and should be credited for that.

jdaw1 wrote:

RAYC wrote:- another possibility would be to just go for 7 columns of 3. Possibly with 42, 55, 60 first column, 63, 65, 66 second column etc.

This would be much uglier.

RAYC wrote:- one possibility would be to change the A4 layout to 2-3-2, with 42, 55, 60, 63 across the top row when you look at the two pages together

But if there are three across an A4, those circles would be tiny. So I must have misunderstood. Please explain more.


Updated draft of the placemats.

• RAYC wrote:Phil has kindly offered to take on the 1975, and should be credited for that.

putting the left hand 2-3-2 on A3, rather than A4, but justified to the left (leaving blank space to the right) would have to be the way to do it then.

At the moment the layout seems slightly jarring between left hand page and right hand page. Let me have a think.

RAYC wrote:- AFNB.

Spare space now available

If this spare space has not been taken, then I am in London and would like to attend. This will, however, be my first such tasting, so somebody might need to explain everything to me
Simon

Simon - you're in - glad you can come and hopefully it will be a good first tasting for you.

These are very relaxed affairs - you don't have to worry