ThePortForum.com

Tues 28th May

A friendly get-together; bring a bottle wrapped in foil.

The Bung Hole, aka Davy's Holborn Bar and Grill, 57 High Holborn, WC1V 6DT, tel 020 7831 8365, streetmap.co.uk, maps.google.co.uk

1. Confirmed:
2. DJ
3. DRT
4. JDAW
5. THRA
6. RW (DJ's guest Mr Richard West)

original post:
Does anyone have an objection to doing something on the 28th of May? I'll be passing through London on the 29th, but I'd come a day early if anyone fancied some conviviality.

Links to the review of the evening and the tasting notes:

• Review of the evening
• 2000 Sandeman Vau decanted from double-mag into standard bottle
• 2000 Sandeman Vau from half-bottle
• 2000 Sandeman Vau decanted from double-mag into half-bottle
• 2000 Fonseca
• 2000 Niepoort Secundum
• 1981 Warre LBV
• 1955 Butler Nephew
• 1970 Taylor
• 1980 Taylor
• Placemats

[/list]

Themes proposed but not yet done, so needing a date, include Warre LBVs and Axel’s Cálem Vertical. Please do take charge.

jdaw1 wrote:Themes proposed but not yet done, so needing a date, include Warre LBVs and Axel’s Cálem Vertical. Please do take charge.

These both seem excellent ideas which are already fairly well-advanced in terms of sourcing the requisite materials. My first instinct is to say 'Cálem', just because they're VPs rather than LBVs; and secondly because they're more obscure.. but this depends on Axel.

What does anyone else prefer? Can we have a show of hands for each? I'll gladly make a decision if it's inconclusive. Which may be for the LBVs after all. We'll see. I'm feeling a little capricious.

There was also discussion of a 1958 horizontal at one point

I'd like to revisit 1960s at some point over the next 18 months, but that might take a bit more planning.

Or the organiser could choose a different theme: a different year; a different shipper; a totally different structure; or even the perennial ‘Bring A Bottle’. Choices choices.

I'm in.

There are indeed many possibilities. An SQVP theme? Bomfim vertical? But then you've just had a Dowathon. 1980 horizontal? I admit I'm intrigued by the Cálem. But then I'll do anything really. I have PMed Axel so we shall see what he says.

Patience, mes amis...

"Turn up with a bottle of Vintage Port wrapped in foil" would not be a bad idea.

Thanks guys, for keeping the Calem vertical in mind. Unfortunately I cannot make it to the UK in May.

Axel

Sadly I can't make 28th May - I'll be on holiday in Derbyshire!

AHB wrote:Sadly I can't make 28th May - I'll be on holiday in Derbyshire!

Offline in Derbs, anyone..?

NB: joke

Axel cannot make that date.. The Warre LBV issue seems to be far too political and above my pay grade, I couldn't possibly decide to do something of this magnitude when the NATO tasting in September is still on the cards (is it still on the cards?).

DHT's wonderful suggestion of 'bring a bottle wrapped in tinfoil' is now officially the theme of the evening.

djewesbury wrote:NB: joke

Don't joke. We have had several offlines in Derbyshire...

I should be able to come, but need to get home from holiday, work out what is going on at work for the next month etc.etc. before committing.

Bring a bottle sounds good. I have a matching pair to be served together blind at some point that could be an option if we get 6+ attendees.

djewesbury wrote:¿Possible?:
6. PW

I'm currently looking unlikely to be able to make a tasting that week due to other commitments, I'm afraid.

PhilW wrote:

djewesbury wrote:¿Possible?:
6. PW

I'm currently looking unlikely to be able to make a tasting that week due to other commitments, I'm afraid.

Sorry to hear that. First post amended.
Any advance from others?

We have a confirmed fourth, THRA. Come forth and drink port, the room will now be booked.

I am going to commence a draft of the placemats. How many bottles will we have, at this reckoning? I can revise if RAYC / BMHR confirm, but I presume the Laws state that 'where four gather to drink port, the number of bottles they shall drink shall be 4 x 1.2 and this shall be rounded up somehow to 5'. Something along those lines anyway. Would that be terribly inaccurate?

djewesbury wrote:I am going to commence a draft of the placemats.

Splendid. Post drafts and I will comment.

djewesbury wrote:the number of bottles they shall drink shall be 4 x 1.2 and this shall be rounded up somehow to 5'. Something along those lines anyway. Would that be terribly inaccurate?

Under the recommended TPF non-Euclidean non-US^”  geometry, 5 ≈ 6, and the latter is better.

For a forthcoming tasting (this? another?) I have a worthwhile comparison to be done between a bottle and two halves. And there is a risk that might become a bottle and three halves.

”  On A4 five and six both fit well; on 8½″×11″ five fits better than six.

Possible guest. Added in the first post.

Guest confirmed.

Please advise a rough estimate of how many bottles you might be bringing, for the placemats.

RAYC, BHMR, are you able to rule yourselves in or out? I can keep two blank placemats if it's not possible to say at the moment.

The day before I will hopefully be at Wembley watching Crystal Palace ascend to the Premiership.

The day after I will depart for the Venice Biennale.

The Port Forum is the meat in my sandwich.

djewesbury wrote:Guest confirmed.

Please advise a rough estimate of how many bottles you might be bringing, for the placemats.

RAYC, BHMR, are you able to rule yourselves in or out? I can keep two blank placemats if it's not possible to say at the moment.

The day before I will hopefully be at Wembley watching Crystal Palace ascend to the Premiership.

The day after I will depart for the Venice Biennale.

The Port Forum is the meat in my sandwich.

Assume not in my case. If this changes and there is no place at for me' I'll take my chances!


Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

djewesbury wrote:Please advise a rough estimate of how many bottles you might be bringing, for the placemats.

You choose. I have a conventional bottle of fine port to bring. Or I could bring an interesting comparison of a bottle and two half-bottles.

You choose. Griff’s departure do gets the other.

jdaw1 wrote:

djewesbury wrote:Please advise a rough estimate of how many bottles you might be bringing, for the placemats.

You choose. I have a conventional bottle of fine port to bring. Or I could bring an interesting comparison of a bottle and two half-bottles.

You choose. Griff’s departure do gets the other.

Definitely the interesting comparison please.

benread wrote:Assume not in my case. If this changes and there is no place at for me' I'll take my chances!

There will be a place for you come what may.

djewesbury wrote:Please advise a rough estimate of how many bottles you might be bringing, for the placemats.

One bottle and two half-bottles.

@RAYC -
Are you able to commit yet? If yes we are 6. Ben is unlikely so that is probably the cap. Now that JDAW is bringing his bottle and two halves do you still think you'll bring your matching pair or might that be overkill..? (There is nothing wrong with overkill.)

@THRA / DRT -
Tom, you must be somewhere on the English coastline. DRT is in a [/ Sainsbury / Sainsbury's / branch of J Sainsbury's] somewhere in the north.
What might the two of you bring (quantity / format only, so I can name the bottles on the placemats).

Will anyone be able to print these at the end of next week or on Monday 27th?

djewesbury wrote:DRT - What might ... you bring

Only two bottles from me.

DRT wrote:

djewesbury wrote:DRT - What might ... you bring

Only two bottles from me.

Truly splendid. We are well on the way to filling our quota for the evening! I expect us to reach (the equivalent of) 8 bottles at least, at this rate, which should suffice between 6.

Placemat draft #2 follows tomorrow.

(or Monday)

I think I will bring an unmatched pair of the same vintage. We now have
DRT - 2 bottles
JDAW - Matched trio of 1 standard bottle & 2 halves
DJ - 2 bottles
THRA -
RAYC -

Latest draft of the placemats.
THRA down for one bottle until advised differently. RAYC not yet included.
Decanter labels included, should anyone require them. Perhaps if a bottle shape is too recognisable.
Corks sheet for interest, after guessing. (Please bring your cork.)

It now seems that I have to be in the City for lunch on Tuesday. That is likely to finish by 3½pm. Afterwards I could sit somewhere for a few hours and catch up with my reading. Or!?

Yes.
This could be a very good idea. Obviously I have pouring duties etc. but I hoped you would advise in that anyway...

djewesbury wrote:pouring duties etc.

Previous precedent is not to pre-pour unless there are ≥10 people. And even 10 or 11 isn’t always pre-poured.

With five of us there is little to do. Arrange pages on table (three minutes), arrange glasses (ditto), order pre-starter snack (ditto), sit down (less), start drinking and definitely don’t wait for anybody else. In the immortal words of the constitution of the Cambridge University Tiddlywinks Club, ‟a quorum shall be the number present”. (Those googling this phrase will find a document showing signs of having been amended while much the worse for wear. E.g., Article 17(2).)

Derek is telling me by telepathy that he can start at 4pm.

Oh in that case..
I will make sure to be there around the same time or before.

Update. I have to wait in tomorrow until a replacement phone arrives, and then do the obligatory fiddling about to get it working. Also my guest has childcare duties and will not leave home (Ealing) until 6 pm.

More anon.

jdaw1 wrote:Derek is telling me by telepathy that he can start at 4pm.

I have a meeting that is scheduled to run until 18:00 so will arrive around 18:30.

jdaw1 wrote:Derek is telling me by telepathy that he can start at 4pm.

I have a meeting that is scheduled to run until 18:00 so will arrive around 18:30.

I must admit defeat - i had hoped that the stormclouds would clear but unfortunately there is no chance of me making this....

RAYC wrote:I must admit defeat - i had hoped that the stormclouds would clear but unfortunately there is no chance of me making this....

That's a shame - see you in June hopefully.
So Julian will drink his port before anyone arrives, I will probably arrive sometime around 5, Derek at about 6.30, Richard (guest) about 7.

Mrs A and I were put off our trip to Derbyshire by the poor weather forecast so will be visiting the British Museum today - handily located just round the corner from TBH. Would we be able to join you briefly, although we will need to eat and leave earlier than would be deal?

AHB wrote:Mrs A and I were put off our trip to Derbyshire by the poor weather forecast so will be visiting the British Museum today - handily located just round the corner from TBH. Would we be able to join you briefly, although we will need to eat and leave earlier than would be deal?

Please do!

Thirst Factor Critical.

Nearly there.

Leaving shortly. Phone has arrived and has been charged.

Having a beer upstairs.

And we're having a pot of organic Earl Grey tea in Orchard, in Sicilian Avenue, in preparation for later tonight.

AHB wrote:And we're having a pot of organic Earl Grey tea in Orchard, in Sicilian Avenue, in preparation for later tonight.

We are here and we have started. Organic Earl Grey has many attractions. But join us.

Two of us have started.

And Daniel's homemade pork pie is grade-A excellent. That is what pork pie should be.

I'm about to eat Derek's portion.