ThePortForum.com

I will be working all day in London on Wednesday 25th September and would be happy to share some port with others at the Bung Hole that evening if anyone was free. It's been a long summer, but now the wet and cool weather is back it feels like port season again.

Who is available?

If enough people are available we might pick up one of the themes which have been suggested but not yet tried - A Vertical of Warre Bottle Matured LBVs or A 1958 Horizontal perhaps.

And just to remind you, there are a few other dates for your port diary coming up soon:

• Tue 10th Sep (London) Bring a Bottle Wrapped in Foil
  Wed 2nd Oct (London) TLW Visits London
  Tue 8th Oct (London) Andy Velebil visits London - Bring a Bottle to Share

I have permission (well asked AHB).

The theme might depend on how many we are. With fewer than three people I’m not convinced that we should try a complete vertical of a major shipper.

jdaw1 wrote: With fewer than three people I’m not convinced that we should try a complete vertical of a major shipper.

Stop whining and keep a stiff upper lip.

Andy Velebil wrote:

jdaw1 wrote: With fewer than three people I’m not convinced that we should try a complete vertical of a major shipper.

Stop whining and keep a stiff upper lip.

He's not whining, merely pointing out that we should have a complete vertical of a minor shipper if only the two of us can attend. Gould Campbell perhaps?

AHB wrote:He's not whining, merely pointing out that we should have a complete vertical of a minor shipper if only the two of us can attend. Gould Campbell perhaps?

Exactly so, though I had in mind Cálem (and Foz).

In that case he is forgiven

Hi,

I may pop by, but not sure yet. Am now in possession of 6bts of Calem 60 (H&B botteling) for which all are into neck but two slightly leak. As promised to DRT he will get a non leaking bt of this stash, which he could use.
If I pop by I would like to try a Mag of 1970 Grahams of a stash I recently aquired. Should be OK for 4 people.

regards

WS1

WS1 wrote:Hi,

I may pop by, but not sure yet. Am now in possession of 6bts of Calem 60 (H&B botteling) for which all are into neck but two slightly leak. As promised to DRT he will get a non leaking bt of this stash, which he could use.
If I pop by I would like to try a Mag of 1970 Grahams of a stash I recently aquired. Should be OK for 4 people.

regards

WS1

I shall keep my fingers crossed that you are able to pop by!

It seems I have a bit of flexibility and could be in London on Tuesday 24th September. Would changing the date mean anyone else be able to join us?

Since I will be in the Bunghole on Monday trying some wine with fiends Wednesday would work better for me. Should be able to make Wednesday but not sure if I can bring a Magnum of Grahams 1970 since with the delivery not clear yet. Hope to find the case of Mags in the Porch later today. Would be a nice welcome home and start to the weekend
In case this did not work out Iwould bring something suitable instead.

regards

WS1

WS1 wrote:a Magnum of Grahams 1970

If only there were more magnums of Graham 1970 the world would be a better place.

WS1 wrote:...Wednesday would work better for me. Should be able to make Wednesday...

Then we shall stay with Wednesday.

WS1 wrote: I will be in the Bunghole on Monday trying some wine with fiends

Anyone else have the image of Wolfgang and others in black capes and pointy teeth / glowing eyes, cackling madly?

Would love to join you on Wed, but currently unlikely to be able to do so.

Hi,

found a case of Grahams 1970 magnums (on the straw) in the porch. All levels of the mags are well into neck but one mag is a bit gluey on the capsule. This will be opend and drunk on Wednesday.
Should be the best and youngest tasting Grahams 1970 we have ever drunk. Provenance seems immaculate (was stored at Octavian)! At least I hope so.

cu Wednesday

WS1

WS1 wrote:found a case of Grahams 1970 magnums (on the straw) in the porch

Your neighbourhood has good leprechauns. Really impressively good.

Hello,

I would very much like to attend if there is still space available. Is it just bring a VP?

Alex - you are welcome to join us and would be expected to contribute to your share of the cost of dinner (a share normally being about £40) and bring a bottle of vintage port. Given that Wolfgang is intending to bring a magnum of Graham 1970 it would be nice to bring (or buy) something of similar quality. If you want advice for place to buy at short notice in London then let me know.

I've just realised that I haven't booked a table yet. I'll call TBH on Monday and book us a table for 6 - just to allow either extra elbow room or for a couple of latecomers to visit.

Oooh, there’s a task for me as well. Please confirm:
• The Bung Hole;
• Wednesday 25th September 2013;
• JDAW, AHB, WS, Alex M;
• Bring a bottle of vintage port. (But it is blind with G70 revealed, let’s not.)

jdaw1 wrote:Oooh, there’s a task for me as well. Please confirm:
• The Bung Hole;
• Wednesday 25th September 2013;
• JDAW, AHB, WS, Alex M;
• Bring a bottle of vintage port. (But it is blind?)

All is as you state. It is not necessary to bring the bottle blind - but the bottle I plan to bring is an unknown

Have no idea at this moment about my availablilty on Wednesday (sorry to be a pain), but i will certainly be doing everything within my power to come for an hour for some steak over a glass G70!

RAYC wrote:Have no idea at this moment about my availablilty on Wednesday (sorry to be a pain), but i will certainly be doing everything within my power to come for an hour for some steak over a glass G70!

If you can make it, it would be good to catch up. I guessed you've been busy on another project since you've been very quiet recently.

First draft of the placemats.

A table has been booked. Helen apologises but the private room, indeed the entire dining room, has been booked by another party not drinking port. We are on table 815 - turn left as you enter the cellar from the Hand Court stairwell and it will be directly in front of you at the far side of the "bar" area.

(The quotes to emphasise that this was Helen's description of the area we are sitting in, not my description.)

There are four of us, perhaps briefly five, with four or five glasses each. We’ll be fine.

jdaw1 wrote:There are four of us, perhaps briefly five, with four or five glasses each. We’ll be fine.

Indeed! Compared to the old wild days we become restraint!

The Magnum is in my rucksack (the one with the union jack) and will find its way to the Bunghole tonight to rest for Wednesday.

regards

WS1

jdaw1 wrote:First draft of the placemats.

Today is the only opportunity that I will have to print the placemats, so I have done so.


I have also looked up my unknown bottle in my cellar list, where I have written the following description:

Alex' Cellar Records wrote:8 bottles in a lot, which appear to be different ages. This bottle has a short cork, remnants of a wax capsule embossed "PORT" in the centre and "Christopher & Co. Ltd." around the edge. Bottle appears to be from the 1960s.

Cork has been attacked by weevil, but appears to be holding. Mid-shoulder fill; would benefit from a rewax to protect the cork.

I might have missed this but is there a rough arrival time?

Alex M wrote:is there a rough arrival time?

Our usual start time is 6½”Žpm.

But I’m likely to be slightly late: expect my arrival to be just before 7pm. (In a big structured tasting being late is unhelpful. In an unstructured bring-a-bottle tasting it matters little.)

The parameters by which the placemats were made.

GB70 decanted at 3pm, and in excellent condition. Yum!

jdaw1 wrote:GB70 decanted at 3pm, and in excellent condition. Yum!

went for a late lunch to the Bunghole ~ 3:00 PM in order to decant the G70. This is really very good indeed! Had a small glass with the Pear and Stilton salat. The Magnum G70 is safely stored in their cellar up right after having double decanted it. As expected colour and concentration is stronger due to cellared in Magnum format.

cu later

WS1

Did my postcard arrive? Addressed to tpf (and named individiduals) c/o TBH. If not, do ask.

Do you need Daniel and I to send our addresses so that you can post those samples of G70?

DRT wrote:Do you need Daniel and I to send our addresses so that you can post those samples of G70?

A very good idea indeed. I understand that this used to be standard practice...?

I definitely think this custom should be reinstated before the next big tasting I miss

djewesbury wrote:Did my postcard arrive? Addressed to tpf (and named individiduals) c/o TBH. If not, do ask.

It did indeed. It was handed over to us, we read the narrative, looked wistfully at the picture of all those port barrels and then put the postcard back on the wall where it had been put for us.

DRT wrote:Do you need Daniel and I to send our addresses so that you can post those samples of G70?

I was told that you were offered tasting samples in 150cl format, but replied "I'll give that a miss". Is this untrue?

AHB wrote:

DRT wrote:Do you need Daniel and I to send our addresses so that you can post those samples of G70?

I was told that you were offered tasting samples in 150cl format, but replied "I'll give that a miss". Is this untrue?

Unfortunately it isn't.

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 1970 Graham magnum;
• 1970 Taylor;
• 1970 Gonzalez Byass;
• 1966 Quinta do Noval;
• 1977 Warre;
• ≈1950s or 1960s Graham;
• Placemats (and parameters by which made);
• Planning and arrangements.