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Gentlemen,

Thank you to those that have expressed interest in attending the 2nd Annual Doty Cup. We are in the process of finalizing the menu with the Square (http://www.squarerestaurant.com/), but we're agreed in principle for Friday, the 21st of March @ 7pm.

We have agreed 135 per person all in (they've apparently had a price increase since 2011!) for the food/service/tax/etc. I am supplying the bottles, with a 'celebrity shot' generously sponsored by RAYC (defending his 2013 Doty Cup Title) We have already heard from a few of you who cannot make that date. I am sorry that you will need to wait until 2015 for your shot at the cup. We will toast in your honor.

The format will be broadly similar to last year's tasting, with 6 flights of two wines, all served double blind, a small 'ted-ish' presentation from each guest, followed by a discussion of the wines, voting, and the presentation of the Cup/prize. One likely change is that as the line-up this year includes a number of port novices, the wine fights will have a broader distribution than last year.

Attendees:
1.) King Doty
2.) 13Champ
3.) Crown Princess Ahmed (TBC)
4.) Prime Minister
5.) H. Potter
6.) American Richard
7.) Tokyo Tim
8.) Director Finkle
9.) Jajow Veteran
10.) Betrayals Sustained
11.) Crown Prince Ahmed
12.) Muggins

Many thanks to JDAW for his famous bespoke placemats/paper trail.

Looking forward to it!
Chris (aka King Doty)

I am interested, thank you.

Days ending in a "y" are best for me.

Thank you, yes please. Mondays and Wednesdays mildly preferred, but at your disposal.

Placemats: that seems traditional. Sure. How numbered? 1A 1B 2A 2B 3A 3B !? α₁ α₂ β₁ β₂ γ₁ γ₂? Something based on Paradise Lost, or Christmas? Something else?

I'm interested. I'll check my work diary next week and post preferred dates, but generally Mon-Thu peferred.

I am feeling a little remiss so far this year bit TDC has been on my radar! As soon as date is confirmed I shall speak nicely to Mrs Read.


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benread wrote:As soon as date is confirmed I shall speak nicely to Mrs Read.

Speak nicely to her now

I would also be interested but have already a fairly packed schedule

regards

WS1

Sounds great.

6th is out for me unfortunately as I will be in Leverkeusen for Axel's 2011 vp extravaganza.

If there is room after the regular competitors have taken their seats I would love to join as this sounds a great evening, subject to the final date!

Thanks

Charles

If it's the 6th (or any other day before the 6th in that week) I can be there. Won't be able to attend the 15th unfortunately.

DRT wrote:I am interested, thank you.

Days ending in a "y" are best for me.

Wouldn't be the same w/o you, DRT.

I am moving the date back though -- sometime likely in the 3rd week of March.

I promise the day will still end in 'y'

jdaw1 wrote:Thank you, yes please. Mondays and Wednesdays mildly preferred, but at your disposal.

Placemats: that seems traditional. Sure. How numbered? 1A 1B 2A 2B 3A 3B !? α₁ α₂ β₁ β₂ γ₁ γ₂? Something based on Paradise Lost, or Christmas? Something else?

Fabulous Jdaw. Wednesday may work as well, but this will now likely be in March.

as for placemats, numbering should indeed be special. will have a think and get back to you. I want something...resurgent and triumphant.

AHB wrote:I'm interested. I'll check my work diary next week and post preferred dates, but generally Mon-Thu peferred.

I mean, having served your time last year as helper, it only seems fair that you get a crack at the Cup, AHB.

Moved to March - hope we find a date that works.

woo woo

benread wrote:I am feeling a little remiss so far this year bit TDC has been on my radar! As soon as date is confirmed I shall speak nicely to Mrs Read.


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Fabulous. Would love to see you there Ben. Now thinking 3rd week of March. will keep ya'll posted

WS1 wrote:I would also be interested but have already a fairly packed schedule

regards

WS1

You can't miss two years in a row Wolf. That would be horribly un-German of you. We're now thinking 3rd week of March. You're running out of excuses and need to help make sure AHB doesn't run away with the Cup!

RAYC wrote:Sounds great.

6th is out for me unfortunately as I will be in Leverkeusen for Axel's 2011 vp extravaganza.

I forgot about Axel's extravaganza! I feel like I've missed a ton of great tastings he's put on. I will be very eager to hear all about it!

We're moving this to March, and obviously can't do it without the defending champion to preside.

CPR 1 wrote:If there is room after the regular competitors have taken their seats I would love to join as this sounds a great evening, subject to the final date!

Thanks

Charles

Hello Charles,

I will keep you on a reserves list for now and will hope we can find room for you, subject to the date working out. We're now thinking the 3rd week (ish) of March.

RonnieRoots wrote:If it's the 6th (or any other day before the 6th in that week) I can be there. Won't be able to attend the 15th unfortunately.

Not to worry -- now thinking 3rdish week of March. Hope that suits.

Would love to come. During the third week of March though, the only date that would work for me is the Monday (St Patrick's Bank Holiday in Northern Ireland). If it so happens, it so happens.

Chris Doty wrote:Now thinking 3rd week of March. will keep ya'll posted

Third week of March (w/c 17th) I will be out of the UK and not able to attend. I could make the second or fourth weeks, he says hopefully...

Chris Doty wrote:

WS1 wrote:I would also be interested but have already a fairly packed schedule

regards

WS1

You can't miss two years in a row Wolf. That would be horribly un-German of you. We're now thinking 3rd week of March. You're running out of excuses and need to help make sure AHB doesn't run away with the Cup!

You are right and wrong! But I will miss a second time since on my annual Burgundy/Rhone trip starting on Monday the 17th until the 29th of March is already fully booked (appointments etc.)

Sorry Chris.

regards

WS1

AHB wrote:

Chris Doty wrote:Now thinking 3rd week of March. will keep ya'll posted

Third week of March (w/c 17th) I will be out of the UK and not able to attend. I could make the second or fourth weeks, he says hopefully...

The second and fourth weeks might also be better for me, depending on the day. Tuesdays are good, Thursdays slightly less good.

Has a date yet been chosen?

Looks like friday the 21st

Woo woo

Chris Doty wrote:Looks like friday the 21st

Woo woo

Enjoy! Sadly I cannot make it.

However there is some compensation; will be in the "Beaugraviere" in Mondragon that night and very likely drinking some RAYAS

regards

WS1

Current draft of the placemats.


Organisers (Chris and Rob): I’ve given you decanter labels and sticky bottle labels, but not pre-pour sheets. Please confirm satisfactory.

All: is the list of attendees correct? Are those in, in? Are those out, out?

Real shame but I won't be able to make the 21st, thus till anther time Chris

Hope you all have a great night (I an sure you will)

Excellent improvisation, Jdaw!

We may need to edit closer to the event, but we're ahead of the curve.

1 month countdown!

Chris Doty wrote:we're ahead of the curve

You appear to be ignoring the small problem that the 2014 Doty Cup has but two players, me and DRT. We’ll each get about zero points in the guessing game, so it will be down to the mini-TED.

But with four people sharing twelve bottles, there will not be a problem with drink sufficiency.

You might wish to consider choosing a date on which more people are available.

jdaw1 wrote:You appear to be ignoring the small problem that the 2014 Doty Cup has but two players, me and DRT ! You might wish to consider choosing a date on which more people are available.

Whilst the prospect of spending an evening drinking 9 litres of fine Port with you two fine fellows has obvious appeal I must agree with JDAW that the Doty Cup deserves more competition.

If we cannot find a new date or more attendees I suggest we change this event into "Three Men and a Gallon of Port", with each man supplying one third of a gallon (which is roughly two bottles each).

I am very hopeful but need to discuss with my diary secretary!


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I will be in Turkey on 21st March. Sorry chaps, hope you enjoy yourselves.

Happy to report that we have a provisional booking w/ the Square!

Let me know if you have a preference re: menu.

get excited

Expletive expletive … expletive: I cannot do the 21^st of March. Sorry, and doubly so because I knew this a few weeks ago. But I can’t.

Damn!

Placemats updated with new venue.

What constitutes a quorum for a Doty Cup event?

At this point we have DRT as the only confirmed combatant (winning presentation not quite ready); BMHR as a "hopefully, if my wife lets me out"; RAYC playing Debbie McGee in place of the absent magician's assistant, AHB, and; Grand Poobah Doty in the chair.

I think we should be going for a beer and hoping our comrades will put on a better show next year.

Hail, Ye Grand Poobah of the Leopard Lodge, what say Ye?

DRT wrote:What constitutes a quorum for a Doty Cup event?

Easy question: Debbie McGee and Grand Poobah Doty. Anybody else is a bonus.

Fridays are difficult though.

jdaw1 wrote:Fridays are difficult though.

Not too much so.

"Dear Mrs X, I am devastated that I will be unable to spend only fifty-one Friday evenings with you this year as I feel obliged to make a small sacrifice to attend a splendid evening with a man who is willing to travel across the Atlantic with a case full of Port in order to entertain us and cement our hopefully life-long friendship. I look forward to seeing you before I leave on Friday evening and when I get home later that same Friday. Yours repentantly, Husband X."

Not too difficult at all really.

jdaw1 wrote:

DRT wrote:What constitutes a quorum for a Doty Cup event?

Easy question: Debbie McGee and Grand Poobah Doty. Anybody else is a bonus.

I'm not sure that is what Debbie (aka RAYC) had in mind!

DRT wrote:"Dear Mrs X, I am devastated that I will be unable to spend only fifty-one Friday evenings with you this year as I feel obliged to make a small sacrifice to attend a splendid evening with a man who is willing to travel across the Atlantic with a case full of Port in order to entertain us and cement our hopefully life-long friendship. I look forward to seeing you before I leave on Friday evening and when I get home later that same Friday. Yours repentantly, Husband X."

Top tip: don’t address your missus as “Mrs X”. She’ll think you are a forgetful bigamist with multiple identities.

I observe that Friday events are typically more sparsely attended, unless a lot of notice is given.

jdaw1 wrote:Top tip: don’t address your missus as “Mrs X”. She’ll think you are a forgetful bigamist with multiple identities.

Damn. That explains a lot.

jdaw1 wrote:

DRT wrote:What constitutes a quorum for a Doty Cup event?

Easy question: Debbie McGee and Grand Poobah Doty. Anybody else is a bonus.

Fridays are difficult though.

Doty Cup events are to be held in the first trimester of the calendar year, and are to be attended by their benefactor, winners (above all the most recent), beautiful wines, the trophy, helpful waitstaff, savory and sweet foods, friends and family.

They are held in a spirit of expanding awesomeness and it is not unobserved that people who cannot attend are the worse for it. Fear not, as the Wimbledon tasting is right around the corner, and should be easier to plan in advance.

This year's tasting will have broader reach, reflecting attendance from my sister and various non-TPF friends/colleagues.

I am very much looking forward to it.

Unable due to ProWein and lots and lots of events before and after.

Have fun with all this

Axel

Chris Doty wrote:attendance from my sister and various non-TPF friends/colleagues

Given the attendance of your sister and others, please post or send whatever names or initials or other identifiers should appear on the placemats.

jdaw1 wrote:

Chris Doty wrote:attendance from my sister and various non-TPF friends/colleagues

Given the attendance of your sister and others, please post or send whatever names or initials or other identifiers should appear on the placemats.

Placemats at the Square....?

RAYC wrote:Placemats at the Square....?

They do say the Square. Cache problems?

jdaw1 wrote:

RAYC wrote:Placemats at the Square....?

They do say the Square. Cache problems?

Apologies - i was not clear. My query was whether this was the type of establishment to allow placemats and a row of 12 glasses, or whether we would be doing the wines in pair by pair.

RAYC wrote:
My query was whether this was the type of establishment to allow placemats and a row of 12 glasses, or whether we would be doing the wines in pair by pair.

Good question. In their latest proposal, I am paying for stemware rental. Should I forego the additional glasses in exchange for an extra course, we'd likely have only 4 glasses at a time. If we do have 12 glasses, the placemats I think would be a potential cluster....

JDAW - your thoughts?

Updated the first post w/ a refreshed list of attendees.

Coming up soon!

Chris Doty wrote:1.) Chris
2.) RAYC
3.) DRT
4.) Liz
5.) Laurie
6.) Richard Z
7.) Tokyo Tim
8.) Jerome F
9.) The artist formerly known as Jajow
10.) Reed
11.) Musta
12.) Muggins

By what concise name do you want each of these to be named on the placemats? As you have them, excepting “↓Jajow”?

Edit: I might be able to code a strikethrough to make “Jajow”. Would that really be worth the effort?

Edit edit: no Ben Read? Also, updated draft of the placemats.


Organisers (Chris and Rob): I’ve given you decanter labels and sticky bottle labels and pre-pour sheets. Please confirm satisfactory.

jdaw1 wrote:

Chris Doty wrote:1.) Chris
2.) RAYC
3.) DRT
4.) Liz
5.) Laurie
6.) Richard Z
7.) Tokyo Tim
8.) Jerome F
9.) The artist formerly known as Jajow
10.) Reed
11.) Musta
12.) Muggins

By what concise name do you want each of these to be named on the placemats? As you have them, excepting “↓Jajow”?

Edit: I might be able to code a strikethrough to make “Jajow”. Would that really be worth the effort?

Edit edit: no Ben Read? Also, updated draft of the placemats.


Organisers (Chris and Rob): I’ve given you decanter labels and sticky bottle labels and pre-pour sheets. Please confirm satisfactory.

Confirmed publicly. Chris was made aware privately a week ago. Can't find sad face icon on iPhone...


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