Thursday 18th December - the 2014 Xmas Offline

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 10:57 Tue 13 May 2014

Tom has kindly agreed to organise the Christmas offline again, which will be at The Bell in Wendens Ambo. The nearest train station is Audley End, which is a 5-10 minute walk from the Bell. Those staying overnight usually stay at the Saffron Hotel in Saffron Walden, a 10 minute car journey from the Bell. Rooms start at £65.

The theme will be the usual, that is The Unknown Shipper and His Peculiar Friends

Space in the private room at the Bell is extremely tight so numbers attending have to be limited to 10. Normal practice is to offer those who attended the previous year first refusal (provided they have been active members of the forum). The industry guest is likely to be Dirk Niepoort, but I need a volunteer to ask Dirk if he'd like to attend again this year.

1 - Uncle Tom
2 - Industry Guest
3 - Axel Probst
4 - AHB
5 -
6 - RAYC
7 - PW
8 - WS1
9 - DJ
10 - RLC

11 - None

UNABLE TO ATTEND
CMAG
DRT
JDAW

If you'd like to go on the reserves list then please post here. There are usually one or two people who can't make it at the last minute each year so being on the reserve list gives you a chance to attend.

Current draft of the sticky labels and other sheets.

And a reminder that last year the bottles included rather a lot of colheita ports, with a summary from a number of attendees (including me) being that there was "too much brown sticky stuff!" Last year's bottles were:
Unknown, believed to have been a venerable sherry or madeira
Unknown, probably an elderly madeira
1858 Hatch Mansfield, aged in wood
1880 Whitwhams Millennium Port
1920 Fonseca
1920 Sandeman
1927 Ramos Pinto LBV
1935 Cockburn
1935 Delaforce
1937 Quinta do Noval colheita, bottled 1994
1937 Vinho Fino do Douro colheita, bottled 1987
1960 Warre, bottled by Berry Brothers
1968 Andresen colheita, bottled 2011
1969 Chateau Barbier Sauternes
1974 The Port Society colheita, bottled 2013, sourced from Quevedo
1982 Graham Single Harvest Tawny, bottled 2013
1999 Sandeman Vau from a double magnum;
2000 Sandeman Vau from a double magnum;

Deleted_User_1 · Post by **Deleted_User_1** » 20:08 Tue 13 May 2014

Reserve list please.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 20:12 Tue 13 May 2014

Cookie wrote:Reserve list please.

Added as requested.

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 14:18 Tue 08 Jul 2014

Have just secured a very 'peculiar friend'

Hand written label in fountain pen: 'Coronation port, 1936, bottled 1935'

Foil capsule is consistant with indicated age and bottle glass looks pre-war; chalk marked for laying down, excellent level, and the colour makes me think it's probably not a tawny..

- what could it be??

Axel P · Post by **Axel P** » 12:49 Sun 27 Jul 2014

Thanks Alex,

I will be bringing a Grahams Crusted, bottled in 1927.

Do you want me to ask Dirk?

Best

Axel

Post by **DRT** » 13:18 Sun 27 Jul 2014

uncle tom wrote:Have just secured a very 'peculiar friend'

Hand written label in fountain pen: 'Coronation port, 1936, bottled 1935'

Sounds more like a miracle than a peculiarity

Glenn E. · Post by **Glenn E.** » 16:43 Sun 27 Jul 2014

uncle tom wrote:Have just secured a very 'peculiar friend'

Hand written label in fountain pen: 'Coronation port, 1936, bottled 1935'

Foil capsule is consistant with indicated age and bottle glass looks pre-war; chalk marked for laying down, excellent level, and the colour makes me think it's probably not a tawny..

- what could it be??

Curious. Could it possibly be a 1933 Vintage, bottled in 1935, and designated for someone's coronation in 1936? Except 1933 wasn't much of a vintage, I think.

Perhaps a "typo"... 1926 Port, bottled in 1935 for someone's coronation? But Tom said it doesn't look tawny, and 1926 wasn't much of a vintage either.

Nothing I can think of makes much sense.

Post by **DRT** » 16:57 Sun 27 Jul 2014

Glenn E. wrote:Nothing I can think of makes much sense.

You appear to have ruled out the possibility of a typo by Tom

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 17:09 Sun 27 Jul 2014

It wasn't a typo. That's what the auction catalogue said.

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 18:42 Sun 27 Jul 2014

It wasn't a typo. That's what the auction catalogue said.

So does the bottle..

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 18:44 Sun 27 Jul 2014

Do you want me to ask Dirk?

Good by me..

Glenn E. · Post by **Glenn E.** » 23:28 Sun 27 Jul 2014

djewesbury wrote:It wasn't a typo. That's what the auction catalogue said.

Apparently the obvious isn't obvious enough

I didn't mean Tom's typo, I meant the label's typo.

Axel P · Post by **Axel P** » 12:41 Mon 28 Jul 2014

It is in Dirks diary and will keep the pressure up that he does not miss this.

Post by **DRT** » 06:49 Mon 06 Oct 2014

AHB mentioned to me recently that a seat has become available at this tasting. Unfortunately, I cannot attend so please remove me from the reserve list and offer the available seat to RLC.

Post by **PhilW** » 09:37 Mon 06 Oct 2014

uncle tom wrote:Hand written label in fountain pen: 'Coronation port, 1936, bottled 1935'

Foil capsule is consistant with indicated age and bottle glass looks pre-war; chalk marked for laying down, excellent level, and the colour makes me think it's probably not a tawny..

- what could it be??

Presumably this is "some port bottled in 1935" which they decided to sell as part of one of the two coronations in 1936; so apparent date inconsistency if probably fine, i.e. that 1936 refers to the coronation date rather than the port vintage. of course it may not be VP, who knows; if it is, then likely from somewhere in '31 to '33 region, since bottled in '35. It will be interesting to find out (assuming the cork has anything on it). Further, I notice that three bottles also with only a handwritten label "1936 coronation port", also with foil capsules, are coming up at Dreweatts next week, though I think their estimate is pretty high considering the contents of the bottles are unknown in terms of both year and shipper.

Deleted_User_1 · Post by **Deleted_User_1** » 16:10 Wed 15 Oct 2014

DRT wrote:AHB mentioned to me recently that a seat has become available at this tasting. Unfortunately, I cannot attend so please remove me from the reserve list and offer the available seat to RLC.

If this is the case I would happily accept

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 18:22 Tue 18 Nov 2014

I've just booked my room at the Saffron Hotel, forgot about it until now. I noticed that they only had one single room left at the stated price. Has everyone booked?

Christopher · Post by **Christopher** » 20:56 Tue 25 Nov 2014

I see I am on the list, which is normally excellent. Sadly I cannot make it this year so could I be taken off the list.
Thanks

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 22:44 Tue 25 Nov 2014

Christopher wrote:I see I am on the list, which is normally excellent. Sadly I cannot make it this year so could I be taken off the list.
Thanks

I have removed you from the list and promoted RLC from his position as first reserve.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 22:47 Tue 25 Nov 2014

Has anyone confirmed with Dirk that he is able to attend?

WS1 · Post by **WS1** » 10:47 Wed 26 Nov 2014

AHB wrote:Has anyone confirmed with Dirk that he is able to attend?

Yes he has!

regards

WS1

Post by **jdaw1** » 12:43 Wed 10 Dec 2014

Sorry team, I can’t do this. Is there a reserve?

RAYC · Post by **RAYC** » 13:49 Wed 10 Dec 2014

I am sorry to hear that.

I don't want to discourage regular TPF event attendees from taking this space, but 10 people has always been a bit of a squeeze at the Bell so I don't think we desperately need to fill the space for the sake of it (i.e. with non-TPF friends)

If the steaks have already been ordered and there's a cost element that needs to be covered, I'm happy to volunteer to split some extra meat with someone!

idj123 · Post by **idj123** » 14:01 Wed 10 Dec 2014

This is very tempting (and I'm in London for a meeting that morning and so transport up there won't be a problem). However, I'll need to square off with the other half and so can I put down a marker and then firm up this pm?

Ian

Post by **jdaw1** » 14:17 Wed 10 Dec 2014

RAYC wrote:and there's a cost element that needs to be covered

As always, costs I will pay any incurred by my failure.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 15:43 Wed 10 Dec 2014

jdaw1 wrote:
RAYC wrote:and there's a cost element that needs to be covered
As always, costs I will pay any incurred by my failure.

Yoda?

Post by **jdaw1** » 17:32 Wed 10 Dec 2014

I’m making the sticky labels. Usual practice has become to have some stickies named (“THRA1”, “THRA2”) and the rest as numbers. (Having named stickies lessens conflict problems: e.g., THRA and AHB can label their own without risk of clashing with the other.)

How many named stickies do you each need?

RAYC · Post by **RAYC** » 17:46 Wed 10 Dec 2014

I still have lots of the sticky labels, so happy to print.

If you are still doing the sheets, can I remind you of this previous discussion: link

Post by **jdaw1** » 19:12 Wed 10 Dec 2014

RAYC wrote:If you are still doing the sheets, can I remind you of this previous discussion: link

A. A. Milne wrote:I am a Bear of Very Little Brain, and long words Bother Me

Please sir, what part of that previous discussion?

RAYC · Post by **RAYC** » 19:32 Wed 10 Dec 2014

Regarding layout on the sticky labels

Post by **jdaw1** » 22:46 Wed 10 Dec 2014

Is there an industry guest? I have nine people: THRA, AP, AHB, RAYC, PW, WS, DJ, RLC, and IDJ. Is that all?

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 23:22 Wed 10 Dec 2014

jdaw1 wrote:Is there an industry guest? I have nine people: THRA, AP, AHB, RAYC, PW, WS, DJ, RLC, and IDJ. Is that all?

Dirk is attending

Post by **jdaw1** » 23:43 Wed 10 Dec 2014

By permission of AHB, in [url=http://www.theportforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=75335#p75335]the first post[/url] jdaw1 wrote:Current draft of the sticky labels and other sheets.

Post by **jdaw1** » 11:47 Thu 11 Dec 2014

Updated draft of the sticky labels and other sheets.

Tom bringing two.
AP’s specified as Graham crusted bottled 1927.

Post by **PhilW** » 12:08 Thu 11 Dec 2014

PW1 and PW2 please.
Also, could anyone attending bring tongs again this year please?

idj123 · Post by **idj123** » 13:52 Thu 11 Dec 2014

Sorry all, alas it was a pipe dream and I'm unable to attend due to insufficient notice period. C'est la vie!

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 13:08 Fri 12 Dec 2014

PhilW wrote:PW1 and PW2 please.
Also, could anyone attending bring tongs again this year please?

I'll try to bring a set with me as I was considering trying to open my bottle with tongs to see whether it might be possible to identify it from the cork.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 13:15 Fri 12 Dec 2014

May I make a bizarre, perhaps doomed plea? I think that bringing too many bottles can militate against enjoying the quality of what we have. Certainly last year (admittedly my first time, and admittedly an event awash with tawnies) I was a little overwhelmed and felt that I didn't have time properly to appreciate some of the more wonderful things (like the F20). I hope we don't have too much to drink and would ask that we don't slide by default toward two bottles a head. Please gentlemen, remember we all have but one mouth, and a few hours to fill it.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 13:38 Fri 12 Dec 2014

Note: I do not want smaller measures.

WS1 · Post by **WS1** » 08:43 Sat 13 Dec 2014

djewesbury wrote:May I make a bizarre, perhaps doomed plea? I think that bringing too many bottles can militate against enjoying the quality of what we have. Certainly last year (admittedly my first time, and admittedly an event awash with tawnies) I was a little overwhelmed and felt that I didn't have time properly to appreciate some of the more wonderful things (like the F20). I hope we don't have too much to drink and would ask that we don't slide by default toward two bottles a head. Please gentlemen, remember we all have but one mouth, and a few hours to fill it.

Hmmmm, good plea but not gonna happen

regards
WS1

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 09:03 Sat 13 Dec 2014

I understand and am resigned to my fate!

Post by **PhilW** » 11:41 Mon 15 Dec 2014

AHB wrote:
PhilW wrote:PW1 and PW2 please.
Also, could anyone attending bring tongs again this year please?
I'll try to bring a set with me as I was considering trying to open my bottle with tongs to see whether it might be possible to identify it from the cork.

Thanks Alex - that's the same reason I would like tongs to be there, for one of my bottles.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 21:14 Mon 15 Dec 2014

Tom

Would you be able to bring an empty decanter and chain to the Bell for me please? I plan to decant my bottle when I arrive.

Thanks

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 13:20 Wed 17 Dec 2014

OK - I have two 'peculiar' bottles from me, one 1927 crusted from Axel, one unknown VP (possibly crusted) from Dan, one unknown 1927 adoption for Rob, one unknown shipper and vintage adoption for Ray and a spare bottle from Wolfgang, should any of the others turn out to be duff; plus two further bottles of wine from Wolfgang for the 'after party' - not to mention a large quantity of cheese - for whom I am not entirely sure...

- Have I missed anyone??

Post by **PhilW** » 13:28 Wed 17 Dec 2014

uncle tom wrote:- Have I missed anyone??

Tom - Would you mind adding a hammer to your list of bits to bring (for cork extraction from tonged bottle-neck)? It would save me bringing one on the train which could be misconstrued!

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 13:49 Wed 17 Dec 2014

uncle tom · Post by **uncle tom** » 10:13 Thu 18 Dec 2014

As we are only nine my old friend Dave Mitchell will be joining us with a 1948 - probably colheita - as his contribution...

Post by **flash_uk** » 17:12 Thu 18 Dec 2014

Have fun tonight everyone. Sounds like some interesting bottles will be tasted!

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 17:30 Thu 18 Dec 2014

uncle tom wrote:As we are only nine my old friend Dave Mitchell will be joining us with a 1948 - probably colheita - as his contribution...

Noooo! Not a brown sticky thing!

It will be good to see Dave again. I have arrived and chosen the best seat. Ray and Axel have just walked in with two boxes of bottles.

Should I start now?

Post by **jdaw1** » 17:44 Thu 18 Dec 2014

AHB wrote:Should I start now?

Yes. A quorum shall be the number present.

If a list of Ports is communicated to me (post/PM/email), I’ll make TN threads.