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The previous New York tasting seemed to be a good evening for all. Since I have never tasted Vesuvio, and have just bought a few odd bottles (1990, 1991 and 1994), let’s do it again to give me an opportunity to open some of them.

Same place:

[url=http://www.theportforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=5272#5272]Here[/url] jdaw1 wrote:my local French restaurant, Bistro Citron, NY 10024-5131, which is on the east side of Columbus Avenue between west 82nd and west 83rd streets. Good nosh, and the best fries in Manhattan.

Subway from downtown take the B or C to 81st street: don’t take the A or D as they are express from Columbus Circle to somewhere functionally equivalent to Canada.

We have a date: Tuesday 11th December 2007, that working for me, Jeff, Bob Heckart, and new girl Renée. Does a 7pm start work for everybody?

[Deleted stuff seeking agreement about date.]

As much as I would love too, the odds are I won't be able to make it to New York so close to the holidays.

To share my relatively contemporaneous review of the 10/29 tasting session (my first): Great company, great ports, great french fries, great steak. Thank's very much for including me. I really enjoyed it.

Based on the above, another tasting would be most welcome. Of the dates you suggest, I am available December 3, 4, 5 and 11.

A Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Congratulations on your maiden post. And please do acknowledge your curious fans in the thread welcoming you to TPF.

First post edited to reflect date preferences.

I should be available to whenever ...

Let's see if i can track down some vesuvio for this tasting

Doesn’t have to be Vesuvio. Though you are more than welcome to make it so.

Alright, I've picked up a 92 vesuvio.

and I'm fine with any of those dates.

I’ve invited, by PM, several people including mosesbotbol, Luc, jonathanvaljean (who never collects PMs: perhaps there’s a new email address not known to TPF), PortDude, Sid_Mac, and even AHB, as well as those who’ve already posted here and some former work colleagues. Who else might want to play?

We might perhaps be joined by Deniz Su, she being a joint-owner|manager|Acting Deputy Vice Under Janitor|other at a different restaurant near me.

Admins: should she apply to join this august crowd , please admit promptly.

Admins: you might be hearing from Renée S. Harris, who might also be joining the team. Please admit promptly.

Asked restaurant about Mon 3rd Dec, Tue 4th Dec, Wed 5th Dec, Tue 11th Dec, and they’re all good.

And Renée is having registering problems that have been forwarded to the admins.

New girl Raveesh can make Wed 28 Nov, Mon 10 Dec or Tue 11 Dec. So we have a date: Tuesday 11th December 2007.

Those who haven’t yet said: what vintage port are you bringing?

Edit: and I’ve booked a table for six people in Bistro Citron at 6:30pm on Tue 11th Dec.

Julian, the store I called and bought the 92 vesuvio DK ed my order.

I will be bringing a 95 vesuvio instead.

The 1995 alas not the most favoured. OK, interesting nonetheless.

If the Dollar keeps crashing, you may get a surprise visitor one day.

At least I can dream.

Alan.

What do you all think about my bringing a 1994 Croft? As 'New Girl', I indeed welcome all of your suggestions. Also have a mysterious 85 Kopke. Thank you!

1994 Croft works for me. Or you could give me the dollar cost of one of my three bottles.

Draft of placemats.

• Are we all right handed?
• Jeff: is Steph coming again?
• Bob: you coming? With what? (Or do you want to adopt one of my three?)

Thank you, Julian, for the offering one of your fine selections. In this instance I will opt to bring along the Croft lest we run short or something equally disastrous.

Right-handed.

Yes Julian, Steph will be there.

Btw, I'm going to bring a Churchills 94 with the Vesuvio 95

Draft of placemats updated. I have also found more potential friends.

We will be joined also by Aaron Mittman, who has yet to reveal what he will bring.

Admins: if he should attempt to join the board, please be efficient about allowing him to post.

Francis Facciolo (who should be admitted by passing admins) says that he will bring a Duff Gordon 1994. My first ever Duff Gordon.

Updated draft of placemats.

Edit: Francis Facciolo is jfacciol.

are these the same guys that make the Duff beer in the simpsons?

[url=http://www.theportforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=7230#7230]Here[/url] AHB wrote:I've come back to this port again this evening, roughly 28 hours after decanting. This is absolutely superb. The nose has opened up and blackcurrants are dominant. In the mouth the wine is now a little softer but is so much more complex than it was last night or this morning. The tannins are less dominant than they were this morning and the aftertaste is longer and more pronounced.

Julian - when you read this please plan to open the bottle you are tasting a good 24-28 hours before you intend to drink it.

I'm revising my score up for this wine by 1 point - 10/10 or 97/100. Incidentally, I have only ever scored two wines higher than this and they were the Nacional 1994 and the Nacional 1963.

Alex: I can’t do this. The choices are 9am the day before, being 34 hours, or midnight immediately before, being 19 hours. Which do you advise? And also, what do you advise for my Vesuvio 1990 and 1991?

Bob: you’re paying for this bottle of V94; it’s yours. What do you instruct? (Ideally you’ll reply “whatever AHB advises†, or equivalent. Because it’s what will be done unless, before I do it, you instruct to the contrary.)

Is there a code in the placement of the little black dot? Or is it just poor printing?

It looks to me as though it is poor printing. From looking at your pictures, it also seems to be that the location of the initial Q also varies from label to label. Who knows...

As for decanting, I still have some of this left almost exactly 48 hours after decanting and it is stonking. The aftertaste is just unbelievably long although the nose is a little less developed than last night. The midpalate complexity is certainly still with you and the tannins are softer.

My suggestion as to preferred decanting time would depend on the Group's preference for the obviousness of the tannins - if you like your port "grippy" then decant for 19 hours. If you like your tannins more resolved then decant for 39 hours. If you're serving this to me then 39 hours please.

I've timed tasting notes for the 1991 from September 2006 and would recommend that this is also decanted for 39 hours (I tasted it at 36 and preferred it toi the way it tasted after 12 hours) but I have only ever tasted the 1990 once. However, given that this was made from the same grapes by the same winemaking team as the 1991 I would be tempted to decant them all 39 hours in advance of the tasting.

And all I can say is, you are going to really enjoy that Vesuvio 94, and the other two are also pretty good ports.

Have fun folks.

Alex

Hey Julian,
Steph dropped out, so it's just me,

still bringing the Chuchill 94 and the Vesuvio 95 ...

Looking at the suggestions, I'm goign to decant both of these roughly 30 hours before hand.

Unless anyone wants any differently?

Shame about Steph. Thirty hours works for me. (And thanks for bringing both bottles.)

Eric Duprey has told me that he will be bringing a Ramos Pinto Quinta da Ervamoira 1994.

Placemats updated.

All three double-decanted.
1994: very purple.
1991: quite purple.
1990: sensible red.

I have a meeting today at which I just can’t smell of port, really can’t, so haven’t sampled.

Eric D. is a great guy...glad he will be able to join you guys.

Hello Everyone. Looking forward to meeting you all tomorrow.

Sounds like you're all aiming at decanting around 30 hours, so I will do the same with the Ramos-Pinto.

Pleased to report the Vesuvio 95 is a good bottle.

No chunks on this bottle, very little sediments.

Milk chocolate, all spice, slight raisiny nose. Very very smooth going down with no hint of bite sweet taste with a slight bitter aftertaste. but no balance of acidity there. Dark opaque purple.

Can't wait to try this one tomorrow.

Churchill 94

Lotsa chunks caught in the muslin. Big raisin sized chunks.

clear garnet with a slight browning on the edges, much better legs then the vesuvio. muted slightly medicinal/mint nose, hint of anise. A very nice balance of acidity, again very smooth going down. with a slight burnt woody finish.

Both opened at 3:30pm on monday.

Perfect fill levels on both, no hint of cork on either.

Can't wait to see you guys tomorrow!

Have fun tonight chaps!

Well, how did it go..come on where are the Pics at, chop chop

Just arrived home. TNs tomorrow. But Vesuvio ’94 & ’95 fantastic. V92 simple: strawberries, perhaps. V91 foul. Duff Gordon 94 foul. Croft ’94 great. Churchill ’94 good initially, but then deteriorated. The Ramos Pinto single quinta controversial: I thought OK, others hated.

Some people didn’t show, so lots of port for few of us. There are pictures, but tomorrow, in the review.

5 courageous souls 8 massive bottles.

A great time all around. Thank you Julian for setting up the tasting.

We did a pretty good job packing away 5 1/2 bottles of port with Renee clearly leading the way.

TN in the TN section.

Wines of the night:

To drink now:
1. Vesuvio 95
2. Vesuvio 94
3. Croft 94

To Hold onto:
1. Vesuvio 94
2. Vesuvio 95
3. Croft 94

Review of the evening as a whole, and TNs:

• Vesuvio 1990;
• Vesuvio 1991;
• Vesuvio 1994;
• Vesuvio 1995;
• Churchill 1994;
• Croft 1994;
• Duff Gordon 1994;
• Pinto Ramos Quinta de Ervamoira 1994.