Report on Day 1 of the 2010 Fortification Tour: "Diagonals" at Graham and Taylor

[Richard Jennings]

Here's a link to my first blog report on the 2010 Fortification Tour, summarizing the first full day when Roy led us on tours of Graham and Taylor lodges in Porto, followed by an informative and delicious tasting of six of the great Port houses from three of the great vintages: 1963, 1966 and 1970: http://rjonwine.wordpress.com/2010/06/0 ... -and-1970/

Today I'll add a report on the private tour and dinner we had at the Factory House the same night, hosted by Dominic Symington and David Guimaraens.

[Glenn E.]

Awesome article, Richard! I can't wait to read about the Factory House dinner. :)

[Eric Menchen]

Dominic offered that the 1977 Smith Woodhouse and Gould Campbell are also outstanding. He attributed this to the ability of those houses to choose just a few pipes and make a small quantity of something spectacular.

I concur, so much to the point that I hesitate to point it out.

It is more transcribed notes than a feature article, but a nice read so far as that with good information.

[Andy Velebil]

RIchard,
Thanks for writing this up and sharing it with us. I look forward to reading the rest of your write-ups on the trip.

[Richard Jennings]

It is more transcribed notes than a feature article, but a nice read so far as that with good information.

Eric, your comment is more gratuitous diss than a well reasoned, thoughtful critique, but I'm glad you found it a "nice read."

[Eric Menchen]

Richard, I wasn't trying for a thoughtful critique. If there were value in finding specific examples to support my generalization, perhaps I could do so, but I didn't really feel the need.

I very much appreciate your article. I read it and am glad I did so. There was a lot of good information and insight in there. I meant no disrespect in my comment above, but wanted to give my impression. Perhaps there was no value in this, my impression, either.

[Richard Jennings]

Eric,

I didn't think you were trying for a "thoughtful critique." My tongue was in my cheek. I wasn't trying for a "feature article," either--it was a blog post summary of an experience for my blog, which you were seeming to "diss" by calling it "transcribed notes." Yes, there was some note taking involved, but it didn't feel good to have the effort dismissed as "more transcribed notes." I'm just sayin'. Upward and onward . . .

[Roy Hersh]

Reading Richard's report, I almost felt like I was there, sitting in the same room and drinking those wines with him and the rest of the gang. Sung to the tune of: "Memories" as in The Way We Were.

In all seriousness, great write up Richard!

[David Spriggs]

I absolutely loved the notes and can't wait for the next set

I know how much work this is since I just spent many long days and night writing up on of last year's trip. It's way harder than I remember it being.
-Dave-

[Richard Jennings]

Thanks a lot guys! And Dave, I appreciate your notes on last year, which I reviewed before our trip.
I'm in the midst of writing up our experience at Niepoort. Since it was a confusing evening in terms of what was coming out of barrel, and even what we were drinking at the table, it's probably the most challenging of any of our experiences to write up. Lots of reconstructing to do.

[Roy Hersh]

"You're a better man than I, Gunga Din."