Event: FTLOP Emergency Offline

[Julian D. A. Wiseman]

If you PM me an email address I’ll send you a glasses placemat.

[Julian D. A. Wiseman]

Sent. Version 2 marginally better (and with tasting-note pages).

[Derek T.]

Some advice, please?

This is a fairly diverse line-up:

1. A Fonseca vertical

2. A top class 1963 experience

3. Alan's cherry-bursting Nacional experience

4. Alan's Harvey's 85 that he has kept for 20 years to compare with the Fonseca 85

5. A Graham's Malvedos 87 to accompany the NN from the same vintage

6. A Dow 83 to show the qualities of an under-rated vintage

If this was your tasting, in which order would you tackle these wines?

Derek

[Julian D. A. Wiseman]

Fonseca 1970, Fonseca 1985, Fonseca 2000, Harvey’s 1985, Noval Nacional 1987, Graham’s Malvedos 1987, Grahams’s 1963, Dow 1983.

[Todd Pettinger]

Just make sure there is plenty of wood-pigeon breast wrapped in bacon to go around. If the hotel you will be at will not serve it, bring your own and cook over a portable campstove :)

[Andy Velebil]

Fonseca 1970, Fonseca 1985, Fonseca 2000, Harvey’s 1985, Noval Nacional 1987, Graham’s Malvedos 1987, Grahams’s 1963, Dow 1983.

Agree, Do them in flights, grouping as many of the same producer together as possible

[Andy Velebil]

Just make sure there is plenty of wood-pigeon breast wrapped in bacon to go around. If the hotel you will be at will not serve it, bring your own and cook over a portable campstove :)

And don't forget the peanut butter for dessert

[Julian D. A. Wiseman]

I have never done my tastings in flights. Eleven glasses and eleven decanters are made available, and people do as they please. Is that sub-optimal?

[Andy Velebil]

heck no, anyway you do it is great. I was just throwing out some ideas late last night.

Then again, comparing identical years against other producers is always fun.

[Alan C.]

Off Line Tasting : Saturday 31st March 2007

As planned, I had the good fortune to meet Derek and KillerB and their better halves. Good food and good company, followed by the Ports that have been listed previously.
I presume the whole evening was a success, as I can only definately remember up to around 4am(theres a rumour it carried on untill 8am). I also remember that Derek is difficult to wake up, even when your jabbing him with a Snooker Cue(to inform him its his shot).
I'll let the my more cultured friends give their opinion on the Ports, other than to say there were a few diamonds in the line up!I'll be Emailing the lads to see under what format we should explain the events and the Tastings. This is just a short note to tell you I survived...Just!
I'm also not a 63 Virgin anymore...but thats partbof the story!!!

Alan.

[Todd Pettinger]

Alan and others - eagerly awaiting your reports/TNs. Sounds like good fun was had, wish I could have been there!

Todd

[Derek T.]

Alan,

Glad to see you are still alive - we thought you had been kidnapped

My memory is rather hazy but I seem to recall being quite brilliant at snooker. Can you confirm that this was the case?

Derek

[Alex K.]

Actually Derek, Jo and I thought that you had been kidnapped before I found you locked away somewhere.

Thoroughly enjoyed the evening with great company and great Ports. As for the wines, there were a couple of surprises.

[Al B.]

OK. Glad to hear you all enjoyed yourselves but will I hear the same answer if I ask your better halves?

And what plans do you have to be able to tell the rest of us what you thought of the wines and the evening? Pictures like Julian? Newsletter article like last time?

C'mon guys, tell us what to expect or WE'LL ALL START SHOUTING AT YOU

Alex

[Derek T.]

No decision has yet been taken on how to tell the tale or describe the wines. However, given how the evening worked out, I would think that those who enjoy a decription of a fun night out will be more pleased than those waiting for detailed TN's

One thing that I will reveal at this point is that the award for staying power goes to one of the female members of the group who still had enough presence of mind and organisational ability to make those who were left at the end tidy away all the debris

More will no doubt follow shortly....

Derek

[Alex K.]

OK, found my notes:

Dow's 1983 - "Raisin, something slightly crazy" could be "orangey". In the mouth it says "Bargly" but I suspect that's "Brandy"

I will try to decipher some more in due course.

[Alex K.]

I can now make a proper note.

Fonseca 2000, two days later.

This is still black and thicker than a Baggies' fan. On the nose it is very alcoholic but some dark fruits are starting to show through along with the standard raisins. Lemon peel and prunes in the mouth and distinctly sticky. Very dry but long finish.

This has all the hallmarks of a long-stayer but it's impossible to be clear how long with something the consistency of cooling tar.

[Andy Velebil]

Ok guys....STOP leaving us in suspense (yes, I am shouting at you)...spill your guts and right fast man :!:

[Steven Kooij]

Sould like a blast KillerB - how would you compare the Fonseca '00 to the '03 we shared the last time you were over (which is too long ago, BTW)?

[Alex K.]

Sould like a blast KillerB - how would you compare the Fonseca '00 to the '03 we shared the last time you were over (which is too long ago, BTW)?

Steven - that's almost impossible to do but I remember that being an interesting experience, even quite pleasant. The 2000 was far too tannic and heavy to be truly enjoyable beyond a weird, slightly morbid interest. My problem is that if I get to drink this Port at its peak I will definitely need a straw and will probably ramble endlessly about how I had it when it was black rather than just dark purple (who I seem to remember was a rack and rule band).

I give this fifty years to its peak.