Madeira Tasting in San Francisco - May 17-19, 2013

[Bret Davis]

Bret Davis - available the proposed weekend of May 17-19 and interested in attending BOTH nights. Thanks.

[Llyn Strelau]

Llyn Strelau will come to both. Sooner we can confirm a date the better for getting better flight deals.

[Mark L]

Mark Lee (1 person) confirmed for both tastings, please.


and Marco - I noticed you said you were not able to attend in March, but the date proposed is in May -- not sure if you meant to type May anyway, but just in case it helps you decide to attend!

Thanks very much!

[Marco D.]

and Marco - I noticed you said you were not able to attend in March, but the date proposed is in May -- not sure if you meant to type May anyway, but just in case it helps you decide to attend!

Thanks for catching that... I did mean I couldn't make it in May...

[David Spriggs]

I am still in for May. I hope to see everyone!

[Alan Gardner]

I'm 'probably' in for 2 people - CERTAINLY for the high bar tasting. But still no indication of where the bar might be.
Assuming I'm there, I would probably 'like' to attend the lower bar tasting, but will 'step aside' if necessary to allow a broader participant base - it seems there are several people who can only justify the lower bar, so I think it's more important to expand the community than to sit in on a tasting that I could probably put together with my own local group in Toronto (although I would also like to meet everyone).

So 'how high the bar'?
I suggested (earlier in thread) solera vs vintage which only got a little traction; now I'll add comparative bottlings from (relatively common) same vintages. Maybe same grape, but different producers (in which case we need to set the years).

Barry: - You seemed interested enough earlier to set some 'decision guidelines' (aka "rules").
Any thoughts/suggestions (From anyone?).

[Eric Menchen]

I'm still interested in both, but am trying to source bottles. After being outbid last week on an 1834 (and it wasn't a lowball bid), today I put in a bid on a 1860 Sercial Solera Madeira Cossart-Gordon, near the top of the expected range.

[Steve Pollack]

I'm still interested in both, but am trying to source bottles. After being outbid last week on an 1834 (and it wasn't a lowball bid), today I put in a bid on a 1860 Sercial Solera Madeira Cossart-Gordon, near the top of the expected range.

Eric, I was about to bid on that bottle as well, but will gladly step aside and hope you win! Ideally we will all be able to taste it in May.

[Alan Gardner]

I'm still interested in both, but am trying to source bottles. After being outbid last week on an 1834 (and it wasn't a lowball bid), today I put in a bid on a 1860 Sercial Solera Madeira Cossart-Gordon, near the top of the expected range.

I was planning to bring that one - I have the Blandy (which I believe is identical). Also the 1870 and 1880 Verdelho Soleras (Blandy) - they seemed to make a good match as there are two of us coming.
But if you get yours, I'll find a substitute - I also have Lomelino soleras from 1870 (Sercial & Bual, but not Verdelho). But can also bring vintage madeiras - depending on what others have.
On reflection, we could try BOTH Cossart and Blandy to see if they're different.

Anybody have vintage from 1860 and/or 1870?

[David Spriggs]

I guess I meant for both tastings. But, since I don't know what wines will be required for the high-end tasting, I don't know if what I have will work for that tasting. Are we talking about all of the wines being from the 1800s?

[Roy Hersh]

OK, a bit of organization has been happening behind the scenes in a search for a venue. The first one failed and another will be sought out.

Let's be clear on the low bar event: A minimum "current" retail value of $300+ will be required to attend. Therefore, we are not going to have people show up with bottles such as Rare Wine Company Historic Series, Broadbent 10 year old Malmsey, Blandy's Colheitas, Fernandes Brother 40 year old Verdelho or even a Vintage Madeira that is below that price point. Again, we have lots of people flying in from distances, other countries, other states etc. and having to also pay for hotels, transportation and meals. So it must be worthy and consider that minimum bar carved in stone. I am working hard to find a venue. I will NOT get involved in discussing bottles at this point and besides, ALL of that discussion will wind up mid-late Feb. by email ONLY. I do not want this Forum to turn into a battle royale for who is bringing what. I'll get into protocol as things progress further, but wanted to confirm the info above to keep momentum flowing.

Dates are carved in stone: SF the weekend of May 17-19th.

I am still considering which event will be on Saturday and which on Sunday ... I will have that decision finalized, as soon as I can lock in a venue.

As for the high bar event: We are going to keep it within range of people on this Forum ... whether that turns out to be $500+ or $750+ is still TBD. I don't want to have to organize an event that will only allow for 6-8 or even 10 people. I want to have a MINIMUM of 12 and likely a maximum of about 16 and absolutely no more than 18. We'll determine scarcity of bottles and availability soon, but I don't want to eliminate people coming by excluding a source like RWC as an example. If we are going to lose a couple of people because they're not satisfied that the bar is sufficiently high enough or that the bottles are not of the caliber they deem worthy ... they can organize their own event. I want to include as many FTLOP people that can meet the criterium set.

I have listened long and intently to ALL feedback and read this thread 3x now from start to finish. Someone has to make decisions and sometimes those are not always popular with everyone. That being said, I am still flexible and hope we can be inclusive as possible.

Thanks for understanding!

[Eric Menchen]

You can never please everybody, and someone will likely be upset. I think you will do well Roy, and wish you luck.

I've committed to the 1983 Port tasting and may bow out of this one. It would be nice to do both, but the time budget is a factor. If I can't make it but have managed to source the needed bottles, I'm might offer those up for sale.

[Roy Hersh]

As you wish, but it would be fun to consume some nice bottles together again Eric. If not Madeira though, glad we'll see you at the Port tasting!

[Richard Jennings]

I'm delighted to hear about another Madeira tasting dinner (or two) shaping up for the Bay Area. The ones Roy organized here in the past were phenomenal.

I'm personally more interested in the higher bar dinner than the lower one, simply because I will probably have tasted one or more times already the wines likely to show up at the lower bar gathering.

Venues with the kind of room and table that I know Roy favors for these events are tricky to come by in SF these days. Pera in Potrero has one in their private room upstairs, but the Mediterranean food there, while quite decent, may not be up to the standards that some might be looking for. I'll try to come up with some other options.

[Eric Ifune]

I'm still in with whatever is needed bottle-wise.

[Steve Pollack]

I'm still in for both tastings.

[Bret Davis]

Any thoughts on which night will be the "high bar" night?

[Roy Hersh]

Thank you Richard, I am open to any resto options you can mention. I have one other possibility at this point, but am lukewarm about it at the moment, so thank you for any names you can mention here or by email. Look forward to drinking some fine Madeira with you, yet again!

[Timothy B.]

I think I can make both for the weekend of the 17-19th in May.
And I think the 1862 D'Oliveiras Sercial I was planning on should meet the minimum bar.

[Barry Sunderland]

I call dibbs on the D'Oliveiras 1912 Verdelho!