For The Love Of Port

I plan to continue to do Madeira tastings either late this year or early in 2008. I'd be crazy not to ask you folks what you think would make for a great Madeira tasting. I'd appreciate your ideas and any fun themes that you might suggest.

I would also be very happy to hear from folks who attended any of the past 3 sessions from earlier this year. If you can think of anything that would make the tastings or dinners better, please do share.

Thanks!

Roy

There's really nothing I can think of to improve things. The quality of the wines, the number of people, ect. I just hope you wait until Feb 08 to start the tastings again, since that's when I expect to get back!

To make things interesting, an all-Portuguese menu might be nice for a "full-immersion".

Perhaps trying to source an extra-special bottle (1795/1802 Terrantez, for example) with everyone pitching in for the expense.

Other than that, I'm with Eric... hard to improve on what has been great experiences. (Although I could do without the stale bread in DC :) )

To make things interesting, an all-Portuguese menu might be nice for a "full-immersion".

How about some Madeiran Honey Cake.

I know of only one 1792 Blandy's Extra Reserve Solera that has been sold at auction recently, it hammered down at $1800. Not a vintage but something I'd sure love to taste.

Santo

The only thing that would improve them for me is my being there!

I do think that incorporating the wines into the menu pairings would be a nice touch.

John

Dear Roy,

there is little if nothing to improve imho. the setting (in Seattle) was perfect, the food also, the people especially and the wines were a class of its own.

i would like to see a tasting, dedicated to special "Madeira Themes" like a tasting only on Terrantez, and of course there should be a couple of those 1795ers in it, or a tasting Soleras vs. Vintages of the same time period and grape variety/sweetness.

besides the pure fun and enjoyment i always like to learn something and broaden my experience when attending a tasting, so having someone really "deep" into Madeira wine present to provide extra information and insight is also very good.

i hope i can make one of those scheduled events in 2008

regards

Peter

i like marco's idea of a "bonus bottle" that everyone chips in for that otherwise would be too expensive for most to bring...or too rare for most to find.

I do love these old vintage tastings (ie pre 1910 just to pick a random date). Although id hate to suggest you use up one of your precious few tastings on middle aged vintages, it would be interesting to do a tasting for those as well in ADDITION to the older stuff. (ie..and im swinging wide here...1910-1950, or 1950-1970? or some grouping that makes more sense...perhaps you could do a 2 day tasting with one in the evening, and another the next day at lunch with a group of middle-aged wines? This might be too much madeira for some (say it aint so!!) and if so, then maybe just hold MORE tastings, with some old and some middle aged? but my impression was that many had come in from out of town and were staying over anyway...im sure some would have been into swapping our their tea for madeira and crumpets in the morning..i would!!! (well, maybe lunch is indeed a better idea than bfast)

other interesting ideas weer already mentioned, like peters grape-specific focused tastings....although since i have tasted fewer bottles than he and other old timers on this board, i appreciated the diversity in the ny tasting where you had a good number of several madeira types to compare both withing each group, and between types.

oh, and i vote for more on the east coast!!!! although im happy to travel, especially to someplace warm in the winter.

The "All Bastatrdo" flight at Roy's DC Madeira tasting was interesting and got me thinking... Maybe a "Mother of all Terrantez" tasting would be fun.