NYC's Acker Merrall: Taylor v. Fonseca VPs w/ Roy Hersh 12/6

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 12:53 pm

TAYLOR FLADGATE VS. FONSECA VINTAGE PORT (BLIND) TASTING

HOSTED BY ROY HERSH

Thursday December 6th

To find the origins of Taylor Fladgate, one must go back over three centuries, to the 1670s, when Job Bearsley, an English merchant, established what is today that respected firm at Viana, in the Minho. Bearsley's initial activities were in the wool trade, and the "4XX" logo, originally his woolmark, was branded on bales of wool, and later, casks of port wine, for shipment. The firm was officially founded in 1692; Bearsley thereafter moved his offices to Oporto; this date places Taylor Fladgate as one of Oporto's oldest Port houses. The prehistory of the firm of Fonseca Guimaraens lies in the late 1700s, in a company known as Fonseca & Monteiro, located in Oporto. The Fonseca family, of Brazilian origin, conducted its trade in wine, foodstuffs, olive oil and cloth primarily with Brazil in exchange for sugar cane, hemp and snuff from the colonies.

Roy Hersh has been a Port lover for twenty-five years and is renowned as one of the leading Port wine authorities and journalists in the United States. He hosts fortheloveofport.com the most popular interactive Port & Madeira website in the world and pens a free monthly newsletter that reaches over 60 countries. In June 2003, Roy was one of just two Americans selected by the Port and Douro Wine Institute (IVDP) to be "enthroned" into their "Confraria" (Port wine brotherhood). Roy is hands down the one and only “Port Authority.” We will sample in a blind taste off: Taylor and Fonseca 1994; 1992; 1985; 1983; 1977; 1970 and 1963.

Fourteen ports in all and of course we won't forget the Stilton!

TASTINGS BEGIN AT 7:00 pm

THE WARWICK HOTEL
65 West 54 Street • New York, NY 10019
(unless otherwise noted).

Please call David Hamburger at 212.875.0222 Monday – Friday to confirm events. You can also register online at http://www.winewkshop.com

Marco D. · Post by **Marco D.** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 1:24 pm

Darn! I definitely want to attend this, but I'll be on visiting the in-laws in SF for the entire month of Dec.

Maybe I can convince the wife to let me delay my departure...

Todd Pettinger · Post by **Todd Pettinger** » Sun Sep 30, 2007 10:58 pm

Wow, what a line up. That would be one I wish I could make it to... Have fun Roy! What a great gig!

Todd

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 1:25 pm

I really don't know how many people are going to be attending this one, nor do I know how much focus Acker has put into the promotion side of the event.

The wines are going to be quite spectacular and the opportunity to try the Taylor side-by-side with the Fonseca great recent vintages back to 1963 should be a very educational experience, so I am very much looking forward to attending this one.

I hope some FTLOP folks are able to make it as it is always great to meet people who I get to know through their posts here!

Robert O. · Post by **Robert O.** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 2:37 pm

If I am not sent to San Antonio that week, this is where I will certainly be! What a great line up.

Santo Roman · Post by **Santo Roman** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 5:44 pm

Acker has the info in the back of their auction catalog but thats the only thing so far.

santo

Eric Duprey · Post by **Eric Duprey** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 7:33 pm

I think I might be able to make it. That sounds like a real blast!

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 4:52 pm

It would be great to see you again Eric. Hopefully others will join us. I have been in touch with a few others that are considering coming to this. The lineup is amazing and we are going to have one heck of a good time and fine dinner too!

Great news, three new sign ups today! Woohoo, we may have a heck of a party yet.

Doing the two verticals side by side is going to be absolutely crazy and educational too. Learn about the vintages and especially the house styles to see which of these two major Shippers appeals more to your own tastes!

I am very excited for this one.

Todd Pettinger · Post by **Todd Pettinger** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 11:29 pm

Roy Hersh wrote:Doing the two verticals side by side is going to be absolutely crazy and educational too. Learn about the vintages and especially the house styles to see which of these two major Shippers appeals more to your own tastes!

This is precisely why I would LOVE to be able to attend this one... <sigh>

Todd

Marco D. · Post by **Marco D.** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:11 pm

Marco D. wrote:Darn! I definitely want to attend this, but I'll be on visiting the in-laws in SF for the entire month of Dec.

Maybe I can convince the wife to let me delay my departure...

Looks like my trip to the West coast might be delayed a bit so I may be able to make this. Knowing that decanting is key to enjoying a vintage port... AND that Roy is a master of determining decanting times... this should be a killer event.

Post by **Andy Velebil** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:40 pm

Marco,

If you make it down to L.A., let me know. It would be great to see you again and of course, share some Port.

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 12:38 am

Just 9 seats left. Step up to the microphone! :o

Marco D. · Post by **Marco D.** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 8:28 am

Andy V. wrote:If you make it down to L.A., let me know. It would be great to see you again and of course, share some Port.

Hey Andy,

We'll be in San Francisco. But I will definitely let you know if we head South.

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 12:48 pm

Haven't you guys heard of Private Messages ... or email?

Marco D. · Post by **Marco D.** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 7:39 am

Roy Hersh wrote:Just 9 seats left. Step up to the microphone! :o

Only 8 seats left now.

Looking forward to it.

Post by **Andy Velebil** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 1:22 pm

Roy Hersh wrote:Haven't you guys heard of Private Messages ... or email?

Roy I was using subliminal messages in my posts to get Marco to sign up for this tasting..I see it worked

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 12:59 pm

Nice to see we have a couple of FTLOPers going to be there. This is going to be fun, educational and a spectacular opportunity for a side-by-side view of many great VPs.

Another pair done gone, so we now have just 7 seats left. Can't wait!

Scott Anaya · Post by **Scott Anaya** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:02 am

Roy,

Right now i have an airline ticket reserved for NYC that will allow me to attend this event! Yahoo! Now I also have another ticket to Mexico reserved. Not sure which one it is going to be. It'd be so great to go thru this tasting with you....my two favorite houses with Fonseca a slight number one if for no other reason than I haven't had the opportunity to really compare them all, let alone side by side like this!

I'll keep ya posted when travel is decided for me.

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 1:46 am

Scott,

I'd like to twist your arm because it appears that there will be a good number of FTLOP folks in attendance, so it will be almost like an offline. But I will certainly understand if you wind up choosing the "other" option.

I truly hope to meet you in NYC!

Paulo Barbosa · Post by **Paulo Barbosa** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 6:14 pm

Roy,

I will finally meet you. Count me in!

Liz will stay with Paulo Henry (my son) while I taste away......

Looking forward to the event.

Cheers

Paulo