55 @ 55

[uncle tom]

This event has been discussed casually for a while now, and although still early days, I thought I'd pen a few thoughts:

When?

The 2010 calendar will doubtless have to make space for a '60 event, and there is talk of a '70 MkII as well.

How does September/October suit people? Possibly immediately before or after the harvest trips.

Where?

I like the idea of this being a very civilised affair, with good food and ambiance, and with the wines served from decanters. The RAF club has been suggested, although I don't know what it's like inside, or we could repair to The Bell.

How many?

Not too many wines, but a full set of the classics; maybe around 16 decanters..?

What do we need?

I have twelve 55's, but it would deplete my cellar to furnish all of them. I have plenty of Cockburn, Gonzalez Byass, Martinez, Noval, Offley, Taylor and Warre.

Not in my cellar, and difficult to obtain, (but desirable) are Nacional and Niepoort. Calem also perhaps.

I do not have Croft or Delaforce, but am on the lookout..

Thoughts and comments please!

Tom

[Axel P]

Hey Tom,

count me in on this. Although I only do have Graham and Warre from 55 and would need to bring them over. Count Wolfgang in as well as we already talked about this last time we met. I would suggest we take only bottles which are already UK based or will be soon. There should not be an air travel involved on the day of the tasting.

I could arrange the RAF club which has the pleasure of large rooms and a fairly fair sleeping capability (I would not want to drive after such an event). November would suit excellent I think. If you do not mind I would suggest one of the major writers as special guests. I could arrange this, too.

Axel

[DRT]

Sounds great. I'm in.

I would be more than happy to put all of my 1955s up for the event. Unfortunately I have none

The RAF Club sounds ideal for this but if we are serving from decanters at the table numbers would have to be restricted to no more than 10 to allow for slight inconsistency in pouring and allow everyone to enjoy a proper sample of each wine. If we go for our usual max of 14 people I think we would need to resort to controlled pouring and forego the pleasure of passing the decanters around the table.

Derek

[jdaw1]

Definitely in. I have only Adam’s; Cockburn; Taylor; Warre; sundry ‘believed’s. Though it would also deplete my cellar, my cellar exists to be depleted (by me). Also, I want to use some of my ’55s at the CUTwC dinner, so knowing what I must save for this tasting would be helpful.

I agree with Derek’s comment: self-pouring from decanters restricts us to ten people; controlled pours allows fourteen.

[Andy Velebil]

If this is in Sept or October, at the time of the Harvest Trip, then I could also make it as I head over or return from Portugal. I'd love to attend this. Like Derek I don't have any 55's, but could source one for the occassion.

[jdaw1]

So that we don’t lose count, in order of acceptance:

1. Special Guest?;
2. Special Guest?;
3. uncle tom;
4. Axel P;
5. DRT;
6. jdaw1;
7. Andy V (if timing works with harvest tour);
8. AHB;
9. JacobH;
10. WS1;
11. Enrico;
12. KillerB;
13. marc j.;
14. BMHR.

Waiting list.

1. VJR;
2. Glenn E..

This post will be updated from time to time, and could best be ‘quoted’ by being pointed at with this link.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I am most certainly up for a '55 tasting - preferably at a venue in London simply because the logistics work best for me that way.

I'm happy to contribute from my cellar, as Julian put it most aptly - my cellar is there to be depleted by me. I can offer Ferreira, Fonseca, Martinez or the "Buckingham Palace Blend", prepared by the Factory House members from a combination of their wines.

I also like the idea of organising this in early October to tie in with the end of Roy's harvest trip so that it gives fellow port lovers who go on the trip the opportunity to come back via the UK and to enjoy some of our hospitality.

Alex

[JacobH]

Am I the only person who read the title and thought Tom was proposing a 55-bottle horizontal?

In terms of contributing to such an Offline, I’m afraid I’m in the same boat as DRT!

[JacobH]

Sorry, it has been brought to my attention that I was being hopeless vague. Please add me as ‟prospective”. Early October looks good to me and late September is pretty clear, too.

[DRT]

Given Jacob's initial confusion on reading the thread title it may be worth pointing out for those who have missed it that this off-line is likely to happen in October 2010.

I would suggest that the "Buckingham Palace Blend" is a "must have" for this event

[WS1]

Hi there,

if there is still an available place please also count me in. I can contribute in terms of 1955 Ports Croft, Warre, Dow, Grahams, Cockburns and Ferreira.

regards

Wolfgang

[uncle tom]

Thanks Wolfgang - could I ask you and Axel to sniff around for a Niepoort '55 (at sensible price..) - they just don't exist in the UK..

Tom

[Axel P]

Hey Tom,

already in the loop. Since the VIP guest is in my point of view a very good thing to go along with. I would have some in mind and will pm you these if you wish.

Axel

[Axel P]

Please include Enrico as well

Axel

[KillerB]

Somehow missed this - I'd like in as well please.

Like Derek I will donate all of the 55s that I have, which are all Britvic 55s.

[marc j.]

If this falls either just before or just after the Harvest trip you can count me in! As far as '55s go I have some Cockburn, Dow, Croft, Ferreira, Taylor et. al. - according to my cellar management tool I have more 55s than any other vintage - looks as though the time has come to put a dent in those numbers!

Marc

[Axel P]

Just received some Sandemans and WS1 got Croft.

Axel

[WS1]

Hi there,

if still space available can you please add Enrico to the list of participants? You probably remember Maggie and him from the 1970 Horicontal. He can bring either a perfectly stored bt of Croft or Taylor 1955.

regards

WS1

[Axel P]

I guess so far we are well along. Tom, could you please keep track:

Can one of the US-gentlemen tell us when we can expect the timing of the harvest tour?

Axel

1. uncle tom;
2. Axel P;
3. DRT;
4. jdaw1;
5. Andy V (if timing works with harvest tour);
6. AHB;
7. JacobH;
8. WS1.
9. Enrico
10. US-1
11. US-2
12. Special Guest 1
13. Special Guest 2

[benread]

I guess so far we are well along. Tom, could you please keep track:

Can one of the US-gentlemen tell us when we can expect the timing of the harvest tour?

Axel

1. uncle tom;
2. Axel P;
3. DRT;
4. jdaw1;
5. Andy V (if timing works with harvest tour);
6. AHB;
7. JacobH;
8. WS1.
9. Enrico
10. US-1
11. US-2
12. Special Guest 1
13. Special Guest 2

14. BMHR! (Please)

[VJR]

15. VJR (last and least - )

Should be an instructive and great tasting. Have a couple of 55s too
Cheers, victor

[Andy Velebil]

Can one of the US-gentlemen tell us when we can expect the timing of the harvest tour?

The Harvest Trip is OCTOBER 3-10, 2010

[KillerB]

Errrmmm... excuse me but errrmm... I did put my hand up earlier... honest.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I had forgotten that we had planned this tasting for October 2010, when planning the re-run of the 2005 diagonal tasting. So as not to create too many amazing tastings close together, I propose to defer the diagonal re-run until October 2011. Any objections?

[DRT]

I had forgotten that we had planned this tasting for October 2010, when planning the re-run of the 2005 diagonal tasting. So as not to create too many amazing tastings close together, I propose to defer the diagonal re-run until October 2011. Any objections?

Not from me. We are in danger of "Mammoth Tasting Overload" if we plan too many big ones close together. But there may be a queue of Americans at the door of the Crusting Pipe for this one who had their name down for the diagonal