The Port Forum Christmas Offline

Organise events to meet up and drink Port.
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Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
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Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

Tom,

How are you opening the bottles you already have? Are you using tongs in the hope that we can identify the bottles from the cork branding?

Alex
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
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RonnieRoots
Fonseca 1980
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Joined: 08:28 Thu 21 Jun 2007
Location: Middle Earth

Post by RonnieRoots »

Two more calls for the steaks!
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StevieCage
Fonseca LBV
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Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Post by StevieCage »

Steak...mmmmMMMMMM! :)
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uncle tom
Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
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Joined: 23:43 Wed 20 Jun 2007
Location: Near Saffron Walden, England

Post by uncle tom »

I've just tried offering up my Noval port tongs to the two bottles I would most like to decapitate - Alex's being one of them - and on both of them, the point at which the tongs grip is well above the base of the cork.. :evil:

Alex - do you have a pair of your own that you could bring when you come over?

Failing that, I'm thinking about trying to push the cork into the bottle, decanting past it, and then breaking the bottle to recover the cork.

Tom
I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly - W.S. Churchill
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KillerB
Taylor Quinta de Vargellas 1987
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Location: Sky Blue City, England

Post by KillerB »

Ooops - sorry, away. Yes, Steak.
Port is basically a red drink
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Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
Posts: 14879
Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

Sadly, I don't own any tongs. I was thinking of doing exactly as you have suggested with the bottle that I will be opening before I leave on Wednesday - push the cork into the bottle and decant past the cork before being able to smash the bottle to extract the cork (or use that trick with the hanky / plastic bag that Alan found).

I think I'll bring the bottle with me so that we can have a play with it on Wednesday night.

Alex
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
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RonnieRoots
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1981
Joined: 08:28 Thu 21 Jun 2007
Location: Middle Earth

Post by RonnieRoots »

We have tongs, but I don't know if they'll do any better than yours. We've used them quite a number of times without any problem, even if the bottom of the cork is below the point where the tongs break the bottle. It is usually possible to get the cork out in a good manner afterwards.

Also, I'm not quite sure how security reacts to a pair of port tongs in hand luggage... :wink: :roll:
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uncle tom
Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
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Joined: 23:43 Wed 20 Jun 2007
Location: Near Saffron Walden, England

Post by uncle tom »

Have large bolt and rubber mallet at the ready - we'll try pushing them in then!

Tom

PS: Have made it steaks ten BTW - I promised none would go to waste :D
I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly - W.S. Churchill
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uncle tom
Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
Posts: 3518
Joined: 23:43 Wed 20 Jun 2007
Location: Near Saffron Walden, England

Post by uncle tom »

Decanting has begun!

All the condemned are stood up with their capsules removed, tops cleaned off - each one wearing it's numbered decanter label..

.. two have been topped already, three more will be despatched later this evening, and the rest will be dealt with tomorrow..!

Keith Gould has had to give his apologies - the recent winds in the west country inverted his yacht.. :(

- So there's room for a latecomer if anyone wants to bring a friend!

Tom
I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly - W.S. Churchill
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uncle tom
Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
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Joined: 23:43 Wed 20 Jun 2007
Location: Near Saffron Walden, England

Post by uncle tom »

Ok, for those travelling from afar - the Bell's telephone number is:

+44 (0)1799 540382 - postcode (for SatNav) is CB11 4JY

Address is: The Bell Inn, Royston Road, Wendens Ambo

The Bell is a black hole for mobile phone signals, but you can contact (or text) me (before 7pm) on 07721 567870

I can probably arrange for a local cab to meet people at Stansted and take them straight to the Bell - let me know if you want me to arrange - otherwise use the cabs at the airport.

Tom
I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly - W.S. Churchill
Overtired and emotional
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Location: Bolton England

Post by Overtired and emotional »

I have turned green (with envy, nothing medical you understand) at the thought of the beano tonight. My working life is such that reliably planning a day or two off is a tricky proposition, and would not have been an option this week.

I hope to be able to meet you all another time.

Best wishes, and remember, there's always time for another glass.
It may be drivel, but it's not meaningless.
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RonnieRoots
Fonseca 1980
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Location: Middle Earth

Post by RonnieRoots »

Tom,

If you can arrange a local cab, that's probably the easiest. Our plane is sceduled to arrive at 7.35PM. We have one piece of check-in luggage, so it will probably take until 7.45 / 7.50 until we are out of the airport.

I have no access to internet from noon on, so if anything changes, or should we have to arrange another way of transportation, texting (or calling) me is probably the best: +31 6 53676028.

Thanks for the arrangments!

See you tonight!
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uncle tom
Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
Posts: 3518
Joined: 23:43 Wed 20 Jun 2007
Location: Near Saffron Walden, England

Post by uncle tom »

Will arrange - what's the flight number?

Tom
I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly - W.S. Churchill
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RonnieRoots
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1981
Joined: 08:28 Thu 21 Jun 2007
Location: Middle Earth

Post by RonnieRoots »

Flight no.: FR9274
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KillerB
Taylor Quinta de Vargellas 1987
Posts: 2425
Joined: 22:09 Wed 20 Jun 2007
Location: Sky Blue City, England

Post by KillerB »

To the tune of 'I Have a Dream' by ABBA:

I have a cheese
It's really big
It's got blue veins
And smells of pig

OK, it doesn't smell of pig but it does rhyme.
Port is basically a red drink
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Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
Posts: 14879
Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
Location: Berkshire, UK

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

First off, I want to really thank the generous folks from this Forum who can't be with is tonight but have still been incredibly kind and donated bottles for tonight.

We will toast you and all our other absent friends.

Alex
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
Conky
Fonseca 1980
Posts: 1770
Joined: 23:51 Wed 20 Jun 2007

Post by Conky »

I dont normally sulk watchin United on the box with a glass of port. But tonight, it's different. Have a cracker an I'm very envious. As you may now know I had a health scare, but that turned out fine. Ironically it was work that messed me up at the last minute. I'm going to take some stopping to come to the late January one! John, start trying to make plans. We could drive,train or fly down together? The North-West contingent! I came across Warres 66 in Selfridges for £150. Seemed a bit steep? Alan.
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