ACPT Port tasting, NYC, March 9, 2013

[g-man]

Repost to save confusion:

Location TBD:

Chosen theme: "Baga-esque"
Group A (abnormally dark): FG76, GC77, SW77, D80
Group B (normal color range): D85, F85, G85, T85

Guest List (last updated 1/12/2013):
1. Glenn E.
2. g-man
3. Chris Doty
4. jefe7000
5. jefe7000 +1
6. Lamont Huxley
7. John M.
8. differentdave
9. ARS
10. SushiNorth (presumed guilty until proven innocent)

[ARS]

I'd definitely be interested in joining the tasting if there is room.

[Glenn E.]

I'd definitely be interested in joining the tasting if there is room.

Absolutely. I've added you to the list in the first post.

Miguel, sorry to hear you won't be able to make it.

Derek, we now have 8 bottles for 10 people. This will not do. Since you are the originator of the theme, can you recommend another baga-esque Port for us to add to Group A? Preferably one that isn't too expensive, so that rules out any Noval Nacionals you might have had in mind.

[g-man]

Sound like we may need a vargellas 87'

[g-man]

actually instead of the 85s

can i request an 83 tasting?

I looked in my cellar today and barring the F83, I have 0 83s in my cellar. (I thought i had a case of cockburn, but it mysteriously disappeared!)

[DRT]

Derek, we now have 8 bottles for 10 people. This will not do. Since you are the originator of the theme, can you recommend another baga-esque Port for us to add to Group A? Preferably one that isn't too expensive, so that rules out any Noval Nacionals you might have had in mind.

GC77 should do the trick

[mosesbotbol]

Elys and I should be able to attend if it is on a Saturday in NYC. Pretty light on Grahams, have '63, '70, and '94.

[Glenn E.]

Derek, we now have 8 bottles for 10 people. This will not do. Since you are the originator of the theme, can you recommend another baga-esque Port for us to add to Group A? Preferably one that isn't too expensive, so that rules out any Noval Nacionals you might have had in mind.

GC77 should do the trick

Derek, GC77 and G85 were added to get us to 8, so we still need more. Plus we now have Moses and Elys joining us, so we need 2 more baga-esque Ports because it looks like we're going to have 12 tasters. This could be our largest ACPT tasting yet!

1987 Vargellas is a great wine, and I'd love to have it at the tasting, but is it really baga-esque?

Jeff, it doesn't really matter to me what we put in Group B. 1983s would work just as well as 1985s to me, or we could do a combination. I'm not that familiar with 1983 other than the Graham, though, so someone else would have to recommend good Ports from that year.

[g-man]

Derek, we now have 8 bottles for 10 people. This will not do. Since you are the originator of the theme, can you recommend another baga-esque Port for us to add to Group A? Preferably one that isn't too expensive, so that rules out any Noval Nacionals you might have had in mind.

GC77 should do the trick

Derek, GC77 and G85 were added to get us to 8, so we still need more. Plus we now have Moses and Elys joining us, so we need 2 more baga-esque Ports because it looks like we're going to have 12 tasters. This could be our largest ACPT tasting yet!

1987 Vargellas is a great wine, and I'd love to have it at the tasting, but is it really baga-esque?

Jeff, it doesn't really matter to me what we put in Group B. 1983s would work just as well as 1985s to me, or we could do a combination. I'm not that familiar with 1983 other than the Graham, though, so someone else would have to recommend good Ports from that year.

dunno never tried the 87

but am curious as to why roy thinks it's the best of the 80s, considering the pedigree of the 85s and that there lucks a dow 80 there.

btw the GC 80 is in that "Baga"esque family as Sushi just opened one for me 2 weeks ago

[John M]

I have a 1980 GC, a 1986 Grahams Malvedos and a 1985 Sandeman. Do any of these work?....if not, no worries, I could acquire something.

[Glenn E.]

I'll start noting people's contributions in the first post as well so that we can keep track of who's bringing what.

Since g-man thinks the GC80 is baga-esque and John M. has one, I'll add that to the list and note that John's bringing it.

For the record, that still leaves us short one baga-esque Port. Here's the current list, with unclaimed bottles in bold:

Group A (abnormally dark): FG76, GC77, SW77, D80, GC80
Group B (normal color range): D85, F85, G85, T85, TBD

If you have one of the above and would like to claim it as your contribution, please say so and I'll note them in the order posted.

[g-man]

I'll start noting people's contributions in the first post as well so that we can keep track of who's bringing what.

Since g-man thinks the GC80 is baga-esque and John M. has one, I'll add that to the list and note that John's bringing it.

I'm looking at the 1/3 bottle left and it's still dark as day =)

[ARS]

Mark me down for D85. Thx.

[RAYC]

Group B (normal color range): ...TBD

Warre 83? Warre 70? T80 has been drinking really nicely recently too.

[g-man]

I';m going to make a few calls

but what do you guys think about doing it in a cheese shop? it might be a little stinky but they do have private dining and menu

Actually people help me out

HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT TO SPEND ON FOOD PER PERSON!

I can certainly swing the full spectrum of restaurants.

[Glenn E.]

Mark me down for D85. Thx.

So noted. Thank you!

[Glenn E.]

Group B (normal color range): ...TBD

Warre 83? Warre 70? T80 has been drinking really nicely recently too.

I wouldn't mind a 1983 Warre... my previous experience with it was hot and dry, so I suspect it wasn't a good bottle. I'd like to fix that.

I left the Group B bottle(s) TBD because I knew it would be easy to fill. The trick will be finding another Group A bottle (for a total of 6) so that we can support a 12-person tasting.

[g-man]

Group B (normal color range): ...TBD

Warre 83? Warre 70? T80 has been drinking really nicely recently too.

I wouldn't mind a 1983 Warre... my previous experience with it was hot and dry, so I suspect it wasn't a good bottle. I'd like to fix that.

I left the Group B bottle(s) TBD because I knew it would be easy to fill. The trick will be finding another Group A bottle (for a total of 6) so that we can support a 12-person tasting.

it hasn't changed, tasted twice in the past two years. My notes are consistent with yours.

[Glenn E.]

but what do you guys think about doing it in a cheese shop? it might be a little stinky but they do have private dining and menu

I think Artisanal would be a lot of fun, but I'm concerned that it would at the very least affect "nose" notes. If we're not worried about that, then I think Artisanal would be an excellent choice. I'm a fan of cheese, too.

HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT TO SPEND ON FOOD PER PERSON!

Including tax and tip, I'd like to stay below $150 per person and would be more comfortable in the $120-$130 range. I.e. $100 for food and non-Port drink + tax + tip. But that's just me.

Note: you'd be hard pressed to get me to pay $100 for Chinese. Sorry Jeff. I like Chinese food, but for me it is forever associated with little paper boxes with wire handles. Combined with the fact that it is at best an odd pairing with Port and I think it'd be better to do that some other time with less expensive (and fewer) Ports.

Like maybe Friday night?

[Glenn E.]

Group B (normal color range): ...TBD

Warre 83? Warre 70? T80 has been drinking really nicely recently too.

Another thought... if we can find one, how about a 1987 Taylor Quinta de Vargellas? They're pretty hard to find, though.

[g-man]

Note: you'd be hard pressed to get me to pay $100 for Chinese. Sorry Jeff. I like Chinese food, but for me it is forever associated with little paper boxes with wire handles. Combined with the fact that it is at best an odd pairing with Port and I think it'd be better to do that some other time with less expensive (and fewer) Ports.

Like maybe Friday night?

you are soo wrong, that I am now speechless.

Fwiw, I've had a 47' cockburn with chinese food.

[DRT]

Kopke Sao Luiz 1970 is in the abnormally dark category but I don't think they are easy to find.

I disagree with the idea that Vargellas 1987 should be in that part of the line-up. If my memory serves me correctly it is dark, but is too red to be considered abnormal.

[g-man]

Okay here are the possibilities

Bar Boulud (Daniel Boulud is a 3 michelin star chef) American/French - ~ 150-200$/person for food
Benoit (Alain Ducasse is another 3 michelin star chef) French -- ~ 125-150$/person for food
Uncle Jacks Steak-- ~125$ /person
Palm Steak- i'm negotiating this right now but I'm hoping to get it 100-110$/person
Artisanal (Focused on cheeses) - ~100-125$/person for food
North square American- 100$ / all included
Random chinese restaurnat -- 50$/ all included

There's one more place i'd want to call up so am working that out.

[Lamont Huxley]

I'd like to claim T85 being that it's the only Port on the list that I have on hand other than the D85 which has already been taken.

[Lamont Huxley]

Okay here are the possibilities

Bar Boulud (Daniel Boulud is a 3 michelin star chef) American/French - ~ 150-200$/person for food
Benoit (Alain Ducasse is another 3 michelin star chef) French -- ~ 125-150$/person for food
Uncle Jacks Steak-- ~125$ /person
Palm Steak- i'm negotiating this right now but I'm hoping to get it 100-125$/person
Artisanal (Focused on cheeses) - ~100$/person for food
North square American- 100$ / all included
Random chinese restaurnat -- 50$/ all included

There's one more place i'd want to call up so am working that out.

Personally, I love the Chinese restaurant idea.