2014 pre-Harvest Tour tasting, London, 9/23

[Glenn E.]

Any status updates?

idj123/RAYC - bottle confirmation?

WS1/djewesbury - attendance update?

[djewesbury]

Any status updates?

idj123/RAYC - bottle confirmation?

WS1/djewesbury - attendance update?

I feel pessimistic. I don't have my timetable yet but regardless the first week of teaching looks to be hectic.
I will update ASAP.

[WS1]

Any status updates?

idj123/RAYC - bottle confirmation?

WS1/djewesbury - attendance update?

Hi Glenn,

should work out. There was a bit of upheaval since I have to be in Germany on the 22nd of September for business . But should be back just in time for the pre-Harvest Tour tasting. Bt will be Niepoort Garrefeira 64. I was told by RAYC you have not had yet so it will be an excellent occasion.

regards

WS1

[idj123]

Have been unable to secure either FG64 or GM64 and so will default to Pocas.1964 Colheita (in addition to the T85), if that's acceptable? If the T64 colheita materialises then this would be an interesting comparator.

Ian

[Glenn E.]

Bt will be Niepoort Garrefeira 64

I am honored, thank you. That is a very rare bottle. Even Dirk, who is also a 1964 birthday, forgot that they made a 1964 Garrafeira!

Have been unable to secure either FG64 or GM64 and so will default to Pocas.1964 Colheita (in addition to the T85), if that's acceptable? If the T64 colheita materialises then this would be an interesting comparator.

Also excellent, thank you. I have access to the T64 Colheita here in the states, but I'm already bringing 16 total bottles to the UK and I'm not sure how¹. If a plan somehow materializes and I can acquire one in time, I'll bring one over. (And post about it so we don't duplicate.)

¹ Is a standard Styrofoam shipper sufficient for the hold of an airplane, provided I wrap it and tape it up securely in a box? If so that would easily handle the case of QH11 and then the rest of the bottles could go in my Wine Cruzer.

[DRT]

I have access to the T64 Colheita here in the states, but I'm already bringing 16 total bottles to the UK and I'm not sure how. If a plan somehow materializes and I can acquire one in time, I'll bring one over.

You could call BBR and ask them if they would have one waiting for you at Heathrow. I have done this before but it depends which terminal you are flying into. Or you could order one and tell them I will collect it for you and I could leave it with your other bottles?

[djewesbury]

You could call BBR and ask them if they would have one waiting for you at Heathrow.

What, really? Will a man from Berry's stand there with a sign saying 'Glenn'? Really?

[Glenn E.]

I believe BBR has a shop inside the terminal. Either that or Derek's account with BBR is more impressive than he has let on.

[AW77]

A look at the BBR-website tells one that they have two shops at Heathrow Airport: one at Terminal 3 and one at Terminal 4.
(Source: http://www.bbr.com/about/history-key-dates)

[djewesbury]

Wow. That's impressive.

[Glenn E.]

A look at the BBR-website tells one that they have two shops at Heathrow Airport: one at Terminal 3 and one at Terminal 4.
(Source: http://www.bbr.com/about/history-key-dates)

Sadly I believe that incoming flights from Seattle arrive at Terminal 5. However something could still be arranged, as a visit to BBR in London is on my list of things I'd like to do while there.

[Alex Bridgeman]

If you call Berry's in advance, you might be able to get them to give you a guided tour of their shop, Pickering Place and the houses round the back that they own. The history that they live and work in is well worth the trouble of a visit and a guided tour.

[idj123]

If we really would like the T64 to be in attendance, the cheapest I've seen it for on-line is I believe £138 at Fareham Wines on the South Coast. I just happen to have a meeting in Fareham on 4 September and so if we all prepared to share the costs I could drop by and pick up a bottle?

[Glenn E.]

RAYC was considering bringing a 1964 Taylor, but has not yet confirmed whether that meant the Krohn Colheita or the Vargellas VP. I think we should wait until he clarifies.

That price is better than what I can find in the US, though your VAT is higher than my taxes so it probably evens out.

[idj123]

Happy to wait until RAYC responds but just to note that the £138 is inclusive of all taxes.

[CPR 1]

If there is room for one more? it would be a pleasure to join you all and meet Glenn

Thanks

Charles

[jdaw1]

Houston, we’ve had a problem here. … Houston, we’ve had a problem.

We were told yesterday that The Bung Hole is about to start some renovation. This renovation might still be happening on the 23^rd of September.

Naturally, we small-c conservatives promptly rebelled against the idea of renovation. Lord Salisbury (one of my heroes): “Whatever happens will be for the worse, and therefore it is in our interest that as little should happen as possible.” Alas it seemed that the waiter had insufficient authority to turn the tide of history for us, and might indeed have been unwilling to try.

I am only the messenger. For the sake of ancient tradition, I should be shot.

[Glenn E.]

If there is room for one more? it would be a pleasure to join you all and meet Glenn

I believe so; I've added you to the list.

Do you have a bottle in mind that you will be bringing?

[Glenn E.]

Houston, we’ve had a problem here. … Houston, we’ve had a problem.

We were told yesterday that The Bung Hole is about to start some renovation. This renovation might still be happening on the 23^rd of September.

Hmm. This is not good news.

But as this is not Sparta, we'll resist the urge to push the messenger into a well.

[AW77]

Can someone from London recommend an alternative venue? Just in case the Bunghole won't be open on our big day.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Can someone from London recommend an alternative venue? Just in case the Bunghole won't be open on our big day.

There are plenty of alternatives available; let's wait to see whether there is a problem before we look to change venue.

[PhilW]

We were told yesterday that The Bung Hole is about to start some renovation. This renovation might still be happening on the 23^rd of September.

Julian's prescience is unfortunately accurate. I have just received an email letting me know that they will no longer be able to host our booking on the 23rd due to the refurbishment (which should end by Oct 10th, btw) which means we will need to change venue.

Davy's have offered us a room in Truckles, which might be an option (though I have not yet checked about availability of glassware etc) but I do note their lack of steak-based mains at this location which might make an alternative preferable. I could easily go back to Davy's and ask whether another of their central London restaurants with a good selection of steaks could host us (perhaps Champagne Charlies, though their function room sizes of 6, 8 or 45 probably don't work for our current group of ~10 for tasting and food), or we could move to another restaurant if we have other preferred options.

Of places we have used before, The Crusting Pipe (now also owned by Davy's) does not have a large enough private room, and the tunnel would likely be pretty warm; The Steak exchange might be an alternative; people may wish to suggest other options. I'm happy to sort and book, if people can make suggestions on options of how we might proceed (with Glenn having casting vote, of course).

[Glenn E.]

Bummer!

I don't really have a preference for venue, other than it needs to be accessible from the area around TBH via public transit. Steak isn't mandatory for me, though it is preferable, so Truckles would suffice if others agree. The location is certainly good - I could walk from the hotel.

I will be slightly pressed for time on Tuesday, so if the new venue is very far from TBH I will likely arrive late, or we could delay the start. Either is fine with me - I'll get there when I get there.

[AW77]

I don't really have a preference for venue, other than it needs to be accessible from the area around TBH via public transit. Steak isn't mandatory for me, though it is preferable, so Truckles would suffice if others agree. The location is certainly good - I could walk from the hotel.

Truckles is ok for me, too. It's just 1,4 miles away from my hotel (according to Google maps). So even a taxi late in the evening will not bakrupt me.
In other news: pilots at Germanwings are on strike. Hopefully, it will be over by the 23rd of September. The last strike at Lufthansa in 2013 took over a month, though. (And I seem always to pick the days when flights are cancelled due to strike.)

[CPR 1]

The location of Truckles is good thus it gets my vote.

I plan to bring a bottle of Smith Woodhouse 77