So, err, what's the best shipper, eh?

[DRT]

At this point we seem to have interest from:

Ghandi
Jacob
JDAW
Axel
DRT
Ben

I have given AHB and Christopher an email nudge as they seem to be off doing other things at present and I am sure they will want to be at this. I will do the same with Uncle Tom and KillerB as they rarely spot threads in this section of the Forum.

Anyone else in?

The limit will be 12 + 2 guests. The limit on bottles is likely to be 24: 4 vintages x 3 houses x 2 conglomorates.

Derek

[Axel P]

Hey Derek,

we need to come up with a date as this will limit people the most. I suggest a Friday Mid Nov.

Axel

[DRT]

Hey Derek,

we need to come up with a date as this will limit people the most. I suggest a Friday Mid Nov.

Axel

Agreed. But I think we need to try to tie 2 potential guests down first. If we can't do that quickly then we will just set a date so that others can make plans. OK?

[jdaw1]

OK with me.

Ghhhandi: look what you’ve started. As a penance you are required, within the next seven days, to open a bottle of port and post a tasting note.

[uncle tom]

Sounds good to me, but please not the first Friday in November, as I will have more pressing engagements!

Tom

[JacobH]

Sounds good to me, but please not the first Friday in November, as I will have more pressing engagements!

Unless Derek has suggested it to the unknown invitee(s) could we aim for one of the other weekends in November, as I might be away for the first weekend?

[RonnieRoots]

Please put me down as a 'possible'. Although I haven't got any set plans yet, I do intend to visit the UK/Holland somewhere in the second half of this year. This may just be a good excuse.

[DRT]

Where?
The RAF Club, London

When?:
November 2009, preferrably a Friday night, preferrably not the 6th.

Attendees ("possible" unless stated otherwise ):
DRT (confirmed)
Honoured Guest x 2
Ghandi
Jacob
JDAW
Axel
Ben
Uncle Tom
RonnieRoots
AHB
Christopher

Please let me know if you want to be upgraded from possible to confirmed.

Derek

[benread]

Please let me know if you want to be upgraded from possible to confirmed.

Will do as soon as we have a proposed date, which I think depends on the guest(s) you have invited.

[jdaw1]

Confirmed.

[WS1]

Hi there,

you just came up with another very interesting tasting. Hope it is still not too late and there is a free place left for me to attend as well. Please let me know.

regards

Wolfgang

[DRT]

Updated list...

When?:
November 2009, preferrably a Friday night, but not the 6th or 27th.


Where?
The RAF Club, London

Attendees ("possible" unless stated otherwise ):
DRT (confirmed)
JDAW (confirmed)
Axel (confirmed)
AHB (confirmed)
Wolfgang (confirmed)
Jacob (confirmed)

Ghandi (needs tummy tickled)
Ben (needs a baby-sitter)
Uncle Tom (needs to blow everything up before 13th Nov)
RonnieRoots (needs to book a flight)
Christopher (needs to respond to my emails)
Honoured Guest x 2 (looking promising)

Please let me know if you want to be upgraded from possible to confirmed.

Derek

[Axel P]

You can confirm me, as long as it is not the 27th of Nov, in which case Tom and Christopher are not able to join as well, since they are trying some Niepoort in Germany with me.

Axel

[Ghandih]

Well blimey, frankly. Clearly I need to keep a closer eye on things. I planted my acorn of a proposal on Thursday 12th, and gave it some love and a bit of water on the 19th, after four or so other posts. And now, I come back to see how my sapling is getting on, another four days later, and it's gone bonkers. I like a little vanilla - don't we all? - but this is such a lot of oak I'm not sure what to think.

16 ports has become 24 (don't mind that too much, I think, though it does probably nudge the price up). Hallowed guests from the shippers have been invited to explain themselves (no great issues with that, I guess, either). And May/June has become November, which is somewhat less satisfactory, as I was hoping for an earlier return to the fold. Thank-you to all of you who have picked up the idea and run with it - it is nice to know I've suggested something that fires other people's imaginations/taste buds - I'm just not sure that, after such speedy and effective running, what we've now got is what I was after. My plan was, in essence, to [1] compare the shippers, [2] be modest in ambition and budget, and [3] be (relatively) soon in timing. As such, I'm not sure that Meatloaf would be entirely satisfied with our current situation.

The simplest course of action would be to suggest a parting of the threads, with my little event in May/June and the super-duper bash in November, as evolved, but I'm concerned I might be left behind with 'nay pals' and, crucially, 'nay port'. Actually, even simpler than that simplest course would be for me to roll over and accept the proffered tickling of tummy in November as a much better manifestation of what I meant to propose in the first place. Before I do that, however, does anyone have an alternative solution between those two extremes?


Ghandih

PS Julian, good placemat work, as ever. I may try to drink some nice port this week, but a 10-year old Osborne tawny is the next in the frame, and that probably doesn't count.

[jdaw1]

Simple solution.
1. Confirm November.
2. Arrange something smaller for May (whilst I’m still in NY, I add).
3. Post TN on Osborne 10Y tawny.

[DRT]

All of what JDAW said.

Plus, if Ghandiii is desperate for a glass or 8 of port sometime soon he could do no worse than to join this tasting. This is a bring-a-bottle (of mature Vargellas) affair and suitable bottles are available for adoption at modest cost.

[DRT]

You can confirm me, as long as it is not the 27th of Nov, in which case Tom and Christopher are not able to join as well, since they are trying some Niepoort in Germany with me.

Axel

AHB is also confirmed (by email to me this morning) so I will update the list.

Does anyone object to either 13th or 20th November?

Derek

PS: List above will now be updated. Should I split out into a new thread?

[WS1]

Derek,

I can also confirm my attendance for the 13th or 20th of November this year.

regards
Wolfgang

[DRT]

I can also confirm my attendance for the 13th or 20th of November this year.

Excellent - list updated above.

[JacobH]

I can confirm for the 13th or 20th of November, too.

Yes, Ghandih, come to the Vagellas tasting. But we shouldn’t let that stop organisation of something else in May. Perhaps a ‟bring a moderately-priced bottle from a major shipper” off-line?

[DRT]

I can confirm for the 13th or 20th of November, too.

Excellent - list above updated.

[Ghandih]

Well there we go - good problem solving, team. I'll attend the November main event (either date fine by me), and also think about an interim May occasion, although a friend's wedding and stag that month may knock it off the radar. Best advice, as proferred, might therefore be to attend the Vargellas tasting. Friday night, in central London - should be doable. I'll add my interest to that thread.

hGandi

[DRT]

Friday night, in central London - should be doable. I'll add my interest to that thread.

But it's on a Tuesday

[DRT]

Updated list...

When?:
November 2009, preferrably a Friday night, but not the 6th or 27th.


Where?
The RAF Club, London

Attendees ("possible" unless stated otherwise ):
DRT (confirmed)
JDAW (confirmed)
Axel (confirmed)
AHB (confirmed)
Wolfgang (confirmed)
Jacob (confirmed)
Ghandi (confirmed)

Ben (needs a baby-sitter)
Uncle Tom (needs to blow everything up before 13th Nov)
RonnieRoots (needs to book a flight)
Christopher (needs to respond to my emails)
Honoured Guest x 2 (looking promising)

Please let me know if you want to be upgraded from possible to confirmed.

Derek

[jdaw1]

Honoured Guest x 2 (looking promising)

Please let me know if you want to be upgraded from possible to confirmed.

Please upgrade me from ‟confirmed” to ‟Honoured Guest”.