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On Tuesday the 13th June 2023 at the Boot and Flogger, I’m holding a 1955 Horizontal. While I don’t claim 1955 to be the greatest vintage, it has given me the greatest pleasure over the last 10-15 years. Perhaps because of the drinking window it’s in but also the consistent high-quality of the producers I’ve been fortunate to drink on numerous occasions, as my liver can attest to.

Here are the VP bottles:

1. Fonseca
2. Graham
3. Taylor
4. Warre
5. Dow
6. Cockburn
7. Croft
8. Noval
9. Offley (from Charles)
10. Sandeman
11. Niepoort
12. Smith Woodhouse
13. Theinpoint (likely Butler Nephew, from Phil)
14. Gould Campbell
15. Mackenzie
16. Martinez
17. Gonzalez Byass
18. Tuke Holdsworth
19. Morgan
20. Rebello Valente
21. Real Vinicola
22. Spratley
23. Hooper
24. Burmester
25. Ferreira
26. Amandio's Silva & Filhos
27. Mystery - Peatling and Cawdron Bottling (Unknown or Own Label?)

Other bottles:

Romanée St. Vivant - Louis Latour Les Quatre Journaux
Cheval Blanc
Lafite
Climens
D'Yquem
Kopke Colheita

And

Pol Roger (Double Magnum)

I am searching out for a Nacional 1955 with help from others, so that may get added too.

There will be places for 12 people in total:

1. Cliff M.
2. Harry H.
3. Harry’s Guest
4. Alex B.
5. Tony C.
6. Neil C.
7. Julian W.
8. Mike M.
9. Charles R.
10. George G.
11. Ian J.
12. Phil W.

A reserve list will operate in case any of the 12 are unable to attend.

This is happening under “the cellar reduction party” protocol so if you want to attend you are not required to bring any bottle, just put your name down. However if someone has a VP from 1955 that is not on the above list they’ll be given preference.

Julian is providing the Cockburn due to a prior private arrangement.

All other bottles have been sourced from the trade by me over the last 15 years apart from two that I got via auction (Romanée St. Vivant and Pol Roger) so hopefully poor bottles will be at a minimum.

The day will start at noon and end when we are kicked out no doubt.

The only request is that if you come that you fully commit to the whole day/evening so we don’t waste fine wines!

Finally a thank you to Harry for arranging the booking and organising the day at the B&Fas I am currently overseas.


Current draft of the placemats.

Splendid tasting - count me in! No surprise my 55s are on the list above but very happy to bring one if required.

Very much yes please - I can add Offley to the line up if 'needed'

Yes please (please). I may be slightly late as I have a meeting 1100-1200 that may overrun slightly. But my office is 10 minutes away, and I can run.

I only have Mackenzie.

Not sure where the seven came from but yes please!

And yes, all the suspects appear to have been accounted for and so nothing additional I can offer.

I would love to join you. In terms of 55s not listed I could provide either or both of Offley Boa Vista '55 (though I think Charles has that covered) and Theinpont '55 (unknown shipper, most likely Butler Nephew; I would tong to find out, if opening that one).

I would so love to join in with this but I'm in Canada then

Do have a fab time as I'm sure you all will.

I have already accepted.

Thanks for the offer of the Offley, Charles and for the the likely Butler Nephew Phil, that is most appreciated and accepted. If an NN55 is procured then we'll have 4 VP flights of 7. So all 12 places are spoken for, and we'll start a waitlist in case of a drop out.

May I be placed on the reserve list pending release from work?

Doesn't feel that long since I last went to a 55, so I'll let this one be enjoyed by others.

Can supply bottles however

Available to spare I have:

Butler Nephew
Cockburn
Dow
Fonseca
Gonzalez Byass
Graham
Mackenzie
Martinez
Noval
Offley
Taylor

If you want to be indulgent, I can also supply the Taylor as a magnum

Cliff

I have a bottle of the Chateau Rauzan-Gassies 1955 which I'm happy to bring.

We had another battle from the same source at a TPF Wine Dinner a couple of years ago and it was still pretty good.

I'll put it aside, but let me know.

Cheers
Neil

I am extremely sorry to say that I am going to have to drop out of this.

It is hard to express how extremely sorry I am.

Clutching at straws - might be able to engineer an arrival with a co-taster (Jo) at about 1830 if that worked for the assembled multitude.

Current draft of the placemats added to first post. Including bonus line “/PaperType /A1 def”!

The Ports need an ordering better than that in the thread. Please suggest.

Cliff/Harry - do you need a hand decanting and getting things ready? I can get to the B&F around 10.30 if needed.

jdaw1 wrote: ↑23:29 Wed 07 Jun 2023 Current draft of the placemats added to first post. Including bonus line “/PaperType /A1 def”!

The Ports need an ordering better than that in the thread. Please suggest.

I thought we were doing this as two flights of 14 rather than one flight of 28? If so, despite the impressive look of the exiting draft placemats, should we not have 2 different placemats? And a separate placemat for the wines since these will go with food?

Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑07:28 Thu 08 Jun 2023 I thought we were doing this as two flights of 14 rather than one flight of 28?

I thought Cliff was proposing 4 flights of 7...

cem wrote: ↑03:10 Sat 06 May 2023 Thanks for the offer of the Offley, Charles and for the the likely Butler Nephew Phil, that is most appreciated and accepted. If an NN55 is procured then we'll have 4 VP flights of 7. So all 12 places are spoken for, and we'll start a waitlist in case of a drop out.

CONFIRMING PLANS for the celebration of 1955

Start time 12:15 for 12:30pm

Arrival
Champagne and Canapés

Flight 1 – 6 Reds
Starters – to be pre-ordered.
Mains – Steak and Kidney pie, fries and veg

Flight 2 – 14 ports
Pudding – to be pre-ordered (idealy)
Cheese

Flight 3 - Sweets for afternoon break

Flight 4 – 14 ports
Dinner to be ordered on day

Please can everyone confirm what starter they would like, otherwise I will order for you.

Burrata starter for me please.

Starter please: Grilled pitta, lemon and coriander houmous.

Potted crab starter for me please.

Thanks Alex, that would be most welcome.

Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑07:28 Thu 08 Jun 2023 Cliff/Harry - do you need a hand decanting and getting things ready? I can get to the B&F around 10.30 if needed.

Potted crab starter for me please.

I’ll pass on a pre-ordered pudding (as in, please may I pre-order no pudding).