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Harry, Alex H - you both have seats at the table. Please confirm if you want them.

The conclusion on the date is this: - 2 people can't make it on Monday 9th - 2 people can't make it on Tuesday 10th - 2 people have expressed a slight preference for Tuesday 10th since the B&F is open for an extra hour Apologies to Neil and Mike, but we'll stick with the originally planned date....

Unfortunately, not me. But January is a nice time to visit, it's much quieter - but beware of short working days and venues closing early.

Apologies for the slow response on this one - I cannot make the 9th and the 10th is now looking a little shaky. I didn't acquire any Fonseca pre-2000 that I can contribute so I would suggest that I might be dropped to the reserves in favour of someone who can definitely make it and contribute. Than...

Sassicaia 2015. Pop and pour. I was expecting a bit of a brute of a wine. Instead I got something rich and expressive with a glorious palate built around exquisite fruit. Very drinkable today because of the gorgeous balance, but the tannins and acidity that back up the purity of the fruit will give ...

I fear I won't be able to make this event. Apparently Elizabeth has something else planned...

This same pamphlet was included in an OWC of the 1995 Vesúvio vintage. Wooden boxes of six of Vesuvio 1996, and of Vesuvio 1997, each contained identical pamphlets. A Pre-eminent Douro Quinta In the austere and primitive beauty of Portugal’s Port-growing Upper Douro valley the Quinta do Vesuvio stan...

@Rich - please let me know what Fonseca vintages you can offer.

@Harry, @AlexH - please let me know which Fonseca vintages you can offer if you make the tasting.

@Julian - let me know if you have anything Fonseca other than 1960

I am one of those who disagree. If I buy a bottle at retail prices, I expect to pay a premium compared to buying at auction or in a private sale. That premium is the retailer’s risk premium for the possibility of the product not being fit for purpose and of satisfactory quality. Some of the risk sho...

Mike J. W. wrote: ↑18:32 Thu 08 Jan 2026 I was looking at a Bonhams affiliate's auction in Denmark and came across this Port. I've never heard of it before. Has anyone ever tried it or heard of it? It's a 1935 bottling.

Pimpernel Vintage Port.png

That’s a new one to me!

Monday 9th and Tuesday 10th are both available to us. Please would everyone on the confirmed and on the reserve list reply and let me know which of these two dates would work for them. We will only switch away from the Tuesday if it benefits more people that staying with the original date. George - ...

Going off thread, but I've seen similar falls in price for vintages as far back as 2004, although 2011 has held better than its peers. I have been asked why I've stopped buying newly released vintages - not in an attempt to persuade me to start buying again, but more to get a better understanding of...

Usual practice for me is morning decant, into cool decanter, kept cool by ice packs. But I’m bringing a Graham LBV (bot. 2001), as donated by Harry, and likewise a Tesco 1995 doesn’t need a twelve-hour decant. I propose: • 7am for the Warre Cavadinha 1995, and kept cool; • After lunch (so in my off...

I’ve had a chat with George and have agreed to take on the mantle of organiser. I understand that some confirmed attendees are no longer able to make the planned date of the 10th, hence the gentle enquiry as to availability on alternative dates. Glenn can’t make the 11th, hence only 9 and 10 are ava...

Equally, does the paperwork show that you are buying these bottles from Farr’s or were Farr’s broking these bottles from from one of their clients?

When you bought the bottles, was there anything on the paperwork which made it clear these bottles were being sold with no recourse if they proved to be defective?

UK consumer law gives a retail buyer quite a lot of protection if goods are sold which are not fit for purpose or not as described.

If I can be "substitute Justin", I'll take on the organising of this tasting.

Just a little nudge to refresh this thread. I'm thinking about April / May but if either of our potential US visitors are more firm on dates than they were 5 months ago, please feel free to say so and give me a gentle push towards a date which would work for you.

If I'm correct, we only have 4 tastings in the diary for 2026. Those being: 13 Jan - 1995 Horizontal 10 Feb - Fonseca Vertical 6 Oct - Fonseca vs Niepoort 29 Dec - Zombie Invasion I need to negotiate a date with Mrs B for the 2026 Xmas tasting, but that will go in the diary at some point in the not-...

Where were you all? I ended up having to drink all my interesting bottles on my own last night?

I'll happily take on the organisation of this fine event, but only if we can squeeze an extra seat around the table for me to occupy.

Christopher wrote: ↑20:51 Tue 06 Jan 2026 Great idea
But I wonder whether it needs an index approach possibly linked to the vintage tasting notes? Not sure how feasible that is

That’s a very good suggestion. It would need a new section of the forum, similar in structure to the Tasting Notes, but then we could build an index around it.

How lovely to think of Dow 1977 as being the perfect point for drinking at the age of 22...

These are the colheitas I have owned at some point in the last 30 years: Andresen Colheita (b. 1979) 1900 Andresen Colheita (b. 1993) 1910 Andresen Colheita (b. 1979) 1910 Andresen Colheita 1982 Barros (colheita) 1998 Burmester Colheita 1863 Burmester Colheita 1937 Burmester Colheita 1955 Constantin...

Out of interest, do you want the White Colheitas as well as the tawny ones? These are the tawny colheitas I have tasted over the years: Acyprestes Colheita 1925 Agrellos 1870 Allegria 2000 Amandio 1945 Amandio 1955 Andresen Colheita 1884 Andresen Colheita 1910 Andresen Colheita 1963 Andresen Colheit...

And here is a list of all LBVs I have tasted since starting to keep tasting notes: Alves de Sousa LBV 2019 Andresen LBV 2005 Andresen LBV 2011 Asda LBV 2019 Baldias LBV 1987 Barros LBV 2005 Barros LBV 2013 Berry Brothers LBV 2008 Berry Brothers LBV 2015 Boeira LBV 2020 Bulas LBV 2012 Bulas LBV 2013 ...

Here is a list of all the LBVs I have owned at some point since starting to keep records (which was in the early '90s): Baldias LBV 1987 Berry Brothers LBV (de la Rosa) 2015 Bulas LBV (b. 2017) 2013 Churchill LBV 1992 Churchill LBV 2005 Churchill LBV 2014 Churchill LBV 2016 Churchill LBV 2017 Church...

Definitely worth trying to return the bottle, especially if you have the paper (or e-paper) trail showing your purchase.

You've nothing to lose really!

If I’ve counted correctly, I’d be 15th on the list.

Not bought by me, but received as Christmas presents, one bottle of each of Fonseca 1963 (Army & Navy bottling) and of Warre 2011 Bottle Matured LBV.

I have 3 at home. I can bring one of those. Ian - can you bring either a Crasto or Warre LBV? Or do you want to adopt the bottle from me? I don’t have either of these but could I not just bring the GM that I have sourced or has Neil’s bottle of the same already been adopted? For ease, can I suggest...

There is a backstory to this wine which deserves to be recorded. This blend is unique, and can never be repeated. When Quevedo were having their new winery and cellar built in 2021-2025, this necessitated moving barrels, tonneis and balsieros around the cellar to make space for the work to take plac...

Excellent! I’ll bring the Morgan 1991.

I have 3 at home. I can bring one of those.

Ian - can you bring either a Crasto or Warre LBV? Or do you want to adopt the bottle from me?

jdaw1 wrote: ↑19:59 Fri 02 Jan 2026
jdaw1 wrote: ↑21:39 Sat 22 Nov 2025… a draft of the placemats, pictures of which have been added to the first post.
Usual request: please would somebody carefully check the placemats.

Only one question — why is Warre Cavadinha abbreviated to W and not WC?

As you do, I was browsing through the websites of some of the wine merchants I've bought from in the past.

I noticed that everything on MWH Wine Merchants is "Sold Out".

Does anyone know whether Mike is still running his business or has he wrapped things up after nearly 20 years?

Taylor 1994. Decanted 30 minutes. OMFG. This bottle absolutely deserves the stupid and stellar reputation the wine has. Would I give it 100 points like Suckling did? I don’t know!! I can’t fault it — but it’s going to be so much more complex and nuanced when I’m dead and gone. It’s effing delicious ...

No starter.

Club sirloin on the bone cooked medium rare.
Garlic roasted carrots.
NO FRIES!

No dessert.

What a splendid way to hold back the zombie invasion. What noble people we are to sacrifice ourselves to such a worthy cause.

In 2011/12, the Symingtons filled 1,000 bottles and 10 jeroboams with 1952 Single Harvest Tawny in commemoration of the diamond jubilee of Queen Elizabeth. These bottles were available in the UK exclusively from Berry Brothers and in Portugal. Bottles were mostly in the format of singles in a Royal ...

They are lovely looking bottles!

…Harvey’s 1954 (identify clear from capsule and cork)… Just for information, Harvey’s 1954 is actually a full Graham blend. A small parcel (2 pipes, I think without checking my notes) of it was made. One was kept by the Symingtons for a child born in 1954 and one sent to Harvey’s as they (or maybe ...

Traditionally, I am the house chef on Christmas Day so I spend most of Christmas Eve preparing. This year I have decided to prepare by opening a bottle of Warre 1966. (Which is lovely!)

…Harvey’s 1954 (identify clear from capsule and cork)… Just for information, Harvey’s 1954 is actually a full Graham blend. A small parcel (2 pipes, I think without checking my notes) of it was made. One was kept by the Symingtons for a child born in 1954 and one sent to Harvey’s as they (or maybe ...

That’s not good.

Fortunately I’ve only ever invested in my own Fine Wine Portfolio. Although my financial return has been affected by the firm’s owner drinking excessive amounts of my investments.

Nice stockings!

I’ve just bought another refill pack for the Quevedo 2025 advent calendar in Vintage Wine & Port’s Christmas sale.

Friends round for dinner this evening resulted in the opening of bottles of Hundred Hills Prelude 2018, Campo Viejo Rioja Crianza 1998 and Dow 1963.

In Majestic a few days ago I came across a Quevedo Special Reserve Tawny - Victoria Edition. I bought one (a 50cl mini-ships decanter which will make a nice half bottle decanter in the future). The special box comes with some blurb on the back. IMG_7696.jpeg IMG_7698.jpeg Victoria Porto SPECIAL RESE...

Camel Valley Vineyard Brut 2019 to celebrate reaching the Saturday before Christmas.

jdaw1 wrote: ↑22:20 Fri 19 Dec 2025
Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑22:17 Fri 19 Dec 2025At lunch today, my host opened the following bottles just because he could:
How many people were at the lunch?

We were 12.

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