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Did anybody go to Berry’s Port Tasting last Tuesday (28th November)? I couldn’t make it, but I’d love to hear someone’s impression of the evening - by PM if you’d prefer not to post publicly. I’ve just bought a last minute ticket for the 67 Pall Mall Port tasting tomorrow (Friday 1st December). A li...

WOTN voting sheets is a good call.

What’s a “foldable tasting note sheet”? Is that a normal tasting note sheet which you have folded?

There are several “Very Old White”s from Quevedo - from 1970, 1975 and 1981 at a minimum. I’d like the placemat to make it clear which one we’re tasting.

Domestic negotiations are currently in progress to determine whether 0, 1 or 2 of us will be attending.

My expectation is that it will be 1 of us. Hopefully that 1 will be me.

idj123 wrote: ↑20:53 Sat 25 Nov 2023 Still the 2010 at my local Asda (for £22).

Stop it! I’m tying not to buy more Port!!

jdaw1 wrote: ↑16:47 Sat 25 Nov 2023 Sticky labels? Nothing? Previous years: 2022, ’20, ’19, ’18, ’16, ’15, ’14, ’13, ’12, ’11, ’10, ’09, ’08.

If I recall correctly, Tom found the sticky labels a pain when it came to washing the glasses. I suggest people bring chalk pens so we can write on the bases.

Harry - you have a space if you want it.

A big, deep and rich red colour, 60% opaque. Vibrant and rich on the nose, showing wonderful fruit. A lovely texture on the palate, with sweet orange zest and orange fruit on the palate, building to wonderful levels - such a wonderful mouthful! Zingy citrus jelly finish. This is tremendous, deliciou...

TCA spoiled nose, TCA spoiled palate. Horrible.

Deep mature brick-red colour, 50% opaque. Smoky toned fruit on the nose, like burnt rhubarb juice over stewed, forced rhubarb. A lovely texture, smooth, bringing a wonderful agglomeration of star anise and Amalfi lemon. A huge Amalfi lemon oil aftertaste and a sticky chocolate orange finish. A very ...

Deep red colour, a mature brick red which is about 40% opaque. Delightful and mature fruit on the nose which comes with a beautiful Christmas cake complexity. Nicely balanced entry, sweet fruit with tannins still showing. Slightly too sweet to be perfect but a lovely round palate. A flash of spearmi...

A pale rose red colour, 30% opaque. A faint nose, but faintly showing attractive and mature fruit. Big on the palate with generous levels of sweet and mature fruit. Rich and very fruity on the palate, perhaps a little jammy. A bit disjointed, lacking the harmony desired in a fine, mature Port. The d...

A very pale gold colour, 10% opaque. Oxidised on the nose, smelling more like brandy than Port; definitely not attractive. Better on the palate than on the nose. A lightweight tawny but with an ever-present layer of oxidation. Not Rated

Axel, thank you so much for posting your article. I loved reading it. I've tasted relatively little of the VVV, there's just too much Port and not enough time!

But I loved reading about your thoughts. Thank you (and the best of luck tomorrow with the Portweinmesse 2023).

Quinta das Sequeirinhas added to the list of known declarations.

Has anyone seen anything not on the list?

Our industry guest will not be able to make it to Newport this year.

MSC - you are first reserve. Would you like the seat?

Julian (quite sensibly) suggested that given the volume of wine being consumed it might be a good idea to have something eat eat alongside the Champagne. How about we order a couple of the pigs-in-blankets and some chips as a pre-starter starter? I've been less than overwhelmed by the canapes we've...

Food order for me please - this is my one and only Christmas dinner cooked for me by someone else:
Starter - Davy's pigs in blankets with cranberry dipping sauce
Main - Roast turkey, with all the trimmings (including more pigs in blankets)
Dessert - Chocolate brownie

Our guest has requested that he be permitted to bring the Dow for the tasting.

Tentatively yes.

We haven’t had a blind tasting for some time so blind please.

Please could I change my default main to be:

Sirloin steak, medium rare, no sauce, skinny fries with french beans and shallots.

Thanks

MigSU wrote: ↑16:26 Sun 12 Nov 2023 Garrafeira Nacional is having its customary 20% off all fortified wines.

Is that seriously off all fortified wines? Even things like Niepoort Garrafeira, where they are already the cheapest source in Europe?

I have Warre (and Dow) 1985 in halves.

winesecretary wrote: ↑22:07 Mon 06 Nov 2023 I would be up for organising a 2003 tasting in say early November 2024.

That’s a topic I’d be interested in, especially if it was a 2000 vs 2003 comparative.

However, my diary is a bit challenging over the next couple of months, until we reach the week between Christmas and New Year.

The 2024 edition of the b.f.t. is being held in Church House, Westminster on Tuesday 23rd April. As in previous years, it is a trade only event and being a member of The Port Forum is, sadly, not enough of a link to the trade to qualify to visit the show. Happily, as in previous years, we would be v...