Croft vertical, Tue 07 Nov 2023

[mcoulson]

Date is still fine for me and my list of bottles remains the same .... other than the 77 that I've recently aquired

[akzy]

Date is fine. Still happy to bring Cr94.

[hadge]

all good for this. I will double check what i have.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I’m happy to provide Cr45 so Ian can open his another time.

[winesecretary]

Still happy to bring 1991 and 2011

[PhilW]

Confirming. Wines and costs as previously advised.

[jdaw1]

I now have a scheduling clash and may not be able to attend. If my place is required please make use of it.

First post updated. That seat will be offered to a guest.

Can potentially still provide some bottles if needed.

Thank you.

[jdaw1]

Please can people bring:
AHB: Cr45;
NAC: Cr47;
PW: Cr55;
CPR: Cr50, Cr60, Cr70, Cr75, Cr03;
MC: Cr63;
MPM: Cr82;
GEAG: Cr91, Cr00, Cr11;
ZDR: Cr94;
IDJ or MPM: Cr66, Cr77.

That’s sixteen bottles, between likely, thirteen of us.

Alex: you sent me a message about the ’45, which I have lost. Ian, Mike, George, Neil: please send a message about prices.

[jdaw1]

Pictures of the current draft of the placemats have been added to the first post.

[PhilW]

Please can people bring:
AHB: Cr45;
NAC: Cr47;
PW: Cr55;
CPR: Cr50, Cr60, Cr70, Cr75, Cr03;
MC: Cr63;
MPM: Cr82;
GEAG: Cr91, Cr00, Cr11;
ZDR: Cr94;
IDJ or MPM: Cr66, Cr77.

That’s sixteen bottles, between likely, thirteen of us.

Alex: you sent me a message about the ’45, which I have lost. Ian, Mike, George, Neil: please send a message about prices.

Am noting your Cr line-up does not include the offered Cr35 from Tony - is this is a deliberate choice?

[idj123]

Please can people bring:
AHB: Cr45;
NAC: Cr47;
PW: Cr55;
CPR: Cr50, Cr60, Cr70, Cr75, Cr03;
MC: Cr63;
MPM: Cr82;
GEAG: Cr91, Cr00, Cr11;
ZDR: Cr94;
IDJ or MPM: Cr66, Cr77.

That’s sixteen bottles, between likely, thirteen of us.

Alex: you sent me a message about the ’45, which I have lost. Ian, Mike, George, Neil: please send a message about prices.

Am noting your Cr line-up does not include the offered Cr35 from Tony - is this is a deliberate choice?

I’d be in favour of dropping the 11 for the 35

[PhilW]

I’d be in favour of dropping the 11 for the 35

Separate the decisions. Should we include the 35? of course (unless JDAW has already excluded for good reason). Do we need to trim the line-up? maybe, maybe not.

[hadge]

i will most likely be bring a 27, otherwise have others but most are in mags

[jdaw1]

I’d be in favour of dropping the 11 for the 35

Separate the decisions. Should we include the 35? of course (unless JDAW has already excluded for good reason). Do we need to trim the line-up? maybe, maybe not.

Dropped in error: ’35 in.

[PhilW]

i will most likely be bring a 27, otherwise have others but most are in mags

Wonderful
This is now shaping up exceedingly well.

[idj123]

Unless my eyes mistake me I notice that the Cr85 is absent from the line up? It appears to be available on the retail market for £55. Should I group purchase?

[PhilW]

Unless my eyes mistake me I notice that the Cr85 is absent from the line up? It appears to be available on the retail market for £55. Should I group purchase?

JDAW's call re: vintages/numbers, but I'd say yes. Julian?

[nac]

Please can people bring:
AHB: Cr45;
NAC: Cr47;
PW: Cr55;
CPR: Cr50, Cr60, Cr70, Cr75, Cr03;
MC: Cr63;
MPM: Cr82;
GEAG: Cr91, Cr00, Cr11;
ZDR: Cr94;
IDJ or MPM: Cr66, Cr77.

That’s sixteen bottles, between likely, thirteen of us.

Alex: you sent me a message about the ’45, which I have lost. Ian, Mike, George, Neil: please send a message about prices.

Not attending, so probably unlikely to be bringing the 47.

[nac]

Sorry, should have confirmed that scheduling clash is unresolvable, so definitely not attending.

[winesecretary]

I confirm attendance with 1991, 2000, 2011.

[jdaw1]

Unless my eyes mistake me I notice that the Cr85 is absent from the line up? It appears to be available on the retail market for £55. Should I group purchase?

JDAW's call re: vintages/numbers, but I'd say yes. Julian?

It’s reliably awful.

[Will W.]

I shall be in London on the night, which is to note that if a pair of seats become available do put me down +1. The +1 would be a convivial colleague with an appropriate interest in port.

[Glenn E.]

Unless my eyes mistake me I notice that the Cr85 is absent from the line up? It appears to be available on the retail market for £55. Should I group purchase?

JDAW's call re: vintages/numbers, but I'd say yes. Julian?

It’s reliably awful.

That seems rather harsh. I have had it many times, and while it has probably never been described as fantastic or delightful, it has also never been described as awful.

Using my various scales:

First descriptive word? It's good, even very good. But usually not excellent on first impression. (Sometimes, but not usually.) This implies 87-89.

Do I want to finish the glass? Yes, of course, and if the bottle is to hand/it is the only Port open I will happily pour another glass of my own volition. This implies 90-93.

More formal perspective? It's not usually particularly complex, but is pretty well balanced and pleasant to drink. Lots of bottle variation lately. This implies anywhere from 87 to 93 depending on the bottle.

I have rated good bottles as high as 93, but am more usually in the 90-91 range. I've been as low as 87 that I can quickly find in my notebooks.

Is it worth £55? That's the gamble. Given prices you lot normally see in the UK I'd probably say no, but that's a decent price over here in the US. I would probably happily restock my supply for $60/bottle.

[akzy]

I am unfortunately unable to attend this anymore.

My official stance is "absolutely gutted".

If anyone is able to supply the 94 in my absence that would be ideal. Otherwise, I'll find a way to get it to the event.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I am in favour of not including the 1985. It’s truly horrible, so full of VA that it remains the only wine I have sent back 3 consecutive times at a restaurant.

I rejoice at Glenn’s different experience and vote against including it in the line-up.

It’s not difficult to find so anyone interested in trying it should be able to do so fairly easily.

[hadge]

I am unfortunately unable to attend this anymore.

My official stance is "absolutely gutted".

If anyone is able to supply the 94 in my absence that would be ideal. Otherwise, I'll find a way to get it to the event.

this is sad news.

I can bring the 94.

[jdaw1]

WhatsApp message from David Guimaraens:

The tasting is amazing. Can I send you a Croft 2017. It is truly amazing and probably the best I have made

The grammatical structure is that of a question, but there wasn’t even a question mark. I have accepted. Later he disambiguated:

The best Croft, to be clear. Although having said that, in my mind (and in the bottle) Croft, Fonseca and Taylor are equally extraordinary, and each true to their house style

He might be available for an emergency the week before. If so, a separate thread will happen.

[jdaw1]

Bottle bringing:

• CPR:
  • Cr50;
  • Cr60;
  • Cr70;
  • Cr75;
  • Cr03;
• GEAG:
  • Cr91;
  • Cr00;
  • Cr11;
• IDJ:
  • Cr66;
  • Cr77;
• TC: Cr35;
• AHB: Cr45;
• PW: Cr55;
• MSC: Cr63;
• HTHW: Cr94;
• DBFG (in absentia): Cr17.

Which is sixteen bottles between twelve of us (JDAW, IDJ, PW, AHB, TC, MJM, HTHW, SCD, MSC, GEAG, CPR, CMAG).

[jdaw1]

And food orders please (B&F’s dining menu).

JDAW:
• Soup of the day (which I might request is leek and potato);
• Steak, mushroom, Claret pie;
• Welsh rarebit (you know how).

[winesecretary]

GEAG:

Potted crab, glass of manzanilla
Steak pie
Welsh rarebit

[Alex Bridgeman]

I’ll have no starter followed by the steak, mushroom and claret pie which appears to be accompanied by a dish of green beans and shallots.

[flash_uk]

Food order for me please:
Burrata
Sirloin rare with fried egg
Skinny fries
Green beans and shallots

[PhilW]

Bottle bringing:

• ...

Did you miss/ignore/decline Harry's offer to bring the '27?

[jdaw1]

Did you miss/ignore/decline Harry's offer to bring the '27?

Missed!

[winesecretary]

We now appear to be 13 persons.

@WillW - are you only available if there is also a seat for said convivial friend? It must be at least 50/50 there will be another dropout.

[Christopher]

Pate
Sirloin steak - mediums rare
Skinny fries
Green beans and shallots!
Sounds fab!

[mcoulson]

Pate, Sirloin (medium) with peppercorn sauce, skinny fries, green beans

Thank you

[PhilW]

Food order please:
- Grilled pitta, lemon, coriander houmous
- Sirloin, medium-rare, with (please, please) Béarnaise sauce, chips, and green beans (happy to share)

[jdaw1]

- Grilled pitta, lemon, coriander houmous

I can’t see this on B&F’s dining menu.

∃ draft of the food order.

[jdaw1]

I shall be in London on the night, which is to note that if a pair of seats become available do put me down +1. The +1 would be a convivial colleague with an appropriate interest in port.

As is we are twelve. You have two seats. Please send enough of the name of the ‘convivial colleague’.

[PhilW]

- Grilled pitta, lemon, coriander houmous

I can’t see this on B&F’s dining menu.

It is on their bar menu which they've always been previously happy to include - this has been my most commonly chosen starter for the last few years - however if any issue then please change to soup (especially if leek and potato, which happens to be my favourite).

[hadge]

Smoked Salmon
Sirloin steak (M-R) no sauce, skinny fries, and green beans

thanks

[jdaw1]

Smoked Salmon
Sirloin steak (M-R) no sauce, skinny fries, and green beans

Only one portion of fries‽ Harry’s account has been hacked, and is being used by a non-convincing imposter.

[CPR 1]

Mac n Cheese
Steak - black and blue with (please, please) Béarnaise sauce, chips
Welsh rarebit

Thank you

All - to note last time we were at B&F Welsh Rarebit was only available if pre ordered!

[jdaw1]

Mac n Cheese

Are you sure that Mac & Cheese is still possible?

[Glenn E.]

I rejoice at Glenn’s different experience and vote against including it in the line-up.

I would send you one of mine if I could. I'm about halfway through a case and cannot recall any of them showing VA, which is something (unlike TCA) to which I am usually very sensitive.

But still... not splendid so not a catastrophe if skipped.

I hope you have a great tasting! I look forward to the notes.

[CPR 1]

Mac n Cheese

Are you sure that Mac & Cheese is still possible?

Yes pre order only.

Any issues, substitute with pate.

Sent from my SM-S911B using Tapatalk

[PhilW]

Please could the first post be updated to make checking arrangements easier?

[Will W.]

Food order:

Will W. - soup of the day (starter), sirloin (rare) with green beans (main)
Guest - burrata (starter), grilled chicken breast (main)

Profuse thanks to JDAW for the required nudge

[forest26]

Hi
Can I please order

Soup of the day
Steak pie