Mon 29 Dec 2025: Emergency (zombie invasion)

[jdaw1]

This post reserved to hold agreed plans.

When: 18:00 on Mon 29 Dec 2025.

Location: Boot & Flogger.

Theme:

‘Vintage Port that you would like to drink if you had not Vintage Port for 7 months’.

Under such terrible circumstances, would one want sighted or blind?

Sighted please.

People:

1. Julian W. (Warre 1970);
2. Martin C.;
3. Alex M. (Croft 1960);
4. Mike M.;
5. Cliff M. (three sighted Ports, mag Champagne, mag Claret, extras);
6. Rory M.;
7. Viktoria H.;
8. Alex B. (Sandeman Vau double-magnum);
9. Michael M.;
10. Neil C.;
11. JHT, who is a guest of AJM.

Draft of the food order.

Current draft of the placemats.

[jdaw1]

Because of the forthcoming zombie invasion (it might be that; might be something worse), the government has declared an emergency, for Monday 29th December 2025.

You know what to do.

Edit: the possible alternative event, for the — much worse — in-law invasion, tentatively set for the day after this, is now not happening. The day to appear, with bottle(s), is this day, Monday 29th December 2025.

[mcoulson]

I'm up for fighting any kind of zombie invasion but I hope it happens on the 29th .....

[Mike J. W.]

If it's a zombie invasion, shouldn't this be held at the Winchester?

[winesecretary]

I regret that I will be in the countryside, eliminating crusty jugglers.

[Mike J. W.]

I regret that I will be in the countryside, eliminating crusty jugglers.

Well at least that's for the greater good.

[NigelM]

I regret that I will be in London, at another gathering, slaying Klingons.

[Alex M]

Yes please.

[jdaw1]

So far we are three. What theme?

[mcoulson]

So far we are three. What theme?

Port that we like ....

[Alex Bridgeman]

29th December is a bank holiday. Will that affect the ability to organise or attend an emergency?

[winesecretary]

I’d quite like to organise a ‘port that we don’t like’ tasting at some point - sort of ‘bring a bottle of a port that you just don’t get on with - and explain why’. I suspect most of us have a few bottles like that.

[jdaw1]

Do the three us of us want one of these sets of four bottles:

I have two boxes of Quevedo’s 2014 closure comparison that need to be opened, and the contents compared.

[Alex M]

May I propose the following theme?

‘Vintage Port that you would like to drink if you had not Vintage Port for 7 months’.

[flash_uk]

I think I should perhaps attend. I have a bottle in mind.

[mcoulson]

May I propose the following theme?

‘Vintage Port that you would like to drink if you had not Vintage Port for 7 months’.

Lordy ... 7 months ... Humm ... Let me think about that ...

[PhilW]

May I propose the following theme?

‘Vintage Port that you would like to drink if you had not Vintage Port for 7 months’.

I'm not sure that we've had a Nebuchadnezzar tasting before.

[Mike J. W.]

May I propose the following theme?

‘Vintage Port that you would like to drink if you had not Vintage Port for 7 months’.

I'm not sure that we've had a Nebuchadnezzar tasting before.

Add another 2 regular attendees and you all should be able to polish of that Nebuchadnezzar quite easily.

[PhilW]

I’d quite like to organise a ‘port that we don’t like’ tasting at some point - sort of ‘bring a bottle of a port that you just don’t get on with - and explain why’. I suspect most of us have a few bottles like that.

Hmm. Cruz '89. Because you'd have to have not had Vintage port for 7 months to be desperate enough to drink it?

[Glenn E.]

As I have often said (paraphrasing) when accused of score creep, why would I want to drink Cruz '89?

I know that Ports that I would score in the 80s exist, but I choose not to drink them. I'm not a professional critic, so I have no reason to drink anything that doesn't have the potential to rate in the 90s.

[jdaw1]

‘Vintage Port that you would like to drink if you had not Vintage Port for 7 months’.

Under such terrible circumstances, would one want sighted or blind?

[Alex M]

Sighted please.

[mcoulson]

I agree sighted ....

[jdaw1]

We are four people: AJM, JDAW, MSC, MJM.

To slate your thirst, noble but gnawing, how many bottles each should we bring?

[jdaw1]

There is now a draft of the placemats; pictures in the first post (but I don’t know who is bringing which bottles).

[Alex M]

We are four people: AJM, JDAW, MSC, MJM.

To slate your thirst, noble but gnawing, how many bottles each should we bring?

I think once each will suffice

[cem]

We are seven! Our power grows...

Four resolute chaps with some hardy bottles of port is a good start against a zombie invasion. I shall delay my flight by a day and join this noble fight. I will be bringing reinforcements in the form of one of my brothers, Rory and his Swedish lady, Viktoria who loves port!

We'll bring 3 sighted ports and some unsighted ports.

Obviously, since it's Christmas, we'll need champagne and some claret to add to the festivities - probably need a mag of each to stave those zombie heads in.

[winesecretary]

What could possibly go wrong?

[mcoulson]

What could possibly go wrong?

I have a list ... And it's rather long ......

[Alex Bridgeman]

Put me down too. I’ll bring something, but I’ll decide nearer the time. I don’t have a Nebuchadnezzar, but I do have a double mag of Sandeman Vau - that might be big enough to slate the thirst of someone who hasn’t drunk Port for 7 months.

[idj123]

I’m a tentative for this (the following evening is definitely out as it’s my daughter‘s birthday).

[Bertie3000]

Hi could I be added to this please. Will find something suitable to bring.

[nac]

29th - assume a "yes" from me.

[jdaw1]

We are ten people: this is looking good. The Red Room has been booked.

He whose deficit we are remedying has commanded sighted. Please reveal. Monday four days ago a fabulous Warre 1970 was opened: I will bring W70.

Entertainingly, one possible attendee — not available — whose attention was drawn to this thread thought that the draft of the placemats was actually genuine, and was thereby very impressed. Alas not.

[Alex M]

Croft 1960

[Alex M]

I would like to bring a guest if there is space. Initials JHT. He will bring a bottle TBC. If there is not space no problem!

[jdaw1]

All confirmed, Menu attached. Unfortunately if you want the larger cuts of steak we will need to know by the 18th because of the delivery schedules for our butchers over the Christmas week.

That B&F menu: you know what to do, and some of you need to do it by Friday 18th December.

Me:
• Venison terrine;
• Beef cheeks;
• Welsh rarebit.

[Bertie3000]

It looks like I have been missed off the first post. Could I please added. Thank you. Michael M

[jdaw1]

29th December is a bank holiday.

Surely the Bank Holidays (Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971) are Thu 25^th Dec and Fri 26^th Dec? I think that Monday 29^th December is an ordinary working day.

It looks like I have been missed off the first post. Could I please added. Thank you. Michael M

Repaired. Apologies.

Croft 1960

Magnificent.

I would like to bring a guest if there is space. Initials JHT. He will bring a bottle TBC. If there is not space no problem!

Yes. Added.

B&F menu: you know what to do, and some of you need to do it by Friday 18th December.

Heed! And reveal what Port etc that you are bringing.

[cem]

We're up to 12 now, so I have doubled the claret and champagne.

I'll declare these:

Bollinger R.D. 2004 Mag
Bollinger R.D. 2007 Mag
Château La Lagune 1970 Mag
Château Cheval Blanc 1976 Mag

I've gone with 5's for the port as it is the end of 2025

VPs
Cockburn 1935
Croft 1945
Graham 1955

VPs Unsighted (Guess The Producers)
X 1935
X 1945
X 1955

To eat:

Scotch Egg
Roast Turkey + extra thin fries
Cheese

Thanks for organising this Julian, it should be great fun.

[mcoulson]

Hummm ... ok thats a hard act to follow .....

So I'll bring a F63 from the same case as last time and I'll bring something else determined by whats to hand when I remove the F63 from the cellar .... I'm worried we will run out of stuff to drink .....

food wise can I have salmon and then filet steak medium with fries and green beans .... no butter .... just show the beans to hot water for a couple of moments .... then cheese at the end.

Good luck Juilian with the glasses and such like ......

Thank you ....

[Alex M]

JHT will bring Warre 1948.

I kindly request the following food.

Venison Terrine
Beef Cheek with fries and greens
Welsh Rarebit

JHT will have the same food as me.

[jdaw1]

To slate your thirst, noble but gnawing, how many bottles each should we bring?

I think once each will suffice

Good luck Juilian with the glasses and such like ......

I could try my King Canute adult-in-the-room why-am-I-even-attempting-this responsible-person dullness: school night; eight people bringing one of Port, three collectively bringing six bottles of Port, one bringing a double-magnum is 18 bottles between 12; plus two magnums of fine claret; plus (not on the placemats) two magnums of Champagne — but surely I have become at least dimly aware of the irresponsiveness of the tide.

Thank you Cliff.


A draft of the food order has been started.

[idj123]

Just as well as I said ‘ tentative’ as unfortunately I’d overlooked the fact that I’m going to the theatre that night! Reluctantly, I will therefore have to drop out. Apologies!

[Alex Bridgeman]

Food order for me:
- No starter
- Yellowfin sole without crushed herb potatoes
Sides of cauliflower cheese (with extra cheese) and fries
- Desert / dessert decided on the night.

I’ve been persuaded by the Voice of Reason (a.k.a. Julian Wiseman) not to bring a double magnum on a school night so I’ll bring a bottle of T48. But since I like bringing blind bottles I am not going to say if it’s ex-Raby Castle or not.

That’s for you to decide on the night.

[NigelM]

Can't believe I am missing this!

If I were a Zombie, I would give up trying to be scary and sit down with you lot for a drink.

Have a great night y'all

[mcoulson]

I'll print if Julian manages to produce some kind of placemats ....

[jdaw1]

I'll print if Julian manages to produce some kind of placemats ....

There is now a draft of the placemats; pictures in the first post

It will be an ordinary working day for me, so ETA ≈6pm. Martin: pls take charge of setup.

[mcoulson]

I'll print if Julian manages to produce some kind of placemats ....

There is now a draft of the placemats; pictures in the first post

It will be an ordinary working day for me, so ETA ≈6pm. Martin: pls take charge of setup.

Will do ... been some time since I've been the responsible adult .....

[Bertie3000]

Looking forward to this already. Cracking line up of ports and wines.

Food order:
Bruschetta
Veggie bangers and mash
Welsh rarebit

Will bring Graham ‘48 (Dolamore bottled) to fit into the ‘48 theme.