17th May 2015: Port drinking in New York City

[Glenn E.]

Suggested themes: a selection of 70s, or, a selection of 77's, or a smaller selection of 70vs77.
I would suggest we also omit Fonseca; it always shows well from both years and we would have a more educational evening without it as a result.

Alternatively, an Oddities theme.

As i'm busy packing port tonight and tomorrow, i'll set a few bottles aside, but input would be most welcome.

To keep with the atonal music theme, none of our bottles should match in any way.

Within limits, of course. Otherwise we'd be limited to 4 bottles (ruby, tawny, white, garrafeira). I was thinking no two producers the same and no two years (or age) the same.

[jdaw1]

If it would help, I could be the Centre (or Center). PM me some possible bottles, and I will select such that, as far as possible, neither shippers nor vintages match.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Otherwise we'd be limited to 4 bottles (ruby, tawny, white, garrafeira).

Ahem! There is pink as well. You can have five bottles. Stop trying to deny the modern world. Pink is progress.

[SushiNorth]

If it would help, I could be the Centre (or Center). PM me some possible bottles, and I will select such that, as far as possible, neither shippers nor vintages match.

i like it! attendees, please send three options to jdaw that he may impartially select. if anyone needs me to provide an adoptable, please say so asap. Given the theme is a bit on the more unusual side, more unusual bottles are well suited.

[differentdave]

I emailed a list of 4-5 bottles from the 1970's all of them vintage ports. If need be a few of those bottles can be adopted as well.
Looking forward to the tasting.

[jdaw1]

Suggested themes: a selection of 70s, or, a selection of 77's, or a smaller selection of 70vs77.
I would suggest we also omit Fonseca; it always shows well from both years and we would have a more educational evening without it as a result.

Alternatively, an Oddities theme.

Please could there be, from an organiser, a final definitive statement on the constraints.

[Glenn E.]

Suggested themes: a selection of 70s, or, a selection of 77's, or a smaller selection of 70vs77.
I would suggest we also omit Fonseca; it always shows well from both years and we would have a more educational evening without it as a result.

Alternatively, an Oddities theme.

Please could there be, from an organiser, a final definitive statement on the constraints.

Aren't we using the "atonal" theme?

"A selection of X" runs counter to the atonal theme, so we must choose one or the other. I will assume atonal and send a PM to jdaw1 with a few bottles.

[jdaw1]

Is Fonseca prohibited?

[Glenn E.]

Is Fonseca prohibited?

I would assume only under the 70s/77s theme. I certainly hadn't envisioned it being prohibited under the atonal theme. After all, there can be only 1 Fonseca under the atonal theme.

[djewesbury]

I haven't seen any of these recent posts until now. For some reason I'm not receiving any notifications any more. I have a choice of bringing bottles on a plane (advisable if flying two days prior to the tasting?) or adopting. But I think should bring something anyway.
Fuller, more considered response tomorrow.

[SushiNorth]

Suggested themes: a selection of 70s, or, a selection of 77's, or a smaller selection of 70vs77.
I would suggest we also omit Fonseca; it always shows well from both years and we would have a more educational evening without it as a result.

Alternatively, an Oddities theme.

Please could there be, from an organiser, a final definitive statement on the constraints.

Constraints: no more than 1 from any house or its associated sqvp. Minimum of 20 yrs of age, to ensure we dont have lopsided tannins in the tasting. VPs and tawnies/colheitas all ok.

How's that?

[Glenn E.]

Suggested themes: a selection of 70s, or, a selection of 77's, or a smaller selection of 70vs77.
I would suggest we also omit Fonseca; it always shows well from both years and we would have a more educational evening without it as a result.

Alternatively, an Oddities theme.

Please could there be, from an organiser, a final definitive statement on the constraints.

Constraints: no more than 1 from any house or its associated sqvp. Minimum of 20 yrs of age, to ensure we dont have lopsided tannins in the tasting. VPs and tawnies/colheitas all ok.

How's that?

Also: no more than 1 from any year or age category (e.g. 10-yr old, 20-yr old, etc).

[Glenn E.]

After checking flight schedules and costs, I must reluctantly withdraw from this tasting. Tickets to NYC are over $600 each which is difficult for us to justify right now. Moving the ACPT back to Stamford eliminated our easy excuse for a weekend and a tasting in NYC.

[djewesbury]

After checking flight schedules and costs, I must reluctantly withdraw from this tasting. Tickets to NYC are over $600 each which is difficult for us to justify right now. Moving the ACPT back to Stamford eliminated our easy excuse for a weekend and a tasting in NYC.

Oh no! Glenn, you will be very much missed.

[Miguel Simoes]

After checking flight schedules and costs, I must reluctantly withdraw from this tasting. Tickets to NYC are over $600 each which is difficult for us to justify right now. Moving the ACPT back to Stamford eliminated our easy excuse for a weekend and a tasting in NYC.

Stamford is v close to NYC... 45 mins on the train, not that different from the time it takes on the subway from Brooklyn to many places in Manhattan!

I did the Manhattan-Stamford commute for close to 2 years, trains are super frequent

You'll be missed indeed!

[djewesbury]

Just to update - we have the offer of a private apartment with garden in the Lower East side for use for the port tasting, from which we can then relocate ourselves for dinner.
How are we all doing on emailing possibilities for JDAW to choose between? How complete is the list?
And what are arrangements looking like for dinner? Please, could details of Steakhouse be posted? I cannot find it by Googling.

[jdaw1]

How are we all doing on emailing possibilities for JDAW to choose between? How complete is the list?

PM please, not email.

I have messages from differentdave, djewesbury (though undecided about whether transporting or adopting), SushiNorth, and Miguel Simoes. Also, redundantly, from Glenn E.. Is that everybody?

[SushiNorth]

Just to update - we have the offer of a private apartment with garden in the Lower East side for use for the port tasting, from which we can then relocate ourselves for dinner.
How are we all doing on emailing possibilities for JDAW to choose between? How complete is the list?
And what are arrangements looking like for dinner? Please, could details of Steakhouse be posted? I cannot find it by Googling.

You googled steakhouse NYC and didn't get 100 options?
I've been looking for "a steakhouse" but it is difficult to find BYOB places in NYC. I think we'd do better with Tasting + Dinner being the same location, but we could also opt to have food brought in.

[John M]

If there is room--I may be able to attend.

[jdaw1]

If there is room--I may be able to attend.

If it would help, I could be the Centre (or Center). PM me some possible bottles, and I will select such that, as far as possible, neither shippers nor vintages match.

[djewesbury]

If there is room--I may be able to attend.

There is room - I already had you listed in the first post so I'm guessing you must have asked upthread.
Some of the attendees of this event are en route to the USA already!

[jdaw1]

Messages have been received from

1. differentdave;
2. djewesbury (though undecided about whether transporting or adopting);
3. SushiNorth;
4. Miguel Simoes;
5. John M.

Is that everybody?

[djewesbury]

Messages have been received from

1. differentdave;
2. djewesbury (though undecided about whether transporting or adopting);
3. SushiNorth;
4. Miguel Simoes;
5. John M.

Is that everybody?

Yes.

[John M]

No G-Man??

[djewesbury]

No G-Man??

If anyone has a contact for him, please drop him a line; he left TPF a while back and hasn't been around since.

[John M]

No G-Man??

If anyone has a contact for him, please drop him a line; he left TPF a while back and hasn't been around since.

I do...and I did.

[jdaw1]

Messages have been received from

1. differentdave;
2. djewesbury (though undecided about whether transporting or adopting);
3. SushiNorth;
4. Miguel Simoes;
5. John M.

Is that everybody?

Yes.

Five PMs have been sent, selecting six bottles. The selection of bottles is imperfectly atonal. Further, separately, there are two themes: but, atonally, each theme applies to all the bottles bar one.

The selection was made whilst listening to Stockhausen’s Stimmung. (This is not a clue.)

It is the best I could do with the allowed materials, and I am confident that it will suffice.

[djewesbury]

Thank you very much for helping with this Julian. Much appreciated.

[differentdave]

Ditto-- thanks for helping and making the event more intriguing!

[John M]

Yes--Efforts such as this are monumentally appreciated!

[jdaw1]

No problem.

Reminder:

Three attendees so far, all of whom have used the placemat software. Though I’d be willing to oblige, I expect not to.

Thanks Julian. We will do our best to make exuberant placemats that show off the capabilities of the software. Tastefully.

[djewesbury]

No problem.

Reminder:

Three attendees so far, all of whom have used the placemat software. Though I’d be willing to oblige, I expect not to.

Thanks Julian. We will do our best to make exuberant placemats that show off the capabilities of the software. Tastefully.

That's me then. Yes, I will make placemats. Soon.

[jdaw1]

Reminder:
/PaperType /USL def
/TastingNotesPaperType /USL def

[djewesbury]

I think we now have all the TPF members sorted for bottles.

I now want to turn to adoptions for guests. I have one guest sorted out, which leaves two still to adopt. I'd like to adopt two bottles blind on their behalf, preferably at <$50 ea. Please could anyone let me know if they can provide the necessary?

[jdaw1]

I now want to turn to adoptions for guests. I have one guest sorted out, which leaves two still to adopt. I'd like to adopt two bottles blind on their behalf, preferably at <$50 ea. Please could anyone let me know if they can provide the necessary?

Let Daniel know that you can provide; let me know what you can provide.

[g-man]

I can probably make this

I'll bring a bottle older than the oldest attendee attending.

daniel, @ the 20-30$ price range, I can spot some quevedo's if you're interested

[jdaw1]

I'll bring a bottle older than the oldest attendee attending.

Which might or might not overlap with another year, but whether or not it does, is splendid. JHG’s bottle is that.

[djewesbury]

I can probably make this

I'll bring a bottle older than the oldest attendee attending.

daniel, @ the 20-30$ price range, I can spot some quevedo's if you're interested

Brilliant, good to hear from you g-man, and great to know you'll join us. Don't tell me any more about the bottles you have - PM JDAW so we keep it as blind as possible.

[differentdave]

I can probably make this

I'll bring a bottle older than the oldest attendee attending.

daniel, @ the 20-30$ price range, I can spot some quevedo's if you're interested

[Miguel Simoes]

I can probably make this

I'll bring a bottle older than the oldest attendee attending.

daniel, @ the 20-30$ price range, I can spot some quevedo's if you're interested

Great that you'll be able to make it

Looking fwd to it

[djewesbury]

Guys - can we pin down the venue, please, so that I can get on with the placemats? I am going to be away a lot before I come over and would like to get these started. Also, Mark, who is providing the musical accompaniment, wants to know what the plan is.

[differentdave]

I can inquire ata few steak house I frequent/know people at. Uncle Jacks and The Palm downtown come to mind. Please let me know if you would like me to inquire as I do not wan to step on the organizer(s) toes.

[SushiNorth]

Venue: Left Bank
Time: 5pm, 17 May
Location: 117 Perry St, New York, NY 10014; between Hudson St & Greenwich St in the West Village
Cost: ~$75/pp (including tax & tip)

I have reservations for us for 10 people, we can adjust a little if necessary as the date gets closer. JDaw1 has been sorting the wine selections for us, but if anyone still needs to adopt please let me know. We're going to be in the main dining room as private rooms were prohibitively expensive. The early time should give us an opportunity to taste the wines before dinner service gets underway. I'll get a set menu from them a few days before the event and will encourage a steak-like entree to be somewhere in there.

[djewesbury]

Venue: Left Bank
Time: 5pm, 17 May
Location: 117 Perry St, New York, NY 10014; between Hudson St & Greenwich St in the West Village
Cost: ~$75/pp (including tax & tip)

I have reservations for us for 10 people, we can adjust a little if necessary as the date gets closer. JDaw1 has been sorting the wine selections for us, but if anyone still needs to adopt please let me know. We're going to be in the main dining room as private rooms were prohibitively expensive. The early time should give us an opportunity to taste the wines before dinner service gets underway. I'll get a set menu from them a few days before the event and will encourage a steak-like entree to be somewhere in there.

Thank you Josh, first post updated.

[John M]

My apologies but I cannot make it......Mother's B-Day celebration.

[djewesbury]

My apologies but I cannot make it......Mother's B-Day celebration.

That's a real shame John (though obviously not from your mother's point of view - a dutiful son is a great thing ). I shall update the first post.

We have one fewer guest also - Brighdín is unable to join us and hence doesn't need an adoption. I'm not sure who was supplying this but I'll PM.

[jdaw1]

Reminder:

get on with the placemats? I am going to be away a lot before I come over and would like to get these started.

[djewesbury]

Reminder:

get on with the placemats? I am going to be away a lot before I come over and would like to get these started.

It is in hand. Thank you for the reminder. I will speak to you about it later today.

[djewesbury]

We're going to be in the main dining room as private rooms were prohibitively expensive. The early time should give us an opportunity to taste the wines before dinner service gets underway.

May I ask, what facility will there be for the music to be played if we are in the main dining room..?

[djewesbury]

Hi there - if anyone has a way to contact Josh, please ask him to get in touch with me! I have emailed and sent PMs but he isn't picking them up. Need to finalise the details before I leave for NY, and only have two days left.
Thanks!