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Ronnie Roots and LadyR will be leaving The Netherlands on 16th March 08 to head to Oman for a number of years. It is fitting that we mark this occassion with a TPF Off-line. Due to lack of opportunity to get together this is to be our first, and long awaited, Virtual Off-line.

I have asked The Roots to set a date that suits their schedule in the lead-up to their departure. That date will be added to the title of this thread once known. LadyR is currently bathing in calves milk and cannot be disturbed so it may be tomorrow before we know.

We need a theme. Suggestions please?

Derek

I will discuss a date tomorrow with LadyR.

All our ports, except one bottle of Martinez 1994, are already in offsite storage, but I'm sure we'll be able to source a bottle once we agree on a theme.

virtual offline?

how would that work?

Well, technically speaking it would be an 'online'.

g-man wrote:virtual offline?

how would that work?

Theoretically at least, since we haven't actually held one, the idea is that at roughly the same time, everyone who is participating drinks their selected port and posts comments and thoughts on the forum. This means that we should be able to get a dialogue going on what we think of the ports we are drinking.

If I may humbly suggest, a theme of 1994 and the date of the evening of March 6th when Derek and I know that we will both be able to post well into the night since we will be drinking port together anyway!

Alex

Unfortunately March 6th won't do, as LadyR is having one of her goodbye dinners from work that evening. Other impossible days: this week tuesday, thursday, friday. Next week: monday (march 10th).

How about this Saturday?

The 1994 theme sounds like fun. I think I will try to find something else than the Martinez, as we've drunk quite a lot of that recently. Maybe a Niepoort or a Vesuvio...

This Saturday would work for me...but I don't have any 1994's in the house

A solution will be found

Derek

So, are we on for this Saturday and a theme of 1994?

Any other participants?

I'm with my son at a theatre play all during the day on Saturday but by Saturday evening I will be at home and in need of a drink having spent all day in Basingstoke.

Hmm. Basingstoke. Berry's have their discount outlet in that town. I can sense a plan forming...

Without going shopping, I have a choice from Martinez, Niepoort, Vesuvio or Warre. I would be inclined to open a Martinez as I have never tried one but am very aware of its reputation so would like to experience this for myself. However, it's never difficult to persuade me to open a Vesuvio '94.

Are we planning on opening a specific shipper or a different shipper for each person participating? I would prefer to open the same shipper, if we can, so that we can all talk about the same port and the differences we see in it, but I don't mind in the slightest if people would prefer to open different bottles.

Alex

It will probably be easier for people to participate if we don't set too many restrictions. I'm fine with same shipper, same vintage, as we also have Martinez and Niepoort available, but I can imagine that not everybody has those shippers within reach. I think it would also be fun if we all drink a port from a different shipper, thus creating a virtual vertical...

Could you get your hands on a Vesuvio 1994 in time for Saturday?

Alex

I'm afraid not. I've been searching for that port for some time now, but in the vicinity of Utrecht, it seems like all '94 Vesuvio has miracously disappeared. Plenty of other (less popular) vintages, but no '94.

I think we need to settle for "Any VP, preferrably a 1994 and ideally a Vesuvio 1994" to maximise attendance at this on/off-line.

If some of us end up with the same wine then it's a bonus as we will have comaprative notes for posterity, but the number 1 priority is to send our friends off to Oman in style and wish them all the luck they deserve.

Derek

I have updated the title of the thread now that the date is set.

Derek

Ronnie and Lady R,

its a shame that we haven't met yet. But a tasting in Oman? Well you should have lots of port (as well as lots of women, maybe a Harem) over there.

Im in Porto this weekend, but love to participate on Monday. The Vesuvio would have matched perfectly as the Symingtons announced that the 94 Vesuvio will be a wine, that they will issue at the fair in Porto.

If I may suggest: all the Symington's 94 are quiete open except the Smith woodhouse. The Grahams 94 would be my second choice after the Vesuvio.

If we could defer from the 94: how about a Niepoort 92?

All the best to you so far

Axel

It seems that we are struggling to all obtain the same bottle of '94 port so the theme appears to be "Any vintage port from 1994".

So far, we have Lord and Lady Roots, Derek T, AHB and possibly Axel P on Monday. Is anyone else in on the Virtual Offline?

We could aim to start at 8pm UK time, 9pm European Time, 3pm Eastern Seaboard Time, Noon Pacific Time and Lord Knows What time in Kentucky.

Should we nominate the wines that we are going to drink before the day or just open and see what everyone else is drinking when we post?

Alex

I understood that KillerB will try to attend as well after his NY offline. And SSD will do his best to find a 1994 but is not sure if he will succeed. He might throw in a different vintage.

I don't mind disclosing what we will be opening Saturday. I've already given our range of (two) choices.

AHB wrote:It seems that we are struggling to all obtain the same bottle of '94 port so the theme appears to be "Any vintage port from 1994".

Alex

Though I can't make it, the suggestion by Axel P of "all the Symington's 94" sounds like a better idea =).

Would love to see how the same owner might "influence" the production at their respective houses.

I'm happy to disclose what I will be opening in advance, although I probably won't decide until tomorrow and then will decant it Saturday morning.

It will probably be the Martinez since I drank a Vesuvio '94 last year.

Alex

All,

I don't think I'll be able to make this, but it sounds like an excellent affair, and I hope it all goes well. No doubt we'll be able to read about.

May I wish the Roots' a safe voyage and happy landings in the sand. I trust you'll stay in contact?


Ghandih

I'm recovering from a week's worth of plague I don't have a Vesuvio 94 but I'm sure I've got some 94's at home I'll see how I'm feeling on the night even if I have a sip.

Still searching...still in.

Ours will be the Niepoort 1994. Looking forward to tasting this, as I don't believe I had it before.

I'm on my way home from Dublin with a Ramos Pinto 94 ready for tomorrow night

So who is in for tonight?

Derek T. wrote:So who is in for tonight?

niepoort is decanted and waiting for first taste.

Btw, this is first post from ipod.

I decanted my RP94 24 hours ago and have not tasted it yet. It is sitting in my wine fridge and I opened the door an hour ago to be met with the most beautiful smell of fresh fruits. Yum yum - can't wait for 8pm

Derek

See Review thread here

Derek