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As discussed elsewhere, a Vargellas tasting is proposed for mid-2023 early mid/late 2024?

I expect this will be quite popular and we'll jointly have a lot of bottles, especially those from recent years. However, suspect that finding older bottles in good condition is going to be a bit harder.

So, before confirming a date and opening up an attendees list, I'm asking for expressions or interest AND an indication of what bottles you can offer (and associated costs). Once I have a clearer picture of what's available then I'll firm up dates and attendees. Obviously priority will be given to those with bottles.

Should sufficient vintages be available then possibly this could be split into two distinct events - say pre & post 1990?

Feel free to post details or message me if you prefer.

This post will be updated with arrangements.

Post below will list known vintages and what we might have.

Potential Attendees:

1. Industry Guest?
2. NAC
3. CPR
4. SCD
5. JDAW
6. AlexM
7. GEAG
8. AHB
9. IDJ
10. MPM
11. PhilW
12. ZakR
13. HTWH
14. TC
15. SCP
16. MSC

The book suggests the following Vargellas vintages:

1905, 1907, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1914, 1917, 1925, 1926, 1930
1934 ANOther
1937, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1952, 1957,
1958 AlexM, ANOther
1961 ANOther
1964 ANOther, IDJ
1965 AlexM, ANOther
1967 AlexM, ANOthers, IDJ
1968 NAC, AlexM
1969 SCD (maybe), PhilW
1970 JDAW, ANOther
1972 AlexM, ANOther, HTWH
1974 ANOther
1976 AlexM, ANOther
1978
1981 - listed in The Book as "? Perhaps, if so, not sold" so unlikely we're going to find this
1982 AlexM
1984 HTWH
1986 AlexM, ANOther
1987 ANOthers, MPM (maybe)
1988 AlexM, ANOther
1991 NAC, ANOther, GEAG
1995 ANOther, SCP, note - TVV also available for comparison, as only year both were made
1996 NAC (hlvs), ANOther, GEAG (hlvs), MSC
1998 NAC (hlvs), MSC
2001 NAC, ANOther, HTWH
2002 NAC, SCD, HTWH
2004 NAC, JDAW, ANOther, HTWH
2005 NAC, JDAW, GEAG
2008 NAC (hlvs), HTWH
2012 NAC (hlvs), ANOther
2013 NAC, IDJ
2015 NAC, ANOther

I've kicked things off by indicating what I've got. Which isn't much apart from the more recent vintages.

I'll update this as availability becomes know. Updates can be anon if requested.

This post reserved for future use by organiser.

yes please - I will send PM with bottle details

Would love to be at this one if the date can be fixed early enough or works for me depending on B&B.

I can definitely offer the 2002 and will check but think I also have another from around that period.

I also have a 1969 which I had earmarked for something but could be persuaded if it was not available elsewhere.

Yes please. I have TV 1970, 2004, 2005.

Yes please. I have 1958, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1982, 1986, 1988.

At this range my participation is not guaranteed owing to work commitments. Hopefully I can fill a space.

Count me in!

Yes please

Yes please. Have the TV69.

Yes please.

Yes please, I have TV95

I only have 1991 and 2005, plus halves of 1996.

Definitely !!!

Note that there are 4 different bottlings of TV67 - bottled both in Oporto and England, and in both 1969 and 1970. It makes for a fun matrix tasting all by itself!

Pretty sure I have TV87.

I have the 64, 67 and 2013.

I note that a 74 and 78 are coming up at auction next week. ..

Just acquired a few halves of the 1998 (£15.45 each from The Whisky Exchange). Might have missed it (and don't have a copy to hand to check), but possibly not listed in The Book?

nac wrote: ↑11:56 Tue 17 May 2022 but possibly not listed in The Book?

It's in there.

So, without much effort we've admitted to owning about 30 vintages between us.

Clearly too much for a single tasting, so as previously mentioned propose that this is done as two events.

A simple approach is to do pre- and post- a nominal date to balance the bottles across two tastings but clearly other options exist. For example, two tastings, both with a range of bottles across the selection available. What's the Group think?

PhilW wrote: ↑12:04 Tue 17 May 2022

nac wrote: ↑11:56 Tue 17 May 2022 but possibly not listed in The Book?

It's in there.

Stand corrected.

nac wrote: ↑12:06 Tue 17 May 2022 So, without much effort we've admitted to owning about 30 vintages between us.

Clearly too much for a single tasting, so as previously mentioned propose that this is done as two events.

A simple approach is to do pre- and post- a nominal date to balance the bottles across two tastings but clearly other options exist. For example, two tastings, both with a range of bottles across the selection available. What's the Group think?

I like the idea of two tastings of different vintages but both covering the full range we have with one wine somewhere in the middle of the vintage range appearing in both tastings.

@ nac, @PhilW - the 1998 TTF is listed in the book, sadly accurately, I fear as destroyed in an industrial accident.

Like Alex I like the idea of tastings ranging across the full range of vintages, but not all in each one.

PhilW wrote: ↑12:04 Tue 17 May 2022

nac wrote: ↑11:56 Tue 17 May 2022but possibly not listed in The Book?

It's in there.

Phew!