ThePortForum.com

When: Tuesday 5 May 2026

Where: Red room, Boot and Flogger (DMN-16941287904)

People and bottles:

1. MC - M.Charlton; GC00, QHBBR77 (food order received)
2. HTWH - hadge; GC70, SW70 (food order received)
3. MSC - mcoulson; GC77, QH77 (food order received)
4. MJRM - Bertie3000; SW77 (food order received)
5. MPM - flash_uk; GC94, SW80 (food order received)
6. CPR - CPR 1; GC80, QH85 (food order received)
7. JDF - JohnDavidFrance; (food order received)
8. IDJ - idj123; SW85, QH70 (food order received)
9. NAC - nac; GC85, QH80 (food order received)
10. AHB - Alex Bridgeman; SW00, QH00 (food order received)
11. BRP - BRPetrie; SW94 (food order received)
12. JDAW - jdaw1; QH94 (food order received).

GC availability:

• 1963 (JDF)
• 1966 (A.N. Other, AHB)
• 1970 (MPM, HTWH, IDJ)
• 1975 (NAC)
• 1977 (HTWH, MSC, AHB, NAC)
• 1980 (A.N. Other, HTWH possibly, AHB, IDJ mag)
• 1983 (MPM, HTWH, IDJ)
• 1985 (HTWH, NAC)
• 1994 (MPM, HTWH, AHB, IDJ, NAC)
• 1997 (HTWH, IDJ, NAC)
• 2000 (MC, HTWH, AHB)
• 2003 (MSC, AHB)
• 2016 (MSC)

SW availability:

• 1966 (MSC, A.N. Other2)
• 1970 (A.N. Other, HTWH, AHB, IDJ, NAC)
• 1975 (IDJ)
• 1977 (MSC, AHB, JDAW mag, IDJ, A.N. Other2)
• 1980 (MPM, A.N. Other, IDJ)
• 1983 (MPM, HTWH possibly, IDJ)
• 1985 (HTWH, AHB, IDJ, NAC)
• 1985 BBR own label (AHB)
• 1991 (MSC, IDJ, NAC)
• 1994 (BRP, IDJ)
• 1994 BBR own label (AHB)
• 1997 (AHB, JDAW, IDJ)
• 2000 (AHB, NAC)

QH availability:

• 1963 (AHB)
• 1966 (condition thereof TBC by A.N. Other)
• 1970 (IDJ)
• 1977 BBR own label (MC, HTWH, AHB)
• 1977 (MSC, IDJ, NAC)
• 1980 (IDJ mag, NAC)
• 1983 (MPM)
• 1985 (A.N. Other)
• 1987 (MPM)
• 1994 (AHB, JDAW, IDJ)
• 1997 (MSC, IDJ, NAC)
• 2000 (AHB, NAC)

All of the above have been proffered. If anyone would like equalisation payments to be operated, please say so either by DM to me or in the thread.

Current draft of the placemats.

It has been quite a while since the last GC/SW/QH triple vertical. Over conversion at the recent Fonseca vertical, it seemed that another ought to be organised.

Where: Boot and Flogger.
When: 5 May 2026.

I propose 15 bottles, 5 from each shipper.
I propose holding this on one of 5, 12 or 19 May 2026.

If you would like to attend, please reply/DM what bottle(s) you can offer, AND let me know which date(s) you are available.

I will then collate all the info in the first post and make the reservation with the B&F.

depending on date, yes please

May I join in please ... I can't do the 12th tho ... Other two dates are good ..

Sounds great. Yes please. I can make any of the dates. Do you know what vintages you are looking for or would you like to know what is available first?

Yes please. All dates look ok currently.

Believe have:
GC 70, 83, 94
SW 80, 83
QH 83, 97

Most of these are in storage.

Yes please, sounds great fun

I believe that i have the following,

GC 70, 77, 83, 85, 94, 97, 2000, might have 80 somewhere
SW 70, 85 might have 83 somewhere
QH only have the BBR 77

GC77 83 03 16
QH77 97
SW66 77 91

Put me as a reserve if possible. Not because of dates but because i have none of the above at the momebt but alwats shopping and in porto during april so could find something nice

Yes please. Will review and confirm what I have.

JohnDavidFrance wrote: ↑10:31 Thu 12 Feb 2026 Put me as a reserve if possible. Not because of dates but because i have none of the above at the momebt but alwats shopping and in porto during april so could find something nice

Add me to the list if possible, I have 2 x 63 Gould Campbell after all

Yes please.
Will check stock and dates and get back to you.

Yes please, I love the idea. I might be a bit late on 5th but otherwise OK.

I can offer:
GC:
66, 77, 80, 94, 00, 03

QH:
63, 77 (BBR own label), 94, 00

SW:
70, 77*, 85*, 85* (BBR own label), 94 (BBR own label), 97*, 00*

*=in offsite storage so would need some notice to withdraw them

Absolutely yes please - I have SW94 as of now.

Can do 5th & 12th May no problem!

Yes please. Re dates, I am at your command. Re bottles, I will check, but have not much.

Edit: I have SW77 in magnum, which has not always been satisfactory; QH94; SW97 from OWC; and one only of each of SWM05 and SWM13.

Am largely agnostic re the proposed dates.

FYI there is a smith woodhouse 1980 vp in the current Wine Auctioneer if needed

The B&F have confirmed the red room for 5 May 2026 for this tasting - please put this in your calendars/reply if this date is does not work for you.

Just waiting on a few more folk to update here (or by DM) what they can offer so I can update the top post and determine what the five trios will be.

I might also have GC77 in magnum, as likely, do several others.

I might be a little late, but I will be there.

An early draft of the placemats has been added to the first post. Doubtless many changes to come.

Of the three houses, only Smith Woodhouse has its own quinta, so I have re-ordered the names with that first. If wrong, please do counter-instruct.

From those of us not attending, a suggestion humbly and respectfully offered - tasting notes on 66,70,77,85,94 might give us the best understanding of the comparative merits of the houses…

I believe that I have the following:

GC 70, 80 (mag), 83, 94, 97

QH 70, 77, 80 (mag), 94, 97

SW 70, 75, 77, 80, 83, 85, 91, 94, 97

nac wrote: ↑14:57 Thu 12 Feb 2026 Yes please.
Will check stock and dates and get back to you.

I have SW70, GC75, J&B77 (which is probably^* GC), QH77, QH80, GC85, SW85, SW91, GC94, GC97, QH97, QH00, SW00.

^*Label says “shipped by SW” but capsule says “GC”.

Bump, to remind attendees of the existence of this SW+GC+QH triple-vertical.

Let’s try the following vintages:

1970, 1977, 1980, 1985, 1994 and 2000 (18 bottles for the 12 attendees who have signed up).

The availability of bottles per the first post is given below. Tentative assignments are given in underline. Please can you let me know what you can offer (or what someone else is adopting from you if they have no bottles to offer), and I will update the list based on who offers what first:

GC availability:
* 1970 (MPM, HTWH, IDJ)
* 1977 (HTWH, MSC, AHB, NAC)
* 1980 (CPR)
* 1985 (HTWH, NAC)
* 1994 (MPM, HTWH, AHB, IDJ, NAC)
* 2000 (MC, HTWH, AHB)

SW availability:
* 1970 (A.N. Other, HTWH, AHB, IDJ, NAC)
* 1977 (MSC, AHB, JDAW mag, IDJ, A.N. Other2)
* 1980 (MPM, A.N. Other, IDJ)
* 1985 (HTWH, AHB, IDJ, NAC)
* 1985 BBR own label (AHB)
* 1994 (BRP, IDJ)
* 1994 BBR own label (AHB)
* 2000 (AHB, NAC)

QH availability:
* 1970 (IDJ)
* 1977 BBR own label (MC, HTWH, AHB)
* 1977 (MSC, IDJ, NAC)
* 1980 (IDJ mag, NAC)
* 1985 (CPR)
* 1994 (AHB, JDAW, IDJ)
* 2000 (AHB, NAC)

Once all the offerings are in, I will finalise the bottle lineup in the first post. Thanks in advance, folks.

I’m not the organiser of course but I might be inclined to include 1980 either in addition to or in place of another vintage stated. For these Ports, 1980 is likely to show better than 1985 for example. I also note that for the last such triple vertical the Port consumption averaged 1.5 bottles per attendee and so, perhaps the 1980 should be additional?

idj123 wrote: ↑17:05 Tue 31 Mar 2026 I’m not the organiser of course but I might be inclined to include 1980 either in addition to or in place of another vintage stated. For these Ports, 1980 is likely to show better than 1985 for example. I also note that for the last such triple vertical the Port consumption averaged 1.5 bottles per attendee and so, perhaps the 1980 should be additional?

I used the coin of destiny to decide which of the 80s would be included - it landed on 85 instead of 80!

But I like your idea of simply bringing both 80 and 85 to the party.

The only appropriate bottle I have is QH94, so I must bring that.

M.Charlton wrote: ↑17:37 Tue 31 Mar 2026
But I like your idea of simply bringing both 80 and 85 to the party.

I like this idea

I will bring the QH 85 and the GC 1980

I guess I'm bringing GC77 then.

jdaw1 wrote: ↑18:52 Tue 31 Mar 2026 The only appropriate bottle I have is QH94, so I must bring that.

CPR 1 wrote: ↑19:24 Tue 31 Mar 2026 I will bring the QH 85 and the GC 1980

Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑21:21 Tue 31 Mar 2026 I guess I'm bringing GC77 then.

Excellent - thank you, all.

To help the organiser, added to the placemats’ last page, the distillation log, is an auto-generated list of who is bringing which bottles (for those known), and which do not have an assigned bringer. It currently ends
Bottles without: SW70; GC70; SW77; QH77; SW80; QH80; SW85; GC85; GC94; SW00; QH00.

Of course: it could be that bringers have not been assigned; it could be that the placemats are not correctly reflecting current official plans; and it could be something else.

Food choice from the menu:
• Soup of the day (if not spicy);
• Burger + Cheese + Streaky Bacon, + skinny fries;
• Welsh rarebit.

Organiser: for placemats, pls say who is bringing which?

I will bring the SW70 and GC70, and if you would like the GC85

hadge wrote: ↑20:29 Sat 18 Apr 2026 I will bring the SW70 and GC70, and if you would like the GC85

Thank you, Harry. I've put you down as bringing the SW70 and the GC70. However, as you're doing the heaviest lifting in bringing two of the oldest bottles, and as JDF doesn't have anything available, perhaps it makes sense for him to adopt one of these bottles from you? This way, everyone would be bringing at least one bottle with them to this.

jdaw1 wrote: ↑20:16 Sat 18 Apr 2026 Food choice from the menu:
• Soup of the day (if not spicy);
• Burger + Cheese + Streaky Bacon, + skinny fries;
• Welsh rarebit.

Organiser: for placemats, pls say who is bringing which?

Food order noted, thank you. Everyone else, please post your orders.

Also, bottle assignments now made in the first post. Everyone, please check and let me know if I've done a silly.

M.Charlton wrote: ↑21:27 Sun 19 Apr 2026

jdaw1 wrote: ↑20:16 Sat 18 Apr 2026 Food choice from the menu:
• Soup of the day (if not spicy);
• Burger + Cheese + Streaky Bacon, + skinny fries;
• Welsh rarebit.

Organiser: for placemats, pls say who is bringing which?

Food order noted, thank you. Everyone else, please post your orders.

Also, bottle assignments now made in the first post. Everyone, please check and let me know if I've done a silly.

If we want a 19th(!) bottle, I'll bring the QHBBR77 as I can't imagine opening it in more appropriate company anytime soon. In the absence of a positive reply, I will not bring it.

M.Charlton wrote: ↑21:29 Sun 19 Apr 2026If we want a 19th(!) bottle, I'll bring the QHBBR77 as I can't imagine opening it in more appropriate company anytime soon. In the absence of a positive reply, I will not bring it.

Of course we want it. Requires a re-think of the layout of the placemats, but of course we want it.

And you are the organiser. You are the boss. You need not our consent; we merely obey.

Herby butter bean bruschetta
Vegetarian bangers and mash
Welsh rarebit
Thanks

jdaw1 wrote: ↑21:56 Sun 19 Apr 2026

M.Charlton wrote: ↑21:29 Sun 19 Apr 2026If we want a 19th(!) bottle, I'll bring the QHBBR77 as I can't imagine opening it in more appropriate company anytime soon. In the absence of a positive reply, I will not bring it.

Of course we want it. Requires a re-think of the layout of the placemats, but of course we want it.

Excellent news. Sorry if it's a faff with the placemats...

No starter

Main: 3 sausage and mash - but with fries instead of mash. Side of roasted carrots.

No dessert.

Hello all, my food order as follows:

No starter
Sausage & mash
Welsh rarebit

Food choices:

Soup
Bangers and mash
Lemon tart

Scotch Egg
Rib-Eye (medium rare) Fries, Spinach and Peppercorn sauce
Welsh rarebit

Thank you

M.Charlton wrote: ↑21:24 Sun 19 Apr 2026

hadge wrote: ↑20:29 Sat 18 Apr 2026 I will bring the SW70 and GC70, and if you would like the GC85

Thank you, Harry. I've put you down as bringing the SW70 and the GC70. However, as you're doing the heaviest lifting in bringing two of the oldest bottles, and as JDF doesn't have anything available, perhaps it makes sense for him to adopt one of these bottles from you? This way, everyone would be bringing at least one bottle with them to this.

Only just gone back through the chat and noticed this and that we are starting at 1970, my bad, too busy being silly in the douro
Happy to adopt, can pay the fee or offer a bottle in return?
Am I leaving the 63 at home then?

JohnDavidFrance wrote: ↑21:00 Mon 20 Apr 2026

M.Charlton wrote: ↑21:24 Sun 19 Apr 2026

hadge wrote: ↑20:29 Sat 18 Apr 2026 I will bring the SW70 and GC70, and if you would like the GC85

Thank you, Harry. I've put you down as bringing the SW70 and the GC70. However, as you're doing the heaviest lifting in bringing two of the oldest bottles, and as JDF doesn't have anything available, perhaps it makes sense for him to adopt one of these bottles from you? This way, everyone would be bringing at least one bottle with them to this.

Only just gone back through the chat and noticed this and that we are starting at 1970, my bad, too busy being silly in the douro
Happy to adopt, can pay the fee or offer a bottle in return?
Am I leaving the 63 at home then?

Re adoption, please check with HTWH. I merely suggested adoption for the reasons noted above, as your GC63 is not needed for this tasting (because there is an incomplete trio of '63s due to no SW63 being available).

I've made an executive decision. Rather than get my case of SW00 out of bond to take a single bottle to this tasting, I've ordered a bottle from Davy's stocks - it's available in the shop but isn't on the wine list at the Boot & Flogger so it will be a special order.

Monica should be able to confirm tomorrow if there are any issues, but since SW00 is available on the Davy's website she doesn't expect there to be a problem.

My QH00 has been removed from its resting place and is now standing upright and attentive...