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I was chatting to Derek earlier about Late Bottled Vintage ports and how infrequently we drink them. Only then did I realise that I have more LBV ports than I thought and that these go back to the 1960s.

Would anyone have any interest in an offline themed around mature vintage ports? Say 1999 or older? I have LBV from 1999, 1997, 1991, 1987, 1974, 1968 and 1967.

Any takers? (If not, I'll just drink these as cellar defenders.)

I would be interested. A variation might be to taste one or two of the currently available LBV's to get a sense of how they may evolve if we do not drink them now!

Do you know how the old LBVs are holding up? I’d be a bit worried about a night of ducks once we got older than 1990!

I have a bottle of Taylor LBV 1965. This was the first LBV to be produced on a commercial basis. It is hereby donated to this off-line.

I also have a bottle of Niepoort 1975 LBV. Yes. That's right. 1975 and "LBV" in the same sentence. Consider it "in".

JacobH wrote:Do you know how the old LBVs are holding up? I’d be a bit worried about a night of ducks once we got older than 1990!

I quite like Ben's suggestion of a current LBV tasted alongside older ones. There is the academic interest of being able to see what the port is likely to evolve into with enough time, but also the safety of knowing that you are unlikely to have a complete night of ducks.

But, my experience with older LBV going back to the early 1960s is that they tend to be light, elegant and pretty tasty - unless it's a Churchill 1992 which I have tried three times and disliked greatly three times.

Hi there,

I am interested in this tsting as well. However I am afraid to say that I have no older LBVs

I believe most of them will age gracefully especially in good years where no vintage port was declared.

regards

WS1

AHB wrote:

JacobH wrote:Do you know how the old LBVs are holding up? I’d be a bit worried about a night of ducks once we got older than 1990!

I quite like Ben's suggestion of a current LBV tasted alongside older ones. There is the academic interest of being able to see what the port is likely to evolve into with enough time, but also the safety of knowing that you are unlikely to have a complete night of ducks.

Sounds good to me Shall we set a date? I'm afraid, though that my only old LBVs are a 90s unfiltered Warre and a (half-bottle of) '92 Churchill.

AHB wrote:But, my experience with older LBV going back to the early 1960s is that they tend to be light, elegant and pretty tasty - unless it's a Churchill 1992 which I have tried three times and disliked greatly three times.

I appreciate that I don't quite understand them and that score inflation exists, but I didn't realise that 82 points equated to "disliked greatly"!!

Good idea, Alex. I have many LBVs from 2000 and keeping them for such a reason. I do have Grahams Literbottle LBVs back to 96, but this acutally is it.

Happy to put them in.

Axel

JacobH wrote:I appreciate that I don't quite understand them and that score inflation exists, but I didn't realise that 82 points equated to "disliked greatly"!!

I accept the gentle admonishment. For me, 82 points is a wine I will drink rather than throw away but is probably one that has disappointed me due to some flaws in its composition. Perhaps I was exaggerating unfairly.

I have to be in London on Jan 10 - how would that night suit for this offline?

Excellent idea! I think I have a 1986 LBV floating around somewhere. Mark it, dude.

As I have two good candidates for this off-line one of them is available for adoption by anyone who doesn't have any old LBVs.

PM or email me if you are interested.

If I set the date for this tasting as 10 January 2010, would this cause problems for anyone interested in attending?

That should be OK for me.

The 10th works for me. Caroline is also keen though she may have to withdraw at the last minute.

I'll bring a Warre 1999 and the 35cl Churchill 1992

Shall I suggest Caroline bring a young one or see if she can adopt?

I've had a request that we arrange this offline on 26th January. On the assumption that everyone is still able to make it, I have changed the title of the thread to reflect the date and theme.

In an ideal world, I would like to have a bottle of LBV from each decade between 1960 and 2010 (don't be pedantic!). If you would like to attend, please could you post here what LBV you could contribute to the offline.

And if the 26th doesn't work for you but you would like to attend - please say so as soon as possible.

Alex. I will struggle to make 26th January as I am out the following evening. Were the date to be as original, or sufficiently far removed from 27th to enable a pass to be requested with some confidence of it being granted, I have a Ramos Pinto 1995 LBV, a Warre 2000 LBV and (hopefully) a Warre 1995 LBV. Also have the 2004 Quevedo. All are unfiltered.

AHB wrote:If I set the date for this tasting as 10 January 2010, would this cause problems for anyone interested in attending?

I am glad you have changed the date otherwise I would have missed this by a mile

Cookie wrote:

AHB wrote:If I set the date for this tasting as 10 January 2010, would this cause problems for anyone interested in attending?

I am glad you have changed the date otherwise I would have missed this by a mile

Provided you were exactly a year late, no-one would have minded in the least.

benread wrote:Alex. I will struggle to make 26th January as I am out the following evening. Were the date to be as original, or sufficiently far removed from 27th to enable a pass to be requested with some confidence of it being granted, I have a Ramos Pinto 1995 LBV, a Warre 2000 LBV and (hopefully) a Warre 1995 LBV. Also have the 2004 Quevedo. All are unfiltered.

Perhaps we will need to do this in two instalments. I have a Warre 1974 LBV that might make for a very interesting comparison against a 1995 and/or 2000.

Jan 10th
AHB
BMHR

Jan 26th
AHB
DRT
JGH +1
Caroline

Interested but not committed to a date
WS1
AP
CSD
RLC
RAYC

I'm keen, and have a couple of interesting older Taylors that could be used.

Either date would be fine for me.

Cheers

Rob

RAYC wrote:I'm keen, and have a couple of interesting older Taylors that could be used.

Either date would be fine for me.

Cheers

Rob

Either date, or both dates...

(I plan to be there for both dates.)

The later date is now looking better for me; regrettably I’m not sure that I could make the first.

JacobH wrote:The later date is now looking better for me; regrettably I’m not sure that I could make the first.

Would that be you or you and Caroline?

JacobH wrote:The later date is now looking better for me; regrettably I’m not sure that I could make the first.

Could you make the placemats for the first? For me that would be awkward, though not necessarily impossible.

AHB wrote:Would that be you or you and Caroline?

Sorry for the late reply: both of us. Working on talking a +1 into the 26th, too.

jdaw1 wrote:Could you make the placemats for the first? For me that would be awkward, though not necessarily impossible.

Yes, of course, or both, if that would help.

I can confirm my attendance on 10th but I will need to adopt if possible.

Can you confirm venue.

We will do this in two instalments. I have a Warre 1974 LBV that might make for a very interesting comparison against a 1995 and/or 2000.

Venue will be The Crusting Pipe (I will book tomorrow, 4th Jan) for both nights.

Ray - PM sent about adopting.

Jan 10th
AHB (Warre 1974 unfiltered LBV)
BMHR (Warre 1995 or 2000 LBV)
RLC (Baldias 1987)
RAYC (Taylor 1967)

Jan 26th
AHB (Dalva 1968 - others available for adoption)
DRT
JGH +1
Caroline
RLC (Baldias 1987)
SAW (looking to adopt)
RAYC (possible, if so bringing Taylor 1979)

Interested but not committed to either date yet
WS1
AP
CSD

AHB wrote: Jan 10th
AHB (Warre 1974 unfiltered LBV)
BMHR (Warre 1995 or 2000 LBV)
RLC (Baldias 1987)

Will do placemats this evening.

I will commit to 10th, and hope to make the other date as well.

Of the old, i have a 1967 Taylor "Late Bottle Vintage Reserve" and a 1979 Taylor "Late Bottle Vintage" - as they were purchased specifically with this tasting in mind, i would be happy to bring either/both: one on the 10th, one on the 26th if i can make it.

One bottle i have very much wanted to try for a while is the SW 1995 lbv - as this would seem like a perfect occasion to try it, does anyone coming have a bottle of that that could be brought?

Are we doing "young" as well? Waitrose have the 2000/2001 lbv on special, which might be interesting in terms of a mini-Warre lbv vertical with the '95 and '74 and i would be happy to pick up.

EDIT - sorry - re-read Alex's post and realised this was what he suggested on the Warre lbvs - i would be in favour of trying the 74, 95 and 00 (or 01) alongside each other.

RAYC wrote:I will commit to 10th, and hope to make the other date as well.

Of the old, i have a 1967 Taylor "Late Bottle Vintage Reserve" and a 1979 Taylor "Late Bottle Vintage" - as they were purchased specifically with this tasting in mind, i would be happy to bring either/both: one on the 10th, one on the 26th if i can make it.

One bottle i have very much wanted to try for a while is the SW 1995 lbv - as this would seem like a perfect occasion to try it, does anyone coming have a bottle of that that could be brought?

Are we doing "young" as well? Waitrose have the 2000/2001 lbv on special, which might be interesting in terms of a mini-Warre lbv vertical with the '95 and '74 and i would be happy to pick up.

EDIT - sorry - re-read Alex's post and realised this was what he suggested on the Warre lbvs - i would be in favour of trying the 74, 95 and 00 (or 01) alongside each other.

I do like the idea of mini-verticals, where these work out. Perhaps Ben could firm up that he will bring the Warre 1995 LBV? Ray - if Ben does bring the 1995 would you mind picking up a bottle of the Warre 2000 or 2001 from Waitrose and bringing that instead of the Baldias? If anyone undecided chooses to come along to the 10th and doesn't have a suitable bottle, there is a bottle of Baldias 1987 LBV available for adoption.

Rob - would you mind bringing the 1967 Taylor on the 10th? I have offered Ray the chance to adopt a bottle of Taylor 1967 from me if he comes to the 26th, so if you come to the 26th and bring the Taylor 1979 then this would give us another mini vertical.

I don't have any Smith Woodhouse 1995 but I do have a lone bottle of SW99 LBV which I would be happy for someone to adopt if no-one has the SW95.

Latest update.

We will do this in two instalments. I have a Warre 1974 LBV that might make for a very interesting comparison against a 1995 and/or 2000.

Venue will be The Crusting Pipe. I have booked the Meeting Room for 4 on the 10th and a tunnel for 8 on the 26th. If we grow to more than 6 on the 10th then we will switch from the Meeting Room to a tunnel.

Jan 10th
AHB (Warre 1974 unfiltered LBV)
BMHR (Warre 1995)
RLC (Warre 2000 (tbc))
RAYC (Taylor 1967)

Jan 26th
AHB (Dalva 1968)
DRT
JGH
CHR
EE
RLC (Baldias 1987)
SAW (Taylor 1967)
RAYC (Taylor 1979)
Giles Wigoder (possible)

Interested but not committed to either date yet
WS1
AP
CSD

Some simple placemats for the 10th are available, awaiting final confirmation.

AHB wrote: Perhaps Ben could firm up that he will bring the Warre 1995 LBV?

Confirmed. Any views on whether I should decant at 7am or 6pm?

benread wrote:

AHB wrote: Perhaps Ben could firm up that he will bring the Warre 1995 LBV?

Confirmed. Any views on whether I should decant at 7am or 6pm?

Thank you. That should make for a fun mini-vertical.

I would suggest 7am for such a youngster.

Giles Wigoder is hoping to join us on the 26th.

JacobH wrote:Some simple placemats

1. Simple? Derek would be proud.

2. Please don’t put them in a ‘temp’ folder. The final version forms part of the record of the tasting.

PS: If you edit your post to change the location I’ll change this one.

AHB wrote:Jan 26th
AHB (Dalva 1968 - others available for adoption)
DRT
JGH +1
Caroline
RLC (possible, if so bringing Taylor 1967)
RAYC (possible, if so bringing Taylor 1979)
Giles Wigoder (possible)

My contribution to the tasting on 26th Jan will be the first commercially produced LBV in the history of mankind: Taylor LBV 1965.

I also have a Niepoort LBV 1975 that is available for adoption.

Derek

DRT wrote:the first commercially produced LBV in the history of mankind: Taylor LBV 1965

So it was TFP who invented LBV. I had been wondering about that.

The temp folder on my website oddly disappeared. I therefore reconstructed the placemats, albeit somewhat more simplified due to jdaw1’s comments...

Many thanks Jacob.

AHB/BMHR/RLC - i can volunteer to print and am aiming to be at the Crusting Pipe at 6.45 if that suits.

Unfortunately, I will not be able to blow the doors off at this tasting, but a few glasses has proved on previous occasions not to be prohibitive to late night drafting so no great drama.

AHB - i will bring the Investiture port unless you tell me otherwise

BMHR - i do have a Ni '70 earmarked for you but unfortunately due to my recent move the vast majority of my bottles (including the Ni 70s) are in Big Yellow storage in Fulham...so will have to wait until next time if you still want.

Looking forward to it

Rob

Emboldened by last night's experience, I have located and purchased a bottle of SW '95 lbv.

I have heard/read good things about this (including on cellartracker where there are a few recogniseable names amongst the reviewers http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=349643) and have wanted to try it for a while.

I will be bringing the T'79 lbv so this is either either available for adoption or, if the group were willing to split the cost of £12.50, added as an extra. If not i will just drink it myself!

DRT wrote:My contribution to the tasting on 26th Jan will be the first commercially produced LBV in the history of mankind: Taylor LBV 1965.

I also have a Niepoort LBV 1975 that is available for adoption.

RAYC wrote:I will be bringing the T'79 lbv so this [SW '95 lbv] is either either available for adoption or, if the group were willing to split the cost of £12.50, added as an extra. If not i will just drink it myself!

It appears we have a dilema.

Either RAYC and I have to leave a bottle each at home or we decide that this is a >1 bottle per person tasting. I am happy to bring both of mine (Taylor 65 and Niepoort 75) if that is the agreed rule.

As organiser, I say that AHB is the judge and jury on this issue.

Derek

The Niepoort sounds more exciting, and i know that others may have equally exotic contenders up their sleeves.

I am happy to contribute if needed, and have absolutely no problem drinking my SW lbv at home if no one else needs/wants to adopt it or there are better options. I also have no problem with a tasting with >1 bottle per person...

I am perfectly happy for people to bring along more than one bottle, if they wish. This is an informal offline, so there are no rules, only guidelines. By all means, bring more than one bottle. The group will ensure that you either take your bottles home with you intact or are not left out of pocket.

I will be bringing the Taylor 1967 LBV so that we can have another little vertical.

I'm also bringing a bottle of Baldias 1987 that will be adopted by Cookie.

AHB wrote:I am perfectly happy for people to bring along more than one bottle, if they wish. This is an informal offline, so there are no rules, only guidelines. By all means, bring more than one bottle. The group will ensure that you either take your bottles home with you intact or are not left out of pocket.

I will bring along both of my bottles.

Could I bring a guest to this tasting?

Shaun (SAW) attended the 'Cold Turkey' event at The Bell and thoroughly enjoyed it, so he wants to get a bit more involved.

He will no doubt need to adopt if this is acceptable.

Placemats? Please could I be instructed on this matter. Who, what, etc.

Cookie wrote:Could I bring a guest to this tasting?

Shaun (SAW) attended the 'Cold Turkey' event at The Bell and thoroughly enjoyed it, so he wants to get a bit more involved.

He will no doubt need to adopt if this is acceptable.

Shaun is most welcome.

I believe that DRT said he had some LBVs available for adoption. Failing that, I could offer up the Dalva 1968 for a bottle swap.

jdaw1 wrote:Placemats? Please could I be instructed on this matter. Who, what, etc.

While placemats would be very welcome, full details will be difficult. Perhaps spaces for glasses denoted by people rather than by wines? The people are listed in this post on this thread.

Thanks.

First draft of the placemats.

• People = AHB, DRT, JGH, RLC, RAYC, CHR, SAW, GW.
  • Does Giles Widoger have any extra initials?
  • Everybody right-handed?
• Ports = AHB, DRT, JGH, RLC, RAYC, CHR, SAW, GW, ♣, ♦, ♥, â™ .
• No decanter labels.
• No pre-pour sheets.
• No placenames.
• Please check carefully.