Taylor Vertical - Friday, 22 March 2013

[DRT]

We have had many stellar verticals but have an obvious gap. Yes, it's time for a Taylor Vertical. At this point we have a potential line-up from 1920-1994.

The date will be Friday 22 March 2013. The cost is likely to be in the region of £200-£250 per person plus food. We have one industry guest, whose costs will be covered by the collective.

Location: The Bung Hole, 57 High Holborn, London WC1V 6DT, tel 020 7831 8365.

Attendees:

1. Guest;
2. DRT;
3. JDAW;
4. THRA;
5. RAYC;
6. PopulusTremula;
7. AHB;
8. WS1;
9. DrDirk;
10. CMAG;
11. TF;
12. BMHR;
13. griff;
14. Axel.

Reserves:

1. SCP-DFW (subject to negotiation);
2. Axel's +1;
3. Daniel +1.

Wines:

1. 1920 Taylor;
2. 1924 Taylor;
3. 1927 Taylor;
4. 1935 Taylor;
5. 1945 Taylor;
6. 1948 Taylor;
7. 1950 Taylor Special Quinta;
8. 1955 Taylor;
9. 1960 Taylor;
10. 1963 Taylor;
11. 1965 Taylor Quinta de Vargellas;
12. 1966 Taylor;
13. 1970 Taylor;
14. 1970 Taylor Quinta de Vargellas;
15. 1976 Taylor Quinta de Vargellas;
16. 1977 Taylor;
17. 1980 Taylor;
18. 1983 Taylor;
19. 1985 Taylor;
20. 1986 Taylor Quinta de Terra Feita.

Latest version of the placemats.

Not too shabby

[RAYC]

yes please...

[DRT]

yes please...

In.

[jdaw1]

As discussed at last night’s tasting, and already recorded by you, I’m in.

[PopulusTremula]

Unmissable, please count me in.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I'm interested in principle.

When will I be committed to having to pay for my seat?

[DRT]

When will I be committed to having to pay for my seat?

Once we have at least 10 attendees we can start to finalise the line-up and costs. Once all of that is agreed by those involved the normal rules will apply. I don't expect that to happen until early next year.

[jdaw1]

the normal rules will apply.

Meaning that your contribution to the costs will have been spent, and so is being contributed, whether or not you can drink. One cannot duck out at the last moment and expect others to pay for that share.

[WS1]

Hi,

I am also interested in principle, but are likely in CDP at that time.

regards

WS1

[DRT]

I am also interested in principle, but are likely in CDP at that time.

Does that mean you want to be added to the list or does it mean you can't attend because you are doing something else?

[DrDirk]

This sounds to be a nice tasting to fly to London even if Wolfgang can not provide me with a place to sleep.

Dirk

[Christopher]

Hi

Can you put me down for two places, one for me and a personal guest.

Many thanks

[benread]

Sounds like a birthday tasting! Yes please.

[DRT]

First post updated.

Wolfgang, could you please confirm whether or not you will be joining us?

[griff]

I would be keen depending on the date.

[DRT]

The venue has yet to be decided but will be in London. The date will be within ±7 days of 28 March 2013.

I would be keen depending on the date.

Please feel free to suggest dates that work.

I am awaiting a response from our potential guest and will try to work around his availability and preferred dates for everyone else. I can't promise to make that work for everyone, but will try.

[griff]

Please feel free to suggest dates that work.

My dad is coming over from Australia for a short visit (unfortunately not a port fan) and so free dates are a little tight. At this stage I can only make 22nd, 23rd, 25th, 26th. Depending on what he does I may be able to make other dates.

[Axel P]

Please put me down for this as well, although I could not attend on dates 24th and after, since it is ProWein on these dates. I would very much prefer 20th to 22nd. If you agree to these dates, I would be happy to book the Club if wanted.

Axel

[DRT]

Axel has been added to the list. So far, the preffered stated date seems to be 22nd March. This is not yet set but will be accommodated if possible.

[DRT]

Our guest has eagerly accepted the invitation and has requested a Friday evening if possible. The only other two people who have expressed a preference are Griff and Axel, both of whom can do Friday 22nd March.

Are there any serious objections to that being the date?

Derek

[Alex Bridgeman]

Are there any serious objections to that being the date?

Not from me.

[jdaw1]

Has there previously been a big tasting on 22nd March? Other than the Malvedos vertical, no.

Special permission being sought. Please don’t yet fix the date.

[Axel P]

Would suit me perfectly

Axel

[jdaw1]

Special permission

Special permission sort-of granted. Which is enough for me.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Since this tasting is on a Friday, can I tentatively book one of the spare spaces for my better half - subject to confirmation in a week or so once I have had the chance to discuss the idea with her?

[DRT]

Since this tasting is on a Friday, can I tentatively book one of the spare spaces for my better half - subject to confirmation in a week or so once I have had the chance to discuss the idea with her?

I have just updated the first post with this tentative booking and was surprised to see we now have 15 attendees.

Wolfgang has not yet confirmed his attendance but has expressed an interest in attending so SCP-DFW must go on the reserve list for now.

[griff]

Yay! I can make it!

[Alex Bridgeman]

Since this tasting is on a Friday, can I tentatively book one of the spare spaces for my better half - subject to confirmation in a week or so once I have had the chance to discuss the idea with her?

I have just updated the first post with this tentative booking and was surprised to see we now have 15 attendees.

Wolfgang has not yet confirmed his attendance but has expressed an interest in attending so SCP-DFW must go on the reserve list for now.

No problem whatsoever.

[jdaw1]

Is this vertical going to be purely full-declaration Taylor, or will it also include any of Taylor’s SQVPs?

[DRT]

Not sure yet. Does anyone have a strong preference either way?

[RAYC]

My preference would be a focus on Taylor proper (which will be expensive enough by itself), but perhaps also picking out a few Vargellas for the line-up - eg: from vintages of particularly good reputation or where it would make an interesting comparison (for instance (if we can find it) a 55 Vargellas to go alongside the 55 Taylor).

However, i will have no strong objections if other people feel strongly about keeping to a pure Taylor line-up or including every single Vargellas we can between 1955 and 1978.

[jdaw1]

Surprisingly, Rob seems to be firmly against including any of the Quinta de Terra Feita SQVPs. I had expected him to want to compare TTF86 to T85.

[WS1]

Hi,

after I had to reschedule my yearly Rhone/Burgundy trip to after easter I can now confirm my attendance on the 22nd of March. Hope I am still in. Please let me know.

Surprisingly, Rob seems to be firmly against including any of the Quinta de Terra Feita SQVPs. I had expected him to want to compare TTF86 to T85.

I feel we should include several TTFs as well e.g. the rather lovely 86. This keeps the cost down and allows nice comparisons. Also I think this will end up to be a port tasting with a scope of bts beyond whatever we had before (estimate above 45bts! )

regards

WS1

[RAYC]

Surprisingly, Rob seems to be firmly against including any of the Quinta de Terra Feita SQVPs. I had expected him to want to compare TTF86 to T85.

Likewise, i am even more suprised you have not yet suggested one of the the rare Taylor Quinta da Roeda bottlings...

[jdaw1]

(estimate above 45bts! )

A tasting of that size would have to be split into three sessions, the first starting at 11am.

Though some, as yet unknown, might think it an inefficient use of rare bottles.

[DRT]

after I had to reschedule my yearly Rhone/Burgundy trip to after easter I can now confirm my attendance on the 22nd of March. Hope I am still in. Please let me know.

You are in!

AHB, this means SCP-DFW is on the reserve list.

First post has been updated.

[jdaw1]

First draft of the placemats.

• Some ports missing; awaiting complete list from DRT.

[DRT]

First draft of the placemats.

• Some ports missing; awaiting complete list from DRT.

Thank you.

[Axel P]

Booked the flight and getting excited. Thanks for the idea, Derek. This definitely was missing.

Axel

[jdaw1]

First draft of the placemats.

• Some ports missing; awaiting complete list from DRT.

Thank you.

We got away with it. Derek has in effect promised that all those vintages are in. This is going to be a good tasting.

[DRT]

First draft of the placemats.

• Some ports missing; awaiting complete list from DRT.

Thank you.

We got away with it. Derek has in effect promised that all those vintages are in. This is going to be a good tasting.

This seems to be a new definition of what it means to make a promise

What appears at the tasting very much depends on the lists of bottles that appear in my inbox over the next few days

[jdaw1]

a promise

Splendid.

[jdaw1]

The following come from the draft of the placemats for the March 2013 Taylor vertical !

(The exact selection of vintages has not yet been finalised. Some others might be added; perhaps a few of these will prove to be unavailable.)

[jdaw1]

Linking to an old thread:

AHB started a thread, seemingly in jest, entitled A complete vertical of 20th century vintages of Taylor. The conversation went downhill from there. But:

My UK stocks include 1912 1924 1927 1948 1955 1963 1970 1977 1980 1985 and, though it probably wouldn’t be needed, 1985 in magnum.

We’d need a long weekend.

Yeah that would be a fun weekend....if it ever happens let me know I'd fly out for that one for sure.

oldest taylors is a 1920 vp

[Andy Velebil]

Julian, many thanks....Apologies, as I don't like to go back on my word. I would love to make this but with the uncertainty of work* right now I didn't sign up earlier. If things are looking like I can make it, and if a spot opens up, I will certainly let the organizer know. I do have some older vintages of Taylor's to contribute.

*It's not a secret, as it's been in the papers here, my City is looking at disbanding my Department and potentially merging us into the L.A. Sheriff's Dept. When/if that will happen is anyone's guess, but the city is pushing to do it as fast as possible. That means I cannot plan anything past January at moment, including attending this

[Axel P]

Please Axel+1 on the waiting list.

[djewesbury]

Hi everyone
New on the forum so only saw this. Do you have a waiting list for this event...? Is it extremely long? Or is it just booked out, full stop? I'm based in Belfast but would happily travel for something such as this.. Anyway if you have a waiting list please put down Daniel +1!
Thanks

[jdaw1]

The organiser, DRT, is abroad. He will reply on his return but don’t stress if reply is somewhat delayed.

[DRT]

Hi everyone
New on the forum so only saw this. Do you have a waiting list for this event...? Is it extremely long? Or is it just booked out, full stop? I'm based in Belfast but would happily travel for something such as this.. Anyway if you have a waiting list please put down Daniel +1!
Thanks

Hi Daniel,

I have added you and your +1 to the reserve list in the first post of this thread. The list is not long so you should do two things: (a) keep the date free in your diary, and (b) decide whether or not you are brave enough to make the right decision and tell your +1 the bad news if only one seat becomes available

I hope to meet you at this or another tasting sometime soon.

Regards
Derek

PS: I hope you have not been fooled by jdaw1's attempt at humour in posting the above draft tasting mats? This tasting will not include all of those vintages - by a very long stretch!

[jdaw1]

This tasting will not include all of those vintages - by a very long stretch!

Under-promise, over-deliver: we like DRT's style.