Event: Port Tasting Notes

[Derek T.]

Alan,

As I understand it, what we have now is a temporary facility to post TN's and let others see them. The standard Search facility on the Forum should enable members and visitors to find notes on specific wines.

I think/hope in the longer term Roy and Stewart will look to convert these notes into a searchable database like what you describe. The reason for all of my suggestions above is to try to standardise the format of the notes we post here to make Stewart's life easier when he tries to convert the data into a standard table structure at a later date.

Happy to explain what the above means over a bottle of port sometime soon 8)

Derek

PS: Anyone who has worked within the IT industry will recognise your comments as typical "user feedback" - you give them something they didn't have before and they then tell you it isn't good enough :? I think we should accept the limited functionality that Stewart has kindly implemented with no time to plan and specify requirements and do all we can to make it work within the constraints of what is available "as standard" within the forum software. When it comes to putting a proper database in place we can give him a hard time if he falls short of any of our demands

[Andy Velebil]

I think we all are thinking about this way too much

Lets just leave it like it is, if you got a note post it. A person can use the search function to easliy find a TN anywhere on the forum.

If someone strays outside the rules, then it can be removed by Stewart or Roy. Once the newness wears off and people understand how it works, I don't foresee many problems.

Remember, we don't want to make any more work for S&R (their new nicknames )

I really don't think a link to the discussion is needed, but if someone wants to include that, I don't think that would be an issue too do so.

[Alan C.]

Well Done Tom. Now you'll be our Guinea Pig in how to Delete comments out of the Tasting Notes.

We'll get there....in some form....eventually.

[Derek T.]

Yes, Tom - if Alan is the user who complains because he didn't get more than was possible in the timescale you are the user who didn't read the training material before bashing on with using the system for something it wasn't intended to do

[Derek T.]

I think we all are thinking about this way too much

Yes, but it's good fun 8)

I really don't think a link to the discussion is needed, but if someone wants to include that, I don't think that would be an issue too do so.

I think this is useful when there has been a difference of opinion expressed in a discssion thread. For example, if someone posts a TN saying "Quinta do Something 1856 - rubbish - 75 points" which is countered by different past experience of others it would be useful to read those comments alongside the TN.

Like scores, I think this should be down to the choice of the author of the TN whether to include or not.

.......and another thing:

I don't think we should post pictures here - stick them in the discussion threads and avoid duplication.

Derek

[Jay Powers]

For now, just post NEW TNs here.

I'm investigating what will be the easiest way to get the old TNs moved over to this forum.

Andy, you have already blown it.....how do I now get Stewart to do this for me, when you have already taken the lead, blown past the first comment by Stewart, and moved on your own? :?

I agree that we need a unified format that we all can adhere to, to make the notes most useful.

I agree with Andy that people score or not, depending on ability and/or desire.

I agree that scores, should they be given, be in the format suggested by Derek, at the bottom of the post, and including however many methods the poster feels good about....i.e.

98/100
10-10
*****

This should be useful in the future when Stewart can quit his day job and create a searchable database.

Jay

[Jay Powers]

We also need to come to a consensus on how to treat multiple notes for the same wine.....post on the same thread as the original? Seperate note with the exact same subject?

Jay

[Jay Powers]

Taking a look at Andy's Warre's 1985 note, I think the above post becomes even more important.

I respect Andy's taste, having shared ~200 or more ports with him, and generally agreeing. But we do not agree on the Warre's 1985. Bad bottle? Possibly. Different taste in VP? Possibly, although we agree on many.

So how will we do this. Response to the TN (pacing another TN within the TN thread) or seperate thread? If the former, how will we later dissect the thread if Roy and Stewart decide to do so, to make a user DB?

Jay

[Derek T.]

I think multiple threads rather than multiple posts on one thread is the way to go. So long as we stick to standard naming we should be able to find all instances of the same wine using the search facility.

Derek

[Andy Velebil]

Opps, sorry Jay, my pee brain missed the "new" comment.

[Guest]

Hi Guys -

I'm wondering if we should put "TN:" in front of the wine name on the subject line. That would make it easier to target a particular tasting note in the search (as opposed to pulling up non-TN references to the same wine).

Thanks for all of you who are adding your TNs.

I had originally said just put new TNs here and we'd see how to migrate the others over, but if you want to copy your old TNs from your old posts over into this forum, please feel free to do so.

Stewart

[Todd Pettinger]

I had originally said just put new TNs here and we'd see how to migrate the others over, but if you want to copy your old TNs from your old posts over into this forum, please feel free to do so.

Stewart

Stewart, mine were fairly easy, they were all in .rtf docs on my desktop at home so I felt that my 10 minutes posting 8 or so TNs would likely save you a bundle of time IF there comes a point where all the TNs will be copied over.

I purposely left the TN off the front of the Subject line in this forum due to it being redundant, but if the group consensus is to keep the "TN" in the subject line to make it easier to search on, I am happy to edit and add. (Personally I agree that the TN on the front of the subject line is handy, if not a bit redundant. I went with what I perceived to be the will of the group who, earlier on in this thread, all seemed to agree that dropping the "TN" would be best for this forum. I'm easy though and don't mind either way.)

Todd

[Alex K.]

Does nobody else play on other boards?

1. The 'TN:' is surely redundant in a TN section;

2. Scores are always optional, it is better to have the notes than the numbers you Parkerite score-whores;

3. Replies to a TN are useful to the original poster and other viewers;

4. Surely leaving it up to a particular poster as to whether they create a new thread or reply to an old one rather than creating rules is the way to go;

5. This is a new forum area, that's all. It's not the end of old humanity and the start of new humanity;

6. If you want a big searchy thingy, go and use CellarTracker. I'm sure we can get those notes posted onto here;

7. Thanks Stewart, this is just what was needed, good job.

[Guest]

In response..

1. The 'TN:' is surely redundant in a TN section;

The only benefit of adding TN in front would be in doing a forum-wide search for a particular note. This is probably rare, so I'm ok with not including the TN if users prefer to leave it off.

2. Scores are always optional, it is better to have the notes than the numbers you Parkerite score-whores;

But how will we run statistical analysis to calculate the QPR, average, mean and derivative scores for a particular wine? producer? vintage? Blasphemy, man!

3. Replies to a TN are useful to the original poster and other viewers;

...unless they are related to Peanut Butter or the fact that Derek never spits when tasting Port...

4. Surely leaving it up to a particular poster as to whether they create a new thread or reply to an old one rather than creating rules is the way to go;

Agreed. Although a new poster should reply to the new post unless the new post superseded the old post by the content of the replies, except in the case of replies that the new poster posted in reply to a new post. :?

5. This is a new forum area, that's all. It's not the end of old humanity and the start of new humanity;

Are you surrrrrrre??? :devil:

6. If you want a big searchy thingy, go and use CellarTracker. I'm sure we can get those notes posted onto here;

Ctrl-x = cut; Crtl-v = paste. Simple enough if you need to get all sophisticated and stuff...

7. Thanks Stewart, this is just what was needed, good job.

Much appreciated - enjoy!

[Alan C.]

2. Scores are always optional, it is better to have the notes than the numbers you Parkerite score-whores;

But how will we run statistical analysis to calculate the QPR, average, mean and derivative scores for a particular wine? producer? vintage? Blasphemy, man!

I maybe in a minority of One, but my hope is that I will be able to be a Score-whore! While the majority appear to relish the propect of reading the opinion of their friends waxing lyrical on the merits of this bottle compared to that bottle, I'll be raiding the attached numbers(Of THIS Forums tasting notes) to see what my next purchase will be. Suppose its each to his/her own.


Alan

[Todd Pettinger]

I maybe in a minority of One, but my hope is that I will be able to be a Score-whore! While the majority appear to relish the propect of reading the opinion of their friends waxing lyrical on the merits of this bottle compared to that bottle, I'll be raiding the attached numbers(Of THIS Forums tasting notes) to see what my next purchase will be. Suppose its each to his/her own.

This might come back to haunt you if you are basing your purchasing regimen on someone's scores. What if someone scores a particular bottle very high and throws in a comment such as "the score is 99 of 100 if you like grape-flavoured motor oil"??? :? Then you may be in trouble!

Myself, I don't care what a score is because it is subjective to each person. I AM interested in finding out the average decanter time and how the port showed at each time. Rather than base my purchases on a score, I may base my drinking/decanting times accordingly based upon the experience of certain folks whose taste I seem to agree/align with.

I am very interested in comments on the amount of acidity/VA detected in a port, as I am not so fond of it. Whether the wine has prematurely tawnied/mellowed excessively, etc. Things that add (or detract) from my potential enjoyment of the port. Especially when it comes to the VPs where my purchase budget (and availability is limited.) Life is too short to drink bad wine (sorry to have to drop a stolen line in here like that!)

As always, just my own

Todd

[Alan C.]

Todd,

Your going to be in the majority and get your wish.
And I suspect, my hopes will be dashed. Which of course means I'll read the odd Tasting Note, and check the score out elsewhere. A shame when I'd rather go with the verdict of you guys, without having to read all the Flowery Language.
You make a fair point about decanting times, but I'm like Tom. I prefer to Decant very early and be suspicious of conventional wisdom. Like you said about scores being subjective, so are decanting times, and everything else! Thats why I hoped to either align myself with someone who appears to have similar tastes, OR go for the average score.

Alan

[Todd Pettinger]

Like you said about scores being subjective, so are decanting times, and everything else! Thats why I hoped to either align myself with someone who appears to have similar tastes, OR go for the average score.

I'll agree with that. Taste, palate nuances, scores, even decanting times and a person's belief in how the port is progressing based upon said decanting time... these are all very subjective.

Honestly, I believe we should include scores (I believe we should BOTH get 'our way'!!! ), if the person is comfortable scoring it (I know some guys who won't post a TN, never mind a SCORE!!! ALAN.... :? ) I'm not sure what some of the other comments in this thread were discussing, whether all three styles should be included (10/10, 100, and *****) or whether they meant score it however you normally score it. :?

The "flowery language" (that I enjoy seeing) is to assist others to decide whether my score is full of crap or not.

Todd

[Tom Archer]

I suggest the best way forward is to be a broad church at the outset, and deal with actual issues and irritations as they occur, rather than potential ones.

BUT - if every thread title starts with a four figure date, or the non-vintage acronym NV, then there will be some hope of evolving an orderly archive.

That, I feel, is a detail that should vex no-one

Tom

[Alan C.]

Todd,

Ha,ha,ha. Well done.Not only did you write a Post I completely agree with, you also 'nailed' my achilles heel
I'm making all these suggestions....And I hardly ever do Tasting Notes!!!
As I've said before, I drink loads of the lesser ports and the occasional VP, but I usually think in very basic terms and usually one flavour, rarely two.(Apart from the below exception) I actually strive for a texture I like, more than a flavour. (I might be odd!)
Just once in a blue moon, I stumble across a Vintage Port that is at its peak, and starts my tastebuds dancing, with the fusion of senses and flavours that a lot of you guys seem to get with a Supermarket LBV. I'm envious of those that do, but its fun searching for the jewels!

Alan