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Everyone* seems to have ignored the generously provided but sadly dreadful 1982, which someone - I believe it was Martin? - described as being ‘in the top quartile of 1982 Croft he had tasted, but still horrible’.

* apart from PhilW, who touches on it above. D’oh!

Quite big port for Croft, and vinous. Good.

Quite warm nose. Grapes and plums on palate. Perked up a bit since Q A sample in morning. Slightly imperfect.

Red. Muted nose. Hint of VA? Palate is plummy and orangey. Fruit cake, then prunes.

Muted red colour. Marvellously grapey nose. Really grapey palate. Very nice and 1 point from me.

Almost completely opaque, red rim. This is already so good I almost wonder whether it will make old bones. 2 points from me.

Almost completely opaque, red rim. Muted nose of esteva. Bit of heat with swirling. Marvellous red fruited palate. Already balanced. Three points from me.

Both 6th and 20th February 2024 work for me

Please could I change my default to

Burrata

Sirloin
Green salad
Skinny fries

Welsh rarebit

Warre and Graham both made 1985 in half albeit I don’t currently own any. I can go hunting if need be.

That was a wonderful tasting, ably organised by Julian and well supported by a generous and convivial crowd. I had a lovely time. Thank you to Julian and to you all.

Alas I have another wine dinner that evening that I have already accepted.

C’est un vie dur…

Have we ever done a halves vs bottles vs mags tasting?

I would be up for organising a 2003 tasting in say early November 2024.

Opened and double decanted 2050. Cork starting to disintegrate. Deep red. Lots of flat plates of sediment, but straightforward to decant.

QA of dregs - subdued nose. Palate suggests this is good rich pruney stuff though.

2040 open and double decant. A lovely garnet. Huge amounts of sludgey sediment.

QA sample from the dregs has a minty nose with a bit of heat. The heat’s quite dominant on the palate too, although there’s some plum. Sulking a bit, let’s see what it’s like tomorrow.

Open and double decant 2030. A lovely deep ruby. Substantial amounts of very fine sediment- a real decanting challenge.

QA sample from the dregs shows nose of blue fruit and grapes, hint of cinnamon; very sweet red fruit on front palate then the tannins appearing unsurprisingly early. In fine form.

So am I. I am drinking a bottle this weekend and it is joyous.

I am happy to open and decant my youngsters in line with the request above.

A case of Fonseca 1985 with excellent provenance at auction for fifty-four quid a bottle delivered. The best port of the 1980s for the price of an acceptable mature Cote Rotie from an unfashionable producer. Mad really.

48 hour decant The colour of Frank Cooper’s Oxford Marmalade (it’s always irritated me, incidentally, that it’s not Sarah Cooper’s, given that everyone knows she came up with the family recipe for it, and even more that it’s a simulacrum of the real thing). Nose with a hint of wood varnish, some nut...

Decanted 6 hours

A deep red. Huge fruit on nose. Congruent palate. Balanced. Very good. Now a pleasure to drink but will keep and evolve for half a century.

We now appear to be 13 persons.

@WillW - are you only available if there is also a seat for said convivial friend? It must be at least 50/50 there will be another dropout.

GEAG:

Potted crab, glass of manzanilla
Steak pie
Welsh rarebit

I confirm attendance with 1991, 2000, 2011.