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A theme suggested by Flash: the ‘Sweet-Spot Vintages’, being 1966, 1970, and 1977, in each of Dow, Graham, Taylor, and Warre. So on Wednesday 17^th June 2015 we gathered at Davy’s Woolgate.

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• ◊ Dow 1966; ◊ Graham 1966; ◊ Taylor 1966; ◊ Warre 1966;
  ◊ Dow 1970; ◊ Graham 1970; ◊ Taylor 1970; ◊ Warre 1970;
  ◊ Dow 1977; ◊ Graham 1977; ◊ Taylor 1977; ◊ Warre 1977;
  ◊ Sandeman Cask 33; ◊ Sandeman 1977; ◊ Cockburn 1967; ◊ 2013 Sandeman Quinta do Seixo; ◊ Fonseca 1966;
• Placemats (and parameters by which made);
• Food order;
• Planning and arrangements.

Sandeman Cask 33 (originally ‘Leo’), generously provided by Chris Appleby of Stevens Garnier (= Sogrape UK), this was bottle number 15 of 685. Nose of floral apricots, perhaps even slightly Sauternes-ish. Palate soft and large, unctuous, and well-rounded. Marmalade too. Palate “like a super-heavy Sauternes”, I wrote.

Bottled 2014, only 638 bottles filled from a single cask of refreshed tawny that has an average age estimated to be in the order of 50 years. This is bottle 15. Deep orange-amber in colour with a barley sugar rim. Slightly waxy nose, of soft pears and treacle. Wonderful entry, rich and full of raisin and quince. Powerful palate, with more quince and lots of kumquat. Good acidity that keeps the palate fresh and lively. Delicious aftertaste with the concentrated orange syrup balanced by an edge of burst sugar. The finish is infinitely long. This is very fine port. 95/100.

Chris had indicated in his introduction that this was unlikely to be like any other aged tawny we had tasted and that proved to be the case. Slightly lemony and very clean refreshing taste and un-tawny like complexion. Didn't know what to make of it but on balance a very interesting solera style tawny that I'd be more than happy to have again.