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The traditional Christmas Tasting was held in Tom’s pub.

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• Davy's Crusted 197? (I — CPR);
• 196? Martinez (II — MPM);
• 1922 Martinez (III — AHB);
• 1935 Sandeman (IV — IDJ);
• 1945 Dow (V — THRA);
• 1912 Cockburn (VI — PW);
• 1955 Taylor (VII — ?);
• 1924 Unknown (VIII — RLC);
• 1927 Tuke Holdsworth (IX — AP);
• 1933 Quinta do Cais Colheita, bottled 1988 (X — WPS);
• Paperwork: sticky labels, TN and voting pages;
• Planning and arrangements.

40% opacity, brown-orange. Dates on the nose. Thick port, I wrote. Great balance, sweetness, molasses and nice acidity.

Deep brick red, 80% opaque. Slightly soapy nose, tight and rather closed - likely to benefit from another couple of hours in the decanter. Powerful dark fruit on entry with huge levels of fruit and amazing tannic power. Massive on the mid-palate, a huge port that is amazingly youthful. Sweeter than would be expected from a Dow port, but there is an astonishing presence of youthful power rounded out with a touch of age. This delivers a gorgeous panoply of flavours on the dry and very long finish. Lots of power, but little finesse. 93/100. 15-Dec-16. Decanted 1½ hour.