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An ‘Eights’ tasting, to be the second or fourth digit of the vintage, arranged by Tony, who provided many of the bottles including an 1867. And Alex provided Graham 1897.

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 1867 Unknown, from TC;
• 1897 Graham (magnum × ½), from AHB;
• 1948 Graham, from THRA;
• 1948 Fonseca, team adoption from TC;
• 1948 Taylor, team adoption from TC;
• 1958 Graham Malvedos, team adoption from TC;
• 1958 Quinta do Noval, from IDJ;
• 1958 Warre, team adoption from TC;
• 1958 Martinez, team adoption from TC;
• 1960 Royal Oporto Carvalhas (label said RO1958; cork said Carvalhas 1960; tasted like 1960), team adoption from TC;
• 1968 Sandeman, team adoption from TC;
• 1968 Fonseca Guimaraens, team adoption from TC;
• 1978 Taylor Vargellas, from CPR;
• 1988 Fonseca Guimaraens (halves × 2), team adoption from TC;
• The placemats (and parameters by which made);
• The food order.
• Planning and arrangements.

Label said RO58; cork said Carvalhas 1960. Which is it?
• The taste was much more like ’60 than ’58.
• When bottling a ’60 there could have been old ’58 labels lying around; when bottling a ’58 there would not have been ’60 corks.
Hence ROC60.

ROC60. Dark red, 60% opaque. Maraschino cherry, lovely full sweetness, and long. Not particularly complicated, but very fine Port indeed.

Best-equal Royal Oporto of my drinking career, with a ROC70.

40% opacity, mature red. Fruity, nice balance and structure. Rich with chocolate and cherries.