1996 Fortnum and Mason LBV

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Bottled 2000. A recent auction purchase as part of a mixed lot. Wine is from J.W. Burmester & Ca. according to the label and the cork reads 'Burmester L.B.V. 1996' so likely co-identical with that wine as bottled also by them. A good deal of very fine sediment. A mature red, slightly tinged with orange at the rim, 40% opaque. First impressions: lots of pine needle and varnish on the nose, but not unpleasantly so. Middleweight palate, fairly simple, heavy on the dried cranberries. Short peppery finish. Quite good quaffing port. Tasted 22/08/19.

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Re-tasted 23/08/19. The second half, stored in a sealed half bottle in the 'fridge overnight and then allowed to return to room temperature, has not, alas, gained in likeability or drinkability. The nose has more acetone; the palate has lost some of the sharp-sweet fruit; the finish is still short. One for adding to the generic-deglazing-during-cooking wine bottle.