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I bought 8 bottles of this very cheap earlier this year. Storage conditions are dubious to say the least so prossibly not a fair representation of this wine.

I opened a bottle for a family dinner last weekend. I did not make a tasting note at the time but did observe a distinct decanting time preference that I will use for the other 7 bottles.

On opening the wine there was very little on the nose - not fruit or alchohol evident. The cork came out clean and intact and had not dried out or absorbed much liquid. I took this as a good sign but happy to be told otherwise for a wine of this age. The colour was that of an aged tawny although slightly pink rahter than brown.

I tasted the wine immediately after decanting and all I could taste was spirit. Not good.

After 2 hours I got a rich caramel aroma and a fabulous delicate taste. I really, really enjoyed this glass. After 4 hours I served the bottle to the table. Everyone loved it - especially as it was only the second bottle of anything that they had tasted that was more than 10 years old! - I thought it tasted like paint stripper.

Lesson learned for remaining 7 bottles is - drink entire bottle between 1hr 55 mins and 2 hrs 5 mins after opening

Slightly buggered then?

Perhaps not. I opened another of these a few days before I met up with Al-B in Birmingham. I saved some for Alex to try and by the time it got there Alex's opinion of it was quite complimentary. Hopefully he will chime in with a TN at some point.

I still have 4 of these so might pop one next time we are meeting up so we can all have a go

Derek