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Part of the large vertical of Cockburn which was held in The Crusting Pipe on Wednesday 8th October 2008. Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 189? Unknown, thought to be Taylor;
• 1908 Cockburn;
• 1912 Cockburn;
• 1924 Unknown;
• 1927 Cockburn;
• 1935 Cockburn (served to left side of table);
• 1935 Cockburn (served to right side of table);
• 1947 Cockburn;
• 1950 Cockburn;
• 1955 Cockburn;
• 1960 Cockburn;
• 1963 Cockburn;
• 1967 Cockburn;
• 1970 Cockburn;
• 1975 Cockburn;
• 1977 Cockburn (unofficial bottling);
• 1983 Cockburn;
• 1985 Cockburn;
• 1991 Cockburn;
• 1994 Cockburn;
• 1997 Cockburn;
• 2000 Cockburn;
• 2003 Cockburn;
• 2007 Cockburn cask sample (Touriga Nacional);
• 2007 Cockburn cask sample (Touriga Franca);
• Planning and arrangements;
• Placemats.

2007 Cockburn cask sample (Touriga Nacional): purple colour, of course. Tasting of violets and cherry fruit. I don’t know how to think about such a young port.

No pictures — sorry.

My note says "Quite raw. Strawberry"

If 2007 is declared as a vintage, this is one of the wines which will be used for the final blend.

Touriga Nacional barrel sample. One of the two main blends used in the Cockburn vintage port, the grape varieties are vinified separately and then blended together after two years of barrel maturation. Deep purple in colour but with a transparent edge showing just a touch of red. Nose very subdued. Sweet but reserved bramble fruits. Much more tannic and less fruit driven than the Touriga Franca. The heat also shows through on this grape variety than on the Touriga Franca. Blending together 60% Nacional with 40% Franca produced a much better port than either in isolation. 86/100.