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Very mildly TCA tainted, just detectable on the nose and palate. Very soft and sodden cork. Decanted cleanly off some very hard sediment stuck onto the side of the bottle. A slightly hazy version of the previous bottle, burnt toffee colour with a pale orange rim. TCA on the nose, over a minty toned candy floss. Lots of toffee and burnt raisins in the mouth, pleasant enough and with some surprising complexity of seville oranges and bitter marmalade coming through with air. Unexpectedly enjoyable and repaying 2-3 hours in the decanter. Swallowing releases a big burst of burnt sugar and then lots of these burnt raisins and soaked sultanas. Good length. Difficult to score and seemingly improving rapidly in the glass. 85/100. Drunk 9/12/08 after 1 hour of decanter time.

As a footnote, I would observe that the other bottle of this wine, which I opened yesterday, was TCA contaminated and was not rated.

My own experience so far suggests a very mixed quality. I have a suspicion that a fair number of the corks were of poor quality with those up to the mark hiding a reasonable bottle of port. Particularly at the £5/bottle they have been collectively acquired!

I agree. This is a decent bottle for the money - if it's got a half decent cork in it. However, if you've got some then drink them as soon as you can.

AHB wrote:I agree. This is a decent bottle for the money - if it's got a half decent cork in it. However, if you've got some then drink them as soon as you can.

I'm doing my best to comply with this advice

DRT wrote:

AHB wrote:I agree. This is a decent bottle for the money - if it's got a half decent cork in it. However, if you've got some then drink them as soon as you can.

I'm doing my best to comply with this advice

Me too!

I opened the first of six very generously given to me by Tom with a hughe TCA-note in it. As I opened with my new tong, I at least had fun with this part.

Waiting for the next...

Axel