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Am ‘emergency’ tasting, chez jdaw1, starting at 4:30pm Saturday 3rd January 2009. Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 1970 Fonseca;
• 1985 Fonseca;
• 1983 Dow;
• 1985 Dow;
• 1985 Noval;
• 1985 Cálem;
• 1994 Cálem;
• 1989½Â±4½ Cálem;
• Planning and arrangements, such as they were;
• Placemats.

1985 Noval: a bright translucent red. The nose was very lively the wakey-wakey feeling had me looking for, but failing to find, mint. To taste hot, actually very hot, a hint of vegetable, and perfectly pleasant. Simple perhaps. Light pleasant basic good port. Later I detected melon and strawberry.

AJRH suggested that it was ‟like port and vodka”. And ‟if you’d put it in a round decanter, it wouldn’t taste like this. The square decanter has put hairs on its chest.” If others have also found feminine port to be masculinified by usage of a heavy square square-shouldered decanter, please share.

1985 Noval: The color here was fairly light, ruddy but slightly tawny. The nose was rather sweet, but it also had an interesting medicinal character that made me think of Bactine antiseptic spray. Also some light fruit and wood notes as well. I found the flavor to be quite sweet with lively fruit - cherry and apple. It may be at it's peak now.

Noval 1985, the following day, with Eric D, who reported a nose of ‟stale fried chicken”. To taste more sweetness and less brightness than the previous day. More acidic. Too long in the decanter.