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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.

So the 1985 Cálem was orange, and tasted too old. The 1994 was black, and too young. Both were very short. So we tried the 50:50 blend.

And the 1989½Â±4½ Cálem was so much better. Described by EricD as a ‟reserve vintage character”, it had far superior balance and length. Still very dark retaining most of the colour of the 1994 smooth and soft. Much longer than either component, with a hint of heat at the end. The best way to drink the Cálems.

Later the blend’s nose had acquired a hint of stink, though the taste still better than either constituent.

1989½Â±4½ Cálem: This was a stroke of genius on JDAW's part. The blending experiment was remarkably successful. Intense, rich fruit with a long finish, sweet and fruity. A bit of subtle smokiness on the finish, and Eric T suggested watermelon. The Cálem blend was my second favorite port of the evening, beat out only by the Fonseca 1970.

1989½Â±4½ Cálem: the following day, with Eric D, all I wrote was ‟So much bigger than the pieces. And longer than the pieces.” I recall it being better on the first day, but even on the second a worthwhile blend. Eric D suggested buying both parts so that his house port could be the blend.