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Part of The 1970 Horizontal (the definite article being most appropriate all hail organiser Axel P), in The RAF Club, 128 Piccadilly, London W1J 7PY, on Friday 30th January 2009.

Links:

• Review of the tasting as a whole;
• Placemats;
• Afternoon session:
  • ♣ Unknown or Baixa Corgo:
    • J. H. Andresen 1970;
    • Butler Nephew 1970;
    • da Silva 1970;
    • Dalva 1970;
    • González Byass 1970;
  • ♦ Bank of the Douro in Cima Corgo:
    • Barros 1970;
    • Kopke 1970;
    • Robertson’s Rebello Valente 1970;
    • Royal Oporto 1970;
  • ♥ Rios Torto and Roncão Valleys:
    • Borges & Irmão 1970;
    • Delaforce 1970;
    • Quinta do Sibio 1970;
  • â™  Rio Pinhão Valley:
    • Cálem 1970;
    • Cálem Quinta da Foz 1970;
    • Hutcheson 1970;
    • Martinez 1970;
  • ”¡ Douro Superior:
    • Messias 1970;
• Evening session:
  • ♦ Bank of the Douro in Cima Corgo:
    • Croft 1970;
    • Dow 1970;
    • Graham’s 1970;
    • Offley Boa Vista 1970;
  • ♥ Rios Torto and Roncão Valleys:
    • Morgan 1970;
    • Quarles Harris 1970;
    • Ramos-Pinto 1970;
    • Sandeman 1970;
    • Smith Woodhouse 1970;
  • â™  Rio Pinhão Valley:
    • Fonseca 1970;
    • Gould Campbell 1970;
    • Niepoort 1970;
    • Quinta do Noval 1970;
    • Quinta do Noval Nacional 1970;
    • Warre 1970;
  • ”¡ Douro Superior:
    • Cockburn 1970;
    • Ferreira 1970;
    • Taylor 1970;
• Announcement and some planning.

Very dark colour. Lovely texture in the mouth. Dark fruits, tannic with a good length and a warm tingle on the end. This was a fabulous VP and I voted it to be my second favourite of the entire tasting.

1970 Cálem: dark red, a Fonseca colour, though an edge paler than its Cálem Quinta da Foz 1970 sibling. A lot of fruit and length, though an edge lighter and sweeter than the Foz. Less spice than the Foz, which I preferred. Rightly described by Dominic Symington as ‟bloody good wine”. Some thought Cálem the winner of the â™  flight (Cá, CáF, H, Mz); I had it second.