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A bottle chosen to be opened and drunk tomorrow in celebration of my birthday. A small sample was tasted to ensure adequate quality was achieved for a proper birthday drink. Slightly less than half the bottle is left for tomorrow and quality is assured.

A vivid cherry red, good strong colour but a transparent centre. Sweet caramel and white cherry on the nose, but dominated by a roasted meat scent. Thick texture and very sweet impact. Lots of white cherry juice mixed in with some surprising and spicy tannins. Delicious development, with the cherry juice becoming stronger and more dominant. Lovely milk chocolate aftertaste and a long lavendar aftertaste. Very, very nice. At its peak, but nowhere near the fading edge of the plateau and at least a couple of decades ahead of it (93/100). Even better after 3 hours in the decanter, just stunning and irresistable. 94/100. Drunk 19 October 2009, 3 hours decanted.

AHB wrote:Even better after 3 hours in the decanter, just stunning and irresistable. 94/100. Drunk 19 October 2009, 3 hours decanted.

Keep us posted, i'd love to know where these are peaking at the moment.

Happy b'day Alex.

SushiNorth wrote:

AHB wrote:Even better after 3 hours in the decanter, just stunning and irresistable. 94/100. Drunk 19 October 2009, 3 hours decanted.

Keep us posted, i'd love to know where these are peaking at the moment.

I didn't take notes over an extended time, just the one posted after 3 hours and then got down to drinking the wine - which was absolutely delicious. I probably preferred it around the 24 hour mark - but then I often do like an extended decant on my ports, even quite old ones (but pleaase note - 1963 vintage is a youthful vintage although I might be prepared to accept that it is approaching middle age and showing some signs of maturity).