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The RAF Club on 13th November 2009.

Links:

• Arrangements and planning;
• Review of the evening as a whole;
• First session, a 1966 versus 1967 semi-blind double-horizontal:
  • Placemats;
  • 1966 Noval Nacional;
  • 1967 Noval Nacional;
  • 1966 Sandeman;
  • 1967 Sandeman;
  • 1966 Noval;
  • 1967 Noval;
  • 1966 Warre;
  • 1967 Martinez;
  • 1966 Taylor;
  • 1967 Taylor Vargellas.
• Second session, bring-a-bottle to share:
  • Placemats;
  • 1960 Cockburn;
  • 1963 Dow;
  • 1980 Dow;
  • 1963 Ferreira;
  • 1970 Fonseca;
  • 1970 Gould Campbell;
  • 1963 Graham;
  • 1970 Graham;
  • 1960 Martinez;
  • 1963 Morgan.

Slightly paler than the Taylor 1966 shown alongside. Closed on the nose, with an odd petrol or oil dominating but this opened and improved with time. Sweet, thick in texture, surprisingly dry and tannic impact. Big and complex flavours in the mouth with a significant spicy heat. Many layers of flavour make up an impressive wine. Sweet fruit on the immediate aftertaste. Huge fruit length that grabs the mouth and just does not let go. An amazing wine. 93/100. Drunk 13 Nov 2009.

I think this was by far the best 1967 Vargellas I’ve tried. If only it was always like this!

TV67: dark, similar in hue to the T66, though maybe an edge lighter. Lots of heat, but richer and creamier than the ’66. The better of the two. For me, the only ’67 to win the head-to-head.