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Warre II, the rematch, this time in Sussex on Saturday 17th April 2010. Links: Placemats; Review of the evening as a whole; TNs of 1945, 1947, 1948, 1955, 1958, 1960, 1963, 1966, 1970, 1977, 1980, 1983, 1985.

W45: kindly provided by Dominic Symington, whose health was toasted with it.

Orange tawny: second palest of the ports. Nose rather tawny. Very hot, with an initial taste of aniseed, early- and late-palate. Pastis 51, not Ricard. Heat, and rather dried out.

Later that evening: the heat has subsided. Delicate sweetness, the aniseed having gone.

The following day a far better wine. Flavours of orange and a hint of mint, but much fuller, richer and more unctuous. On day of decanting I thought this weak and faded; but on the second day a very fine port. The mouthfeel much larger and fuller, though the fruit still gone.

On the night: Lovely bright brown/red colour. Fully translucent. Woody nose. Thick mouthfeel but very hot and past its prime.

4 days later: Toffee nose - oranges - thick and smooth entry with a little warmth in the mid palate. Long sweet finish with layer upon layer of delicious flavours. Excellent.