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Good depth of colour, red even into the rim; 40% opaque. Cinnamon and cedar on the nose, with a hint of eucalyptus behind. Lovely thick texture; evolved flavours and still - surprisingly - a touch of tannin. Sweet, with lovely floral elements; perhaps some slightly harsh acidity upsetting the balance a little. Big afteraste, with a long finish of spicy juniper. 87/100. Drunk 27 Sep 2010.

In The Douro Valley with Friends, Harvest 2010:

• Friday 24 September 2010
  • 1992 Vesuvio reserve colheita;
  • 1960 Fonseca (α alpha);
  • 1963 Graham (β beta);
  • 1963 Taylor (γ gamma);
  • 1977 Graham (tregnum) (δ delta);
• Saturday 25 September 2010
  • 1970 Niepoort (η eta);
  • 1977 Gould Campbell (θ theta);
  • 1970 Warre (ι iota);
  • 1960 Dow (κ kappa);
  • 1970 Dow (λ lambda);
  • 1958 Warre (μ mu);
  • 1934 Warre (ν nu);
• Sunday 26 September 2010
  • 1963 Fonseca (Ï„ tau);
  • 1966 Fonseca (Ï… upsilon);
  • 1970 Fonseca (φ phi);
  • 1977 Fonseca (χ chi);
  • 1994 Vesuvio (ψ psi);
• Monday 27 September 2010, afternoon
  • 1992 Quevedo colheita (а a);
  • 1994 Quevedo colheita (б be);
  • 1996 Quevedo colheita (в ve);
  • 2000 Quevedo colheita (г ge);
  • 2004 Quevedo LBV (д de);
  • 2008 Quevedo Quinta Vale D’Agodinho (е ie);
  • 1970 Offley Boa Vista;
• Monday 27 September 2010, evening
  • 1970 Gould Campbell;
  • 1963 Quinta do Noval;
  • 1967 Martinez;
  • 1983 Quinta do Noval Nacional (#1);
  • 1983 Quinta do Noval Nacional (#2);
  • 1968 Quinta do Noval colheita;
  • 1965 Quinta do Noval Crusted;
  • 1963 Cockburn;
  • 1970 Taylor.

C63: 50% opacity. Red fruit. Coffee. Lots of cedar. Suggested by one to be ‟quite minty”. To taste heat, but rich and unctuous. Red cherry. Maybe strawberry behind. Some white pepper. Very long. A voice suggested tea leaves, which for me were only present late palate.