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In 2010 the annual Christmas event, The Unknown Shipper and His Peculiar Friends, happened on Thursday 16 December.

Links:

• Review of the evening as whole;
• Tasting notes:
  • 1904 Croft;
  • Unknown, perhaps 1917 Taylor;
  • 1917 Unknown, perhaps Croft or Fonseca;
  • 1927 Martinez;
  • 1942 Niepoort;
  • 1947 Smith Woodhouse;
  • 1955 Barros;
  • 1955 Taylor;
  • 1955 Tuke Holdsworth;
  • 1966 Fonseca;
  • Vargellas Crusted bottled 1969;
  • 30Y Niepoort Tawny;
• Planning and arrangements;
• Paperwork (tasting-note sheets, and several sets of stickers).

Almost identical colour to the Taylor 1955: deep red with slight pinking around the edge. In the mouth, extremely elegant, with subtle, sweet fruit. To my palate this piped the Taylor 1955 as the best of the three 1955 we tried. Perhaps Tuke Holdsworth is worth seeking out?

Deep red in colour, 70% opaque. Mature nose, promising to be at its drinking peak, full of fruit. Big entry, robust and full of flavour but still very well balanced. Very vigorous and incredibly fruity. Big aftertaste, lovely finish. A brilliant bottle on its initial showing, but did fall apart in the glass over the course of the evening. 93/100.