ThePortForum.com

The annual Christmas event, this instance on Thursday 15th December 2011, as always in The Bell, Wendens Ambo, Essex CB11 4JY, and as always with the theme The Unknown Shipper and His Peculiar Friends.

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 10Y Taylor tawny (warm-up);
• 1860 Cossart Gordon Sercial solera (sticky label #1);
• 1945 Quinta do Noval (sticky label #2);
• 1860 A.L.S. Boal (sticky label #3);
• 1940 Dalva colheita bottled 1978 (sticky label #4);
• 1960 Cockburn (sticky label #5);
• Niepoort Vinha Velha (sticky label #6);
• 1935 Croft (sticky label #7);
• 1924 Offley Boa Vista (sticky label #8);
• 1927 Taylor (sticky label #9);
• 30Y Casa Santa Eufemia White (sticky label #12);
• 40Y Quinta do Noval tawny (sticky label #15);
• 1922 Warre (sticky label #19);
• 1922 Martinez (sticky label #20);
• 1955 Quinta do Noval (sticky label #21);
• 1977 Berry Bros & Rudd (Quarles Harris);
• 2003 Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference;
• 1911 Clos de Vougeot;
• 2005 Niepoort Robustus magnum;
• ‘Placemats’, meaning stickers and tasting-note sheets;
• Planning and arrangements.

This was by far the best bottle of this fantastic wine that I had so far. Tom said, it came from a lot of Cockburn 27s and I was there when he decanted in the afternoon and we both shared a good smile once discovering on the corc that it was a Taylor 27. TNs to follow, but my WoTN 20

Axel

Deep red, 90% opaque. Redcurrants and junipers on the nose, with some red jelly bean showing. Sweet entry but dry on the palate - a big palate presence but with some heat showing. A long aftertaste of modest size. This has a delightful texture and even some tannins still gently swirling around. 93/100.

Lots of fruit with a warming glow in the finish - my guess was Taylor, but the vintage was a surprise. Excellent port.