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Friends gathered in The Bung Hole for what was said to be the annual 29th February ‘Leaping’. Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 1963 Croft (RLC);
• 1970 Warre (DRT);
• 1980 Graham (JDAW);
• 1985 Taylor (AHB);
• 2004 Javali (donated by Ronnie Roots);
• Placemats;
• Planning and arrangements.

The cork:

2004 Javali: red-purple, 90% opaque. Nosing of young pruney fruit. Mid-weight prunes, sweet throughout. Plenty of tannins. Young. Needing another 5-10Y, after which it will be good but not of the very first class.

Young, almost black and opaque. Harsh and young on the nose, showing unripe kiwi fruit and sour blackcurrants. Smooth entry, a little neutral. Mid palate shows well, with generous blackcurrants and strong - slightly astringent - tannins Very dry dark chocolate on the palate. Dry aftertaste, dominated by birch sawdust and dry blackcurrant before a long blackcurrant finish. Served blind, this was guessed to be 1996 Cavadinha and when the identity was revealed I was surprised by its approachability. 87/100.