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In honour of the visit of Ronnie Roots, a few regulars gathered in The Bung Hole to sample some 1970 ports.

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 1970 Dow;
• 1970 Fonseca;
• 1970 Graham;
• 1970 Sandeman;
• 1970 Taylor;
• 1970 Warre;
• 1970 Cockburn;
• 1970 Offley Boa Vista;
• 1970 Royal Oporto;
• 1970 Royal Oporto Carvalhas;
• Placemats;
• Planning and organisation.

Mid red colour, pale rim, 40% opaque. Harsh nose, not well knit; a little dirty, like burnt treacle and oranges. Balanced entry, but restrained flavours that gradually grows to show lovely concentrated blood orange. Really attractive palate, mid-weight. Acid backbone shows on the finish, before a long, long finish that is quite concentrated and intense. Lovely port, just a little immature. 89/100. 24 hour decant.

Quite light in colour, with still a nice lively core. Slightly dusty on the nose, quite light, not giving much initially. Rather complex and lovely on the palate, with good structure. Some attractive light fruit (strawberries, figs) with some orange peel, nutty flavours and a long finish. I thought the fruit could have been a bit more and questioned if it was perhaps decanted too long, but according to AHB it showed the same profile immediately after decanting. Still, my no. 3 of the evening and thoroughly enjoyed.

W70, decanted 20:00, bottled by Peatling & Cawdron (now trading as Thomas Peatling Limited). Lots of tannins in the nose. Taste started with gentle red fruit. Some heat, then long and luscious. Very long, mid-weight.