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The first time I have had this port and I had the pleasure of drinking it in the company of AHB and Chris G tonight at the Crusting Pipe.

Decanted 8 Hours

Very dark and sticky in the glass. Some spirit on the nose and a very young smell but an unmistakable whiff of Graham's. A huge tannic mouthfull with dark cherry and plum. A little burn midway through and very dry on the palate and lips.

This was a much bigger wine than I was expecting and was much younger in appearance and taste than my last experience of the G85.

Score: 7-9

A bottle joined Death Row yesterday..

..would have trundled down if I'd known..

Tom

This is the tasting note that I took as I was tasting the bottle that Derek wrote about above.

Very dark centre, deep red rim (the same colour almost as the Skeffington '94 tasted at the same time). Obvious alcohol on the nose, but a lovely blueberry juice and a damp earthiness mixed in with it. Sweet entry with a lovely acidic structure. Raisins and raw Christmas cake mix came through in the mid-palate. A soft texture but with tannins that are hiding behind the fruit, a 24 year old wine but still so youthful with very little by way of tertairy characteristics. A stunning aftertaste that goes on for ages - every time you run your tongue round your cheeks more of the aftertaste floods back into your mouth. This is an absolutely stunning wine that will continue to improve over the next 20-30 years. It's nowhere near its peak yet, but when it reaches there it may well be a 98-100 point port. 8/10 or 94/100.