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On Thursday 13^th December 2012 a subset of the obvious suspects gathered at the Bell, Wendens Ambo CB11 4JY, to taste some treasures.

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 1830 Sherry (#1);
• 1942 Rebello Valente (#2, JDAW, from THRA);
• 1945 Dow (#3, RAYC);
• Cockburn Crusted, bottled 1928 by Avery’s (#4);
• 1922 Sandeman? (#5, WS);
• Unknown perhaps Croft 1912 (#6, CMAG);
• 1927 Taylor (#7);
• 40 year old Santa Eufemia White Tawny (#8);
• Penfolds Great-Grandfather Tawny (#9);
• 1931 Ramos Pinto (#10, AP);
• 1927 Croft (#11, PW);
• 1927 Taylor (#12, AHB);
• Unknown perhaps a very old colheita (#15, CMAG);
• Niepoort VV, 2012 bottling (#16, DN);
• ‘Placemats’, meaning TN sheets and sticky labels, and the parameters used in their construction;
• Planning and arrangements.

Previously at the Bell: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008.

From an old bottle made of heavy glass, a bottle very similar in appearance to the Mitcheltomb Cockburn 1912 bottles. The cork was unbranded, but Tom Archer believes that this showed a distinct Croft signature when he was decanting it.

Burnt red in colour, with a pale orange rim and a firm centre; 50% opaque. Marzipan on the nose. A rich and unctuous presence on the palate, but which dries out and shows yet more marzipan. A short finish, full of sage and soaked sultanas. A touch dry, still alive but now elderly and frail. 87/100

Cr12? Red, 50% opaque. Nose stinky. Taste rich and sweet, good length. But the same stink present.