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2000 Sandeman Vau (half-bottle)
A small group gathered at the Bung Hole for a blind tasting, DJ being in town for the evening. We were joined by two guests: AHB being able to join at the last minute, he was accompanied by Mrs B; DJ brought his friend Richard West.

The line-up of bottles was interesting: five were from the same year, three were the same wine and two were decanted from the same bottle.

• Review of the evening
• 2000 Sandeman Vau decanted from double-mag into standard bottle
• 2000 Sandeman Vau from half-bottle
• 2000 Sandeman Vau decanted from double-mag into half-bottle
• 2000 Fonseca
• 2000 Niepoort Secundum
• 1981 Warre LBV
• 1955 Butler Nephew
• 1970 Taylor
• 1980 Taylor
• Placemats
• Planning and arrangements

Decanted at noon.
This was bottled as a half and was very noticeably different to the two other showings of this wine this evening.
Much pinker than either of the bottlings from the double-mag: less opaque.
Closed on the nose.
Soft in the mouth. A blackberry taste, almost strawberryish. A very slight acidity. Not big.

SV00, at noon double-decanted from and into 375ml. Red, darkish, 90% opaque. Nose had smoke, but not ash, with pineapple acidity behind. Taste dry, with notable acidity mid-palate. Like the larger bottle, short. Pleasant enough, but not better than that. DRT thought bitter.

From a half bottle. Dark red with some bricking, 95% opaque. Less pronounced on the nose than the previous glass from the double magnum, but still showing plenty of attractive fruit. Thick and fruity entry with dry tannins at the core and some nice floral tones in the mid-palate. Dry aftertaste and a long finish. Big port with a good elegance to it. Served blind this was guessed to be Malvedos 1989. 90/100.