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THRA, AHB, DRT and JDAW gathered in The Bung Hole.

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 1950 Croft;
• 1970 Fonseca;
• 1970 Graham;
• NV James McCabe Crusted 1984;
• Placemats (and parameters by which made);
• Planning and arrangements.

Deep ruby with a hint of bricking that gives a rose-red colour to the rim. Slightly smelly on the nose, perhaps a touch of reduction, certainly a touch of heat. Sweet fruit entry, slightly dirty in tone. The sweet fruit is in the early stages of maturity, quite dense but with an odd dryness. The tannins just show as a slight tingle on the peppery finish, dryness covering over the fruit. A little unbalanced, perhaps very slightly corked or in need of more time to blow off the bottle stink. Served blind this was guessed to be Smith Woodhouse 1985. 83/100. Drunk 10-Sep-13. Decanted 4½ hours.

F70: cork extracted whole at 2½pm. Dark red, wonderful colour, 70% opaque. Taste of red fruit. Lots of heat mid-palate. Huge red fruit. Just too young, by a decade or more. Lovely.