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To celebrate the Quinquagenary of AHB, he arranged a horizontal of 1963s in Wokingham at The Cantley House Hotel (evenings of Friday 11^th and Saturday 12^th October 2013) and The Walter Arms (lunch on Saturday 12^th), and two evening Champagne tastings for our better halves. Sadly the venue was not able to accommodate all he would have liked to have invited. Diaries had been blocked since early 2012, and bottles had been gathered for most of a decade before that. A splendid weekend indeed.

Partial links:
• Review of the event as a whole, which starts with a full set of links;
• Placemats (and parameters by which constructed).

Some links:
• Review which includes links to the Champagnes; Placemats and their Parameters;
• Fri evening 1963s: VS QH GC Ck G | Kh Pç Mg Av F | RV Rs S Dl Cn;
• Sat aftern’n 1963s: Sb RVi RCV Ad RO | Dm BBR T Cr Ni | Mk Fd O Mz;
• Sat evening 1963s: MC W D N NN | A B&I Df PS Cv | GB Cá CáF B Fr;
• Others: 1863 Burmester, 1977 Warre (tappitt hen), Martinez Crusted bottled 1973, 1966 Château Batailley (magnum).

VS63. Dark red, 50% opaque. Strange nose, perhaps VA? To taste acidity prominent, but only just too prominent. Sweet plums and good length.

Nice mature colour, which was typical of what I expect from this vintage today. Rubber on the nose. Nicer on the palate and still has some fruit. Smooth, but with a short finish.

Good colour but on the palate it was thin with a fiery finish.

1963 Viera de Souza Vintage Port
A light ruby with slight bricking. Soft strawberry nose and medium sweet. Nice medium bodied, soft strawberry, spicey, fully mature, dried rose pedals. The fininsh was a touch spirit, spicey, and holding nicely.
92-93 Points

straight, light ruby red which can be looked through; deep fragrant nose after sour cherries; also sour cherries on the palate, complex in a nervy way; medium to light body, hints of cranberry; very nice port.

Deeply coloured, looking rich and mature; 70% opaque. Elegant and floral, gentle but attractive. Again thick texture. Great perfume and elegance on the palate, really attractive and balanced with multiple layers. Powerful, complex aftertaste with a sweet fruity finish full of gentle tannins. Wonderful port. 95/100. Drunk 11-Oct-13. Decanted 4 hours.