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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).

Cr63. red, 50% opaque. This improved in the glass. First taste started sweet, then an intense rush of acidity mid-palate, and soft sweetness at the end. But after a little time the mid-palate acidity greatly softened, leaving a lovely fully-mature VP. Much bigger and fuller than the bottle I brought to The Bung Hole on Wednesday 2^nd October 2013.

Very nice nose. Lots of fruit, very smooth and delicious with a long finish.

I recall commenting at some point over the weekend that this was probably the best (of many) Croft 1963's that I have tasted. Excellent juice.

A very good wine, but compared to the Niepoort and Taylor, I felt it was past its peak.

darkish red, but transparent; towards cherry red; nice dark fruit smell; dark fruit; heavy meaty texture; cherry fruit; monolitic; good length; very good port indeed!

Medium-red colour with a rose coloured rim. Lovely pronounced nose of sweet and attractive fruit. Great texture on entry, initially sweet and slow to deliver anything more until the dusty fruit arrives amidst the soft, powdery tannins. Gentle acidity cleans and supports. Lovely elegance of licorice root on the long and enjoyable finish. 90/100. Drunk 11-Oct-13. Decanted 3½ hours.