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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).

Ni63. Red, 50% opaque. Taste had high-toned notes, perhaps a shade of mint, and red fruit. DRT rightly observed stewed fruits.

Dark red. Thick, viscous entry with dense black fruit. Perhaps a little stewed. Finish shorter than expected.

I recall commenting that this was "odd", but I did enjoy drinking it.

I expected the Port to be that way. For whatever reason 1963 is a Vintage where Niepoort does not live up to their normal - very high - standards. I never really understood this Port. I noted very dark red colour. Elegant and fresh bouquet with malty and coffee notes, some chocolate in the background. Slightly dry on the palate, very fruity, but somewhat de-structured. Aftertaste was medium long.

Just by expectations you would demand much more from the year/producer-combination.

Axel

A glorious glass, so good yet so different to the Taylor behind it. Pure elegance.

dark, glorious red; a bit alcoholic, burned smell and tight cherry smell; good length, good balance but short finish

Firm red in colour; 50% opaque. Sharp, sour fruit on the nose, full of dust. Sweet and thick in texture; sweet fruit and a mass of dusty tannins that grows and delivers nuance and layer of flavour. Large and powerful on the palate. Balanced aftertaste and an amazingly long finish of bitter chocolate that slowly changes to a maraschino cherry. Very fine, very good. 91/100. Drunk 11-Oct-13. Decanted 3½ hours.