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An odd bottle - consigned to an auction (as part of a job lot) for showing some signs of seepage - and bought by me..

Also, a bit of a scarcity - I don't recall noting Ca70 at auction before or since..

Clearly an ex. cellars bottle - a venerable wax seal topped with a guarantee slip, with a rather modern and fresh label.

Lifted the cork with a Screwpull Sommelier - although this is designed for slightly shorter corks than that used for port, and as a result tends to scrunch the cork up, I'm warming to this device for it's wide spiral and gentle controlled action, which tends to lift old corks complete - albeit in kit form..

Decanted 6pm. Very dark for it's age, yet moderate sediment.

First sip - classic '70, licquorice note prominant - approachable

+ 5 hours

This is a very good wine, and among the darkest for the '70 vintage, indeed it is shouting 'too young' to me - which is very rare from this year.

This is shaping up as something of a 'find' - more anon..

Tom

Hand on Heart I don't think I've ever drunk a Calem port

More than a day on and I remain very impressed by this wine.

It's biggest claim to fame has to be the fact that while other 70's are at 'plateau' stage - or modestly in decline - this wine has yet to reach it's summit.

Not hopelessly young - it's nearly there - but still on the upswing.

On the downside is the sense that the wine is incomplete - that there is a missing element - the right side side of my palate says happy - the left says not..

Overall though, this is an excellent wine, and very much one for the long haul - if I see more come to auction, I will be bidding - even though my current stocks of 70's are more than adequate!

Score 7-8

Tom