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At Wolfgang’s excellent instigation, we gathered in the Bung Hole to quality-assure a batch of Taylor 1985.

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 1985 Taylor:
  • T85 (α alpha);
  • T85 (β beta);
  • T85 (γ gamma);
  • T85 (δ delta);
  • T85 (ε epsilon);
  • T85 (ζ zeta);
• 1994 Tesco;
• Placemats (and parameters by which constructed);
• Planning and arrangements.

T85 (β beta): decanted 1pm, the cork being rather sticky and taking three different lines of attack to remove. At D+0 lighter than α. And at 7pm thought much softer than α, though by 9pm had gained some weight.

One of 6 bottles from the same case of Taylor 1985 consumed at the same tasting to investigate how much bottle variation could be found in bottles that had good and identical provenance. The bottles were of very similar appearance in the glass, looking to be brick red and in the early stages of maturity and 60% opaque, with only Bottle 2 being slightly more brown than the others.

Bottle 2: A touch of stink on the nose, smelly but with the promise of sweet fruit under the smell. Flat on entry, but develops attractive flavours of floral perfume and red peppercorn spiciness from the soft tannins. Gentle, tingling aftertaste full of strawberry jelly and charcoal. Long length with a lovely chocolate finish. Aeration on the palate highlights the smelly flavours and there is some heat on the finish. Spoiled by the bottle stink, but still very enjoyable. 86/100.