ThePortForum.com

Tom provided four excellent bottles, all from Hedges & Butler (which I guessed): Fd63, D55, D63, T60. And a half bottle of Mouton Rothschild 1955, alas not bottled by Hedges & Butler.

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 1963 Feuerheerd (Ⅰ);
• 1955 Dow (Ⅱ);
• 1963 Dow (Ⅲ);
• 1960 Taylor (Ⅳ);
• 1955 Mouton Rothschild (Ⅴ);
• Placemats (and parameters by which made);
• Planning and arrangements.

D63. Glorious red, 50% opaque. Nose not noted. Palate slightly hard. Red fruit, maybe cherry, very sweet, good size and length. But that hardness — it feels like the correct word because I don’t know how else to describe it — prevented this being of the top rank, especially in this company.

Hopelessly mis-guessed by me.

Hedges & Butler. Lovely rose red colour, clearly mature; 40% opaque. A slight hint of bottle stink, harsh but fading slowly to leave a bitter rose hip and cranberry nose. Lovely texture but the flavour is a little harsh and acidic. The tannins are fully resolved, the fruit is bright but a little harsh. There is a big burst of flavour, full of fruit on the aftertaste with a good length of finish - which is really fine. Served blind, this was guessed to be Taylor 1960. 90/100. Drunk 28-Aug-14. Decanted 4 hours.