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At the generous instigation of Alex B.: “Please, no-one bring anything except where I have asked for help. This is supposed to be a cellar reduction party so I am happy to supply various bottles for us to share. A handful of people know some of what will be brought, but I'll serve all bottles blind.”

So we went to a Helen-less Bung Hole to meet Amy — who had just left for the day. (No problem: we met her two days later.)

Links:

• Review of the event as a whole;
• 1985 Graham (1);
• 1963 Offley magnum (2);
• 1985 Fonseca (3);
• 1985 Taylor (4);
• 1972 Offley (5);
• 1970 Graham magnum (6);
• 1985 Churchill (7);
• 1995 Quinta do Noval (11);
• Cockburn Fine Old Ruby believed to have been bottled in the 1940s (12);
• Placemats (and parameters by which made);
• Planning and arrangements.

G70, magnum. Red-brown, 60% opaque. Lots of mature red and black fruit in this big mature VP. Also some roughness. A fine and generous provision by Wolfgang: thank you.

From magnum. Deep red, 70% opaque. Slight pink rim. Nose is a touch harsh and alcoholic and not very attractive. The texture on the palate is completely different from the expectation created by the nose and is lovely, delicious fruit palate even though it is still restrained and tight and in need of more cellar time. Peppery and spicy aftertaste mixed into tight and focused fruit, although slightly jammy on the finish. 94/100. Drunk 26-Aug-14. 2 hour decant.