NV Cockburn Fine Old Ruby

[jdaw1]

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.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Deep amber in colour. Oxidised nose, resinous and plastic. Sweet sugary flavours, full of gentle honey and a touch of tobacco spice. Alive and lovely, but with a touch of oxidation again on the late palate. Long honey aftertaste, lingering and lovely. This is surprisingly alive. Bottling date is not known but from the shape of the bottle and label was estimated to be 1940-1960. 82/100. Drunk 26-Aug-14. 1 hour decant.