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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.

Bought from Oddbins on Little Clarendon Street, Oxford who acquired these from a local cellar. Fruity nose but with unexpected and interesting leather tones. Neutral entry, subdued and closed . Gentle fruit on the mid-palate; patience allows the fruit flavours to develop and grow bringing lovely floral elements to the late palate. Gentle berry fruit on the aftertaste with an alcoholic tingle on the finish. The tannins on the palate are difficult to find but are quite fierce when you do find them. This will benefit from another 10-20 years to mature and develop. 88/100. Drunk 26-Aug-14. 12 hour decant.