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On Saturday 9^th May 2015 we had a splendid horizontal of 1945 in The RAF Club, ably arranged by Axel Probst/WorldOfPort.de.

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• The apéritifs:
  • 10Y Andresen, bottled 1945;
  • 1945 Massandra Crimean ‘Port’;
  • 2013 O Port Unidade;
  • 1945 Cruz Veludo colheita;
• The vintages:
  • 1945 Royal Oporto (THRA);
  • 1945 Rebello Valente (GW);
  • 1945 Feuerheerd (CP);
  • 1945 Rozès (WPS);
  • 1945 Morgan (DRT);
  • 1945 Eira Velha (DRT);
  • 1945 Quinta do Noval (GW);
  • 1945 Constantino (AP);
  • 1945 Offley (THRA);
  • 1945 Ferreira (CP);
  • 1945 Cockburn (AP);
  • 1945 Sandeman (GTDS);
  • 1945 Ramos Pinto (VvC);
  • 1945 Warre (PW);
  • 1945 Dow (JDAW);
  • 1945 Graham (WG);
  • 1945 Fonseca (AHB);
  • 1945 Kopke (WPS);
  • 1945 Niepoort (RAYC);
  • 1945 Taylor (AHB);
  • 1945 Croft (DJ);
• Placemats (and parameters by which made);
• Announcement.

Mature brick red, wide rim; 50% opaque. Gentle and elegant nose, quite fragrant, a touch harsh. Quite thick in texture on entry; very big early palate dominated by sweet fruit but balanced by generous acidity and soft tannins. Full of typical Fonseca elegance and balance. Great palate. Wonderful delicacy to the aftertaste, and a rich, flavoursome finish. This is very fine, full of typical Fonseca elegance and balance but with an unexpected power on the immensely long finish. 98/100. Decanted 3 hours.

F45. Slightly-tawny red, 30% opaque. Nose had banana. Yes, banana! Palate lovely mature Port, like a softer lighter version of F70.

Later very soft and full, but risking becoming too ‘elegant’.

(THRA left his notes behind, and has given permission to JDAW for them to be posted. Because of the faintness of the pencil, the contrast has been digitally enhanced.)