1960 Croft

[uncle tom]

A leaky, ullaged bottle, acquired late last year.

On decanting, the most striking feature was the colour - more brown than red, but in intensity every bit as dark as the Delaforce Corte '87 I popped recently.

First sip (the dregs) - bit spirity, fiery, but Croft orange signature loud and clear.

D+4 - First glass - a surprise; tannic and oaky - reminded me of a peaty single malt like Highland Park, but with Croft signature nowhere to be seen now.

Another glass, minutes later, the oakiness almost gone, but tannins very evident - could it be that a '60 is not yet fully mature??

D+24 Croft signature back now, and a little composure is suppressing the tannins; but some fire spoils the finish.

Drunk to extinction at D+48, with little further evolution.

The early evolution of this wine, and its unexpected youthfulness, were really quite a surprise. Not a stunning wine really, but one that gets my confidence for still looking good at 100 years, when most of its bedfellows will be fully extinct.

Set fair for the long haul - score 5-5

Tom