1955 Taylor

[jdaw1]

Saturday 29th January 2011, at Selwyn College Cantab, on the occasion of the 56th Annual Dinner of the Cambridge University Tiddlywinks Club, at which were consumed one bottle of 1955 Taylor and eight of 1985 Taylor (decanter labels and TN sheets).

The 1955 Taylor came from the lot of ‟believed 1955” sold by Christies.

5. Capsule metallic with black at sides, perhaps the same as 1 and 7. Black glass too dark to see branding. BN+2mm.

T55, at about D+4hr. Dark red, 70% opacity, which was much fuller colouration than at D+0. Quite dry and astringent, with lots of structure (acid and tannin) such little fruit as there was being plum. Smooth, soft and balanced. No heat. Patrick D suggested strawberry, which I couldn’t find. A very fine bottle.

Because it was shared between 26 drinkers, only a small sample each. Alas.

[JacobH]

Saturday 29th January 2011, at Selwyn College Cantab, on the occasion of the 56th Annual Dinner of the Cambridge University Tiddlywinks Club, at which were consumed one bottle of 1955 Taylor and eight of 1985 Taylor (decanter labels and TN sheets).

I highly approve of the venue!

T55, at about D+4hr. Dark red, 70% opacity, which was much fuller colouration than at D+0. Quite dry and astringent, with lots of structure (acid and tannin) such little fruit as there was being plum. Smooth, soft and balanced. No heat. Patrick D suggested strawberry, which I couldn’t find. A very fine bottle.

But would this have been better than a Warre 1995 LBV?

[jdaw1]

I highly approve of the venue!

Thought you would.

But would this have been better than a Warre 1995 LBV?

Not for the purposes of toasting a Club founded in 1955.

[DRT]

The 1955 Taylor ... was shared between 26 drinkers

Shock - horror! JDAW has turned into an American!

the purposes of toasting a Club founded in 1955

That explains it. JDAW's reputation remains intact.

[Ajva]

Good evening all,

I hope you will welcome a comment from a long-time lurker but first-time poster to your hallowed boards. I too was present at the Tiddlywinks Club dinner last weekend, and jdaw1 has asked me to pop in and share my thoughts on the '55 Taylor. He also asked me to share my thoughts on the '85, but alas by that point I was having far too much fun to take it all in - and besides, I was concentrating on preparing my traditional 'parrot in the freezer' joke.

So, to the '55: my immediate impression was of a fairly balanced, gentle but bountiful thing with - yes - a touch of strawberry, so I'd agree with Patrick there. If I'd known I'd be commenting on it to seasoned port lovers, I'd have brought my notebook along, but alas I did not. I hope this will suffice as my first effort.

yours etc.,

Ajva.

[DRT]

I was having far too much fun to take it all in - and besides, I was concentrating on preparing my traditional 'parrot in the freezer' joke.

Ajva,

Welcome to

Please enlighten us with the not-so-warm tropical bird joke. Please?

[jdaw1]

Please enlighten us with the not-so-warm tropical bird joke. Please?

When Anne is persuaded to attend a tasting, you can hear it. She tells it well.

[Ajva]

Thank you, jdaw.

Yes, I shall wait until then. It rather loses something in the transcription, I think.

Ajva.