Thursday 2nd January 2014, The Bung Hole, Blind

[jdaw1]

At 6pm the Bung Hole was almost empty, except for a solitary looking Dr Dirk, who had nothing to drink. We started on the JDAW, later revealed to be W66. After a bit of confusion about where to sit table 6? Function Room? we were off, and soon after became a full complement. TBH was almost out of food, many things on the menu not being available, so mostly we ordered burgers. Beatrice returned to tell us that there were only two of those, so steaks substituted.

We were useless at guessing. But good at voting: W66 won, followed by Cr70 and then Fr70. All three being very fine Ports. The Dow was damaged, Rob reporting that several from the batch have been duffers. Dirty bottling line? At Berry’s? Maybe. The Graham 1960 was also not showing at its best.

F85 is interesting, as it feels newly unbalanced. Parts have matured; parts haven’t. My guess is that it will come good, and become a full mature port. But that is a few years away.

[djewesbury]

F85 is interesting, as it feels newly unbalanced. Parts have matured; parts haven’t. My guess is that it will come good, and become a full mature port. But that is a few years away.

Would you go so far as to advocate steering clear of F85 for the next while? I have found that any I've had lately has just not been worth bothering with on the first night, but comes very good after that.
Is it possible that we do not give it sufficient time to open out when we drink it in TBH?

[Glenn E.]

F85 is interesting, as it feels newly unbalanced. Parts have matured; parts haven’t. My guess is that it will come good, and become a full mature port. But that is a few years away.

Would you go so far as to advocate steering clear of F85 for the next while? I have found that any I've had lately has just not been worth bothering with on the first night, but comes very good after that.
Is it possible that we do not give it sufficient time to open out when we drink it in TBH?

I'd like to see more than a single bottle's evidence - from multiple sources - before I'd advocate steering clear. The last bottle I tasted, which was almost a year ago now, was brilliant.

I'll second the insufficient decanting query. F85 needs at least 8 hours in my experience, and 10-12 is my usual target.

[jdaw1]

I'd like to see more than a single bottle's evidence - from multiple sources - before I'd advocate steering clear. The last bottle I tasted, which was almost a year ago now, was brilliant.

I'll second the insufficient decanting query. F85 needs at least 8 hours in my experience, and 10-12 is my usual target.

Would you go so far as to advocate steering clear of F85 for the next while? I have found that any I've had lately has just not been worth bothering with on the first night, but comes very good after that.

For about two years I’ve been thinking them disjointed. The extra-long decant is an interesting hypothesis. Perhaps Rob will reveal when he decanted Thursday’s F85.

[djewesbury]

F85, with a long decant, can be delicious.