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The gravy is straight pedro ximenez…

Thank you to Neil for the organisation and for supplying virtually all of the wines. Neil, a treatment to your ability to defer gratification that surprisingly few of those were the last bottle of those wines that you had! Ian, thank you for the excellent impromptu bottle of Sandeman 1966. Julian, t...

We’re all thirsty…

By chance I am also out for lunch, for work reasons, with people who will be driving afterwards, so will likely arrive even thirstier.

This has been in a sealed decanter in the fridge since the above note. It is now both slightly less distinctive and actually rather better. There’s a very good tart cranberry note that makes me think of Offley.

The worst (wax gone, cork drying) of a case of 12 purchased recently for relatively small money. Popped decanted left for an hour and poured. 30% opaque, pale rim. Nose of prunes with a bit of alcoholic heat. Concord grape jelly on the mid palate. Some licorice. Quite big tannic finish. Slightly imp...

I thought the tappit hens were good value at the discounted price as the premium over bottle release price had vanished.

@ mcoulson - Suspect you are confusing them with Garrafeira Nacional in Lisbon. Gosh I did love buying from them pre-brexit.

Some bargains in the Hedonism sale - Vesuvio Capela 2016 at £75 and Graham Stone Terraces 2015 at £100. Couldn’t resist one of each of those. Plus a whole bunch of young Tappit Hens which are not compatible with my other obligations at the moment.

Is it just me that finds the rising tide of excitement in one, as a tasting like this in which one is going to participate comes to fruition, a considerable pleasure in its own right? Especially where the tasting is, as here, going to significantly expand the boundaries of one’s knowledge. Following...

I fourth the suggestion of pigs in blankets and chips as a pre-starter

Ham hock terrine
Roast turkey (no stuffing, no pig in blanket* please)
Treacle tart (no clotted cream please)

*I will have eaten too much pig already by then

And in mine

Regret unavailability due to family commitments.

I am very sorry to say I am in court on the 13th December. Have fun, chaps!

In all seriousness, though, this was a splendid evening with a lot of ports of real class.

Completely yellow-orange. Pure citrus with a eucalyptus note. Orange oil. Delicious but no longer really port.

Lovely sweet cherry nose. Just about still port. Very very long. Wonderful long long finish of oranges. Best finish of the night and got a point from me.

A balsamic note on the nose. On the palate positively meaty. Still complete port. Still lovely. Still lively.

Not a great deal happening here for me, in one sense, but also still very nice. Pleasant old wine drinking.

Remarkably dark colour for age. Nose more than a bit off though. Nasty. Hot on palate. Off, alas.

Smells of old books. In a good way. Lovely. Vinous. Got a point from me.

A bit darker than the 1966. Aniseed balls on nose. This is very pleasant indeed. Lovely mouthfeel.

Rim turning to orange. A pronounced licorice nose. This is delicious. Pronounced pontefract cake on finish. Really pleasurable wine and got a point from me.

Looks a lot younger than the 1975. Nothing on the nose. Sweet red juice. Bit of cinnamon.

Brownish red but very light and very clear. Not much on the nose for me. A very strong palate of oranges. Possibly a bit of acrid burnt orange late on the finish.

40% opaque. Not a great deal happening on the nose. Lovely sweet palate of oranges and cranberries. Really quite nice and got a point from me.