A splendid evening, with much juicy port. If there are identifying characteristics of ’66 VP, they seem to be raisins, and being lovely. I was very impressed. And the spread of voting was fairly indicative of the range of good juice: 1st equal with 11½ points were Fonseca and Graham a, edge behind with 10 was the Noval, an edge behind with 8½ were Croft and Niepoort, and an edge behind that with 8 was Gould Campbell, and an edge behind that with 6 was the Dow. And even no-points Offley was very fine. Much good port died that evening, and died heroically.
Part of the spread of voting was caused by evolution in the glass. Dow, the first to cross my lips, was fantastic at the start of the evening. But over time it became flabbier and less interesting. Others grew with time.
Disappointments? Taylor was corked; Sandeman was materially past its prime; and the known-to-be-Warre Warre did not show as well as it should. Two of these could still be drunk with pleasure.
We also had two 1966 Clarets, donated by the recently-departed
griff. The Margaux, the
Château Cantenac Brown, was big and full of structure and in wonderful shape. The St Julien, the BBR
Château Langoa Barton, had become rather acidic.
Gentlemen in England then a-bed, think themselves accursed they were not there