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On Thursday 6th April 2017 we gathered at The Boot & Flogger to taste 1955s, partly for the 55th birthday of James Maitland of Seckford Wines.

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 1955 Cockburn;
• 1955 Croft;
• 1955 Dow;
• 1955 Fonseca;
• 1955 Gonzalez Byass;
• 1955 Graham;
• 1955 Mackenzie;
• 1955 Quinta do Noval;
• 1955 Offley;
• 1955 Sandeman;
• 1955 Taylor;
• 1955 Warre;
• Placemats;
• Food order;
• Planning and arrangements.

Ck55. Dark red, 50% opaque. Palate initially hit. Still red-fruited, the heat becoming pepper by mid-palate. Perhaps the second-least evolved of the Ports at this table, behind the Mackenzie.

30% opacity, mature red-brown, yellow rim. Caramels and very subtle tones of orange on the nose. Fine bodied, gentle heat mid to late palate, really gentle acidity - makes the tongue tingle! Oranges come through late on the palate then linger long in the aftertaste. Very fine stuff!

Unknown UK bottler. Mature brick red colour, 40% opaque. A gentle nose of warm orange blossom and fiery alcohol over the top of the smell of fresh compost, complex and leafy. Modest entry that is well balanced with a lovely sweet and sour taste and texture. Mature tobacco and juniper fruit on the palate; the balance stays across the whole of the palate and the fruit is mature and nicely concentrated. There is a big orange jelly aftertaste with just a hint of ashy tannin before the chewy green wood finish takes hold and stays for a good time. This is a very nice port. 92/100. Tasted 06-Apr-17. Decanted 2 hours.