Thu 05 April 2018; mystery 1922; at the B&F

[jdaw1]

Re a Christie’s auction in December 2017

I'm not under stocked on either '22 or '24 and the strangely low estimate rang alarm bells.

..but I wasn't going to let eleven bottles of near century old port go for just £850 hammer.

So I bid £900 - and won the lot..

Have looked at the bottles for the first time today, and the lot description didn't do them justice. All the bottles have perfectly intact wax capsules, and the colour looks promising. The worst level is on one of the '22s at low shoulder - not below low shoulder as billed. Only one of the '24s shows seepage (not two) and that's very minor.

- But who's the shipper?

So a few (THRA JDAW CPR IDJ) gathered, and were joined by more (DRT MPM), to test the mystery 1922 bottled by Robinson & Payne.

Links:

• Review of the event as a whole;
• 1922 Warre;
• 1966 Taylor;
• 1970 Warre;
• 1970 Dow;
• 1970 Sandeman;
• 1963 Croft;
• Placemats;
• Planning and arrangements;
• Christie’s, 7^th December 2017, lot 557.

[Alex Bridgeman]

And for the record, the wine was Warre 1922.

[idj123]

This was an interesting and very enjoyable tasting in which the initial quorum of wines were all virtually consumed at 8.30pm leading to the range being augmented firstly by the addition of a light and fresh tasting S70 (which I thought deserved of the point that I gave it) and then by a Cr63 (too late to be included within the WOTN) and topped off by an uncredited SW70 from the B&F wine list (thanks Derek). All three were popped n poured and none the worse for it,

As has been mentioned elsewhere the mystery/Warre 22 was oxidised but was still a lovely colour and and not too bad imo and indicating what could be a terrific Port trying to get out. THe W70 was the WTN although my preference was for the T66 which stood firm within the admittedly short drinking window that we gave these wines. Food and service at the B&F very good as usual.

[flash_uk]

I managed to make it to the B&F for just after 9 whereupon the Cr63 which I had brought for the tasting the following Tuesday was commandeered for immediate consumption. A glass of the W22 had been saved for me - didn't make a tasting note but can recall that despite oxidisation, there was a solid port lurking in there.

One of the more memorable moments from the evening was the comedic attempts by all of us to figure out how to account for the consumed Cr63, given that it was actually intended for the '63 tasting on the coming Tuesday. This accounting was further confused by the fact that Tom was additionally contributing a Constantino '63 to Tuesday's tasting and some of us were sure this could form part of the overall transaction. The simple answer was of course that the five of us present should purchase the Constantino from Tom, and then gift it to me to replace the Cr63 that we had drunk, and then instead of me bringing a Cr63 on Tuesday, I would bring the Constantino. Got it? Simple? On Thursday evening, this simplicity eluded all of us for a long time. I blame the port consumed

[jdaw1]

One of the more memorable moments from the evening was the comedic attempts by all of us to figure out how to account for the consumed Cr63, given that it was actually intended for the '63 tasting on the coming Tuesday. This accounting was further confused by the fact that Tom was additionally contributing a Constantino '63 to Tuesday's tasting and some of us were sure this could form part of the overall transaction. The simple answer was of course that the five of us present should purchase the Constantino from Tom, and then gift it to me to replace the Cr63 that we had drunk, and then instead of me bringing a Cr63 on Tuesday, I would bring the Constantino. Got it? Simple? On Thursday evening, this simplicity eluded all of us for a long time. I blame the port consumed

Thank your for volunteering to be in charge of accounts in Tuesday.