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Neil C. arranged, at the Boot and Flogger, a horizontal of 1997s, the first since a 1997 Maturity Evaluation on 16th June 2014.

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 1997 Burmester;
• 1997 Quinta do Noval;
• 1997 Quinta do Noval Silval;
• 1997 Taylor;
• 1997 Fonseca;
• 1997 Croft Quinta da Roêda;
• 1997 Dow;
• 1997 Graham;
• 1997 Gould Campbell;
• 1997 Warre;
• 1997 Vesuvio;
• 1997 Smith Woodhouse;
• 1997 Quarles Harris;
• 1997 Martinez;
• 1997 Sandeman Vau;
• 1997 Ramos Pinto;
• 1997 Val da Figueira;
• 1997 Osborne;
• Planning and arrangements;
• Food order;
• Placemats (and in list of placemats).

Double decanted 21½ hours. An attractive mature brick-red colour with a medium-rim. Attractive fruit on the nose, ripe and fragrant. Nice smooth texture on the palate, sweet and fragrant and just starting to develop the Graham Christmas cake spice amongst the dried fruit. Sweet and ripe with great tannins, so gentle when you feel them on the aftertaste of rich, bruised cherry fruit. A stunning chewy tannic finish. Very fine. 92/100.

Fruity nose, the most inviting so far. Dark cherries, eucalyptus, a touch of spice, still some tannic grip. Caramel. Minty later on. Citric acidity adding depth. Lovely stuff, v good to excellent.

Relatively lightly coloured. Very spicy nose. Strawberries and chocolate on the palate. Very sweet.

65% opacity, dark red. Lovely rich nose, strawberry and violets. Soft entry, chocolate, soft tannin, strawberries.