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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).

Pre-tasting note:
From an OWC of 12 purchased in bond from Seckfords in January 2020.
Cork came out fairly easily and in perfect condition.
Double decanted approx. 2000 on evening before the tasting.
Very little sediment.
Condition OK.

Double decanted 23 hours. Deep red colour with an opaque centre and a wide rim. There is a pleasant herbaceous tone to the ripe fruit on the fruit-forward nose. A lovely texture on the palate, bringing ripe and poised fruit wrapped around a gentle ripe tannic structure. This results in a lovely wine on the palate, one which is just beginning to show the elegance of a mature Warre. A fruit-driven aftertaste follows, rich and floral. This is a delicious wine, so easy to drink now but will be better in a decade. 93/100.

Closed nose. A touch spicy. Lots of tannic grip which is keeping this in restraint. Some sweet red fruit being held in check. Could be brilliant but it seems to me that this is a long way from its peak.

Plum colour. Pink rim. Very beguiling blackcurrant nose. Congruent palate. Chocolate. I could do a lot worse than drink more of this.

60% opacity, deep red. Full, slightly coarse tannin, concentrated bramble fruit.