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On Tuesday 26th March 2024, at The Boot & flogger, we tasted 1994s.

• Review of the evening as a whole;
  • 1994 Croft;
  • 1994 Taylor;
  • 1994 Fonseca;
  • 1994 Tesco;
  • 1994 Martinez;
  • 1994 Warre;
  • 1994 Dow;
  • 1994 Graham;
  • 1994 Quinta do Vesuvio;
  • 1994 Cockburn;
  • 1994 Kopke;
  • 1994 Quinta do Noval;
  • 1994 Burmester;
  • 1994 Cálem;
  • 1994 Royal Oporto;
• Planning and arrangements;
• Placemats;
• Food order.

Cr94: dark dark red; I failed to note opacity. Very very closed, mid-weight, dry, and presented a bit simple. It needs time, at least ½ a decade. It might yet come very good, but not on this night.

60%? opaque - similar appearance to the Taylor. Vegetal, green pepper note on nose + maybe chlorine? Palate very different to nose - more fruit driven. OK, but had high hopes so a bit disappointing. 5-/7.

A tasting note taken when the wine was being decanted, after being open for 14 hours. Fonseca 1994, opened 19.00, decanted 09.00. Black cherry juice in colour. Rich and complex fruit salad on the nose, so many different types of berry and cut fresh fruit. The fruit on the palate is slightly caramelised, burnt dessert gooseberry juice and baked rhubarb. Wonderful complexity on the aftertaste, with a dark chocolate and sweet blackcurrant finish with such stunning length. Big, full of flavour and in need of decades more time to reach the promised peak of perfection. 96/100.

I noted that the wine showed poorly on the evening when we were drinking it together, and then much better again the following night.

65% opacity, rich red. Nose a bit odd, dusty, green, vegetal.
Slightly bitter entry, green peppers, not much else going on. Seemed a little out of sorts, this bottle.