ThePortForum.com

Ben P. arranged a Bring a Bottle event, sighted, at the Boot & Flogger. And what an evening it was.


Links:

• Review of the event as a whole;
• Tasting notes:
  • 1927 Dow, Raby Castle (CEM);
  • 1934 Fonseca, Raby Castle (CEM);
  • 1948 Taylor, Raby Castle (CEM);
  • 1950 Cockburn, Raby Castle (CEM);
  • 1955 Croft (PW);
  • 1955 Mackenzie (BMHR);
  • 1960 Martinez (IDJ);
  • 1960 Taylor, bottled by J G Thomson of The Vaults, Leith (NAC);
  • 1960 Graham, bottled by J G Thomson of The Vaults, Leith (DESVA from NAC);
  • 1960 Quinta do Noval (MPM);
  • 1963 Quinta do Noval, bottled by Grants of St James’s (JDAW);
  • 1963 Fonseca (MSC);
  • 1966 Quinta do Noval (JV from MSC);
  • 1966 Fonseca (CPR);
  • 1962 Fonseca Guimaraens (NPM fromMSC);
  • 1977 Fonseca (GEAG);
  • 2000 Graham, Magnum (BP);
  • 1948 Taylor, non-Raby † (CEM);
  • 1997 Taylor ‡ (MPM);
• Placemats;
• Planning and arrangements.

D27, Raby Castle. Red-brown, 40% opaque. Soft, big structure, red cherries (fruit!?: but this is 98 years old!), heat mid-palate, soft into the logn ending. Great Port, fully mature, still wonderful.

A light garnet. Elevated nose. Remarkable length. Lovely cherry bakewell note on the palate, and cracking port, but the magic wasn't quite there, the choirs were not singing hosannas of praise. I couldn't quite decide whether it needed more time in the glass or whether it was just slightly inferior to the truly gobsmacking bottle from the same source that Harry brought to a recent dinner.