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On Thursday 13^th December 2012 a subset of the obvious suspects gathered at the Bell, Wendens Ambo CB11 4JY, to taste some treasures.

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 1830 Sherry (#1);
• 1942 Rebello Valente (#2, JDAW, from THRA);
• 1945 Dow (#3, RAYC);
• Cockburn Crusted, bottled 1928 by Avery’s (#4);
• 1922 Sandeman? (#5, WS);
• Unknown perhaps Croft 1912 (#6, CMAG);
• 1927 Taylor (#7);
• 40 year old Santa Eufemia White Tawny (#8);
• Penfolds Great-Grandfather Tawny (#9);
• 1931 Ramos Pinto (#10, AP);
• 1927 Croft (#11, PW);
• 1927 Taylor (#12, AHB);
• Unknown perhaps a very old colheita (#15, CMAG);
• Niepoort VV, 2012 bottling (#16, DN);
• ‘Placemats’, meaning TN sheets and sticky labels, and the parameters used in their construction;
• Planning and arrangements.

Previously at the Bell: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008.

Bottled by Sarson & Son of Leicester. Deep red, with good colour in the centre; 40% opaque. Lovely cherries on the nose, changing and becoming more attractive with every passing minute - lots of fruit and a touch of damp soil and fresh grass. Dry fruit on entry, with soft tannins, lots of richness and generous levels of fruit. Sharp acidity on the aftertaste, and then an intriguing (and delightful) finish of rich ginger biscuits and dried cherries that has great length. Fabulous port.

Guesses to the identity of the port were:
Graham 1955, Graham 1927, Fonseca 1945, Dow 1955, Graham 1927, Cockburn 1955, Warre 1955, Warre 1958. 94/100

Cr27. red-pink, 30% opaque. Taste had heat. Strawberry. Medium-to-light. Sweet, with a slight bitterness throughout. Nice port.