10th Sep 2013 at The Bunghole

[DRT]

A splendid evening to welcome the end of a long, hot drought and return things to how they should be.

Tom contributed a "TPF 1st" by brining along a Croft 1950 which had a worrying colour but a fantastic taste and AHB supplied a never to be seen again Crusted 1984 that proved to be extremely tasty alongside a medium-rare fillet steak. Julian and I contributed a G70 and F70 to fill the placemat. The G70 was outstanding and the F70 very good, even though slightly corked (or stinky?).

All that aside, this is perhaps the first tasting (on the east side of the pond) where all Ports and all participants were "done" by 22:00.

An excellent evening.

[Alex Bridgeman]

This was indeed an excellent way to ease back into the port drinking season; two classic vintage ports (G70 and F70) and two interesting ports (Cr50 and James McCabe Crusted Port bottled 1984). For me the wine of the night was the Graham 1970, which was a splendid bottle of a very fine port. The Fonseca 1970 had something slightly wrong about it, either mildly corked or a bit of bottle stink. It didn't last long enough for me to figure out which it was. The Croft 1950 looked like it should be awful, but was actually rather a pleasant mature tawny port and the McCabe Crusted was rather nice drinking - perhaps a little simple compared to the power of the Graham, but not disgraced by the comparison.

A splendid evening and I made my train home with 15 minutes to spare. Very civilised.

[jdaw1]

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 1950 Croft;
• 1970 Fonseca;
• 1970 Graham;
• NV James McCabe Crusted 1984;
• Placemats (and parameters by which made);
• Planning and arrangements.

[jdaw1]

The Crusted, ‘AHB’, has a higher fill than the others.

[jdaw1]

[jdaw1]

[djewesbury]

Very glad the G70 showed so well. DRT will agree it was worth waiting for.

[PhilW]

All that aside, this is perhaps the first tasting (on the east side of the pond) where all Ports and all participants were "done" by 22:00.

An excellent evening.

What happened to DRT?
Perhaps this was just a warm-up for the more usual "at least two Magnums per person plus an extra three in case we get thirsty" approach we are more used to, unless this is a new, more restrained, relaxed, calmer, simpler approach? No? I thought not!

It sounds like a good evening with interesting unusual ports and a welcome start to the post-port-drought-summer which some including myself have been experiencing. Hope to be back in London with you all again soon.

[DRT]

All that aside, this is perhaps the first tasting (on the east side of the pond) where all Ports and all participants were "done" by 22:00.

An excellent evening.

What happened to DRT?
Perhaps this was just a warm-up for the more usual "at least two Magnums per person plus an extra three in case we get thirsty" approach we are more used to, unless this is a new, more restrained, relaxed, calmer, simpler approach? No? I thought not!

We had a back-up bottle and unanimously decided we did not need to open it.

[Glenn E.]

All that aside, this is perhaps the first tasting (on the east side of the pond) where all Ports and all participants were "done" by 22:00.

An excellent evening.

What happened to DRT?
Perhaps this was just a warm-up for the more usual "at least two Magnums per person plus an extra three in case we get thirsty" approach we are more used to, unless this is a new, more restrained, relaxed, calmer, simpler approach? No? I thought not!

We had a back-up bottle and unanimously decided we did not need to open it.

Hmm. Perhaps a quarantine is in order? Whatever malady has affected these four poor individuals should not be allowed to spread!

[jdaw1]

This photograph by AHB.