(Oct. 8, 2014) — The Annual General Meeting will take place at this event. Download the AGM Notice.

If there is any advantage at all to the end of summer (such as it was) and the advent of cooler weather, it is that it means our thoughts can turn once again to “winter” wines such as vintage port. Our club has a large collection of vintage ports and we are going to dip into them for our October event.

The best ports from the best years need a long cellaring to mature and then can hold up for many years. Or that is the theory, a theory we can put to the test. A search through the internet illustrates the staying power of these wines. Checking scores at Wine Enthusiast, Cellar Tracker and others gives aggregate scores in the 90s (out of 100) for most of them. I should emphasize that in 2011 Jancis Robinson gave the ’63 Cockburn 19.5/20.

The scores should not be a surprise since we are to be tasting from the best houses and from fine vintages. Decanter magazine calls the1963 vintage “a classic”; 1966 “perhaps the most underrated vintage of the century”; whilst 1970 is “a fine vintage continuing to show its promise”. Only 1967 was not widely declared except by a few of the better houses. Tasting notes from private blogs are very encouraging.

1960 Dow ((Liverpool bottling)
1966 Dow
1970 Dow
1963 Cockburn
1967 Cockburn
1970 Cockburn
1966 Taylor
1970 Taylor

We expect this to be a very popular event and hope to see you there.

As always with our tastings, this event will be strictly non-smoking, and we request your cooperation in not wearing any scented after-shave or perfume. Using public transit is strongly encouraged.

Cancellations accepted up to October 3, 2014. See the event form for cancellation contact details. No reservations by phone, please. No confirmations will be issued — you will be contacted only if we are sold out. First come basis. Non-members may attend at guest rates, but preference will be given to members.

Download the event form if you wish to mail in your reservation cheque.