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1963 Cockburn: same red as most of the old Cockburns, so lighter than the ’60. No nose recorded; and the taste spoiled by a late-palate bitterness.

Very wet above the cork:

1960 Cockburn: very dark red. Smelling of — what is that? — Eucalyptus? No, pine. Smelling of pine. Mouth sensation damaged by a cloying finish.

Very wet-clay-like sediment:

1955 Cockburn: darker than its younger siblings, but still of the same hue. Woody nose. Very dry in the early palate, in an off-putting way. I was not the only person to dislike this.

MC-R said that C55 was entirely UK-bottled, because of a shortage of glass in Portugal.

1947 Cockburn : pale red, but fuller in colour than older wines. Then, whilst those around me were proclaiming their joy, I recorded “something odd† and “hot — rough on tongue†. Testing DRT’s and NN’s glasses (for which thanks are repeated) gave “long, rich, smooth, sweet, orange marmalade. Very...

Plain and out-of-focus capsule.

1927 Cockburn: perfect pale brick red, lightly fading to brown at the edge. Light on the nose, with a hint of alcohol. DRT said “musty†. Much heat mid-palate, leading to a long weak-marmalade finish. Nice enough, but I’d been spoiled by the ’08 and ’12.

1908 Cockburn : Pale tawny, with a slight hint of red. Smelling of coffee and marmalade — surely the perfect breakfast port! Lovely soft entry, heat in late palate, and medium length. Later the heat had faded, I writing “so soft and lovely†. Delightful mature port. Needs no more time, but holding...

1912 Cockburn : more red than tawny. A very impressive colour for its age. Nosing of angostura bitters . Very spicy, very long. Like a sharp Bloody Mary with lashings of pepper and tabasco. Huge, and hugely impressive. Obviously older than a 1977, but could have passed for an overlooked (and impres...