1970 Warre

[winesecretary]

A lot of 5 bottles was purchased at an advantageous price at auction before Christmas but I forgot to take delivery until this week. Lead capsule rather than plastic capsule. One was starting to seep - level still BN so I suspect an artefact of transport - but that meant swift condemnation to opening.

Popped and decanted and poured.

Orange rim but still a deep red in the glass. 40% opaque.

Nose a little muted but swirling brings spearmint and cranberry.

Palate is ravishingly soft, with Agen prune and Armagnac cream. Strawberries and vanilla custard follow, before we reach a rich orange oil and cinnamon finish.

The labels were tatty, I accept, but I think this was barely fifty quid delivered. Burgundy of equivalent augustness - fully mature, top producer, top vintage - is a substantial multiple of that.

I first drank this port in winter 1990 and I think in all the time since I’ve only had a couple of duffers, across probably four dozen bottles. There have been few things in my life that have offered such reliable value.

[rich_n]

This sounds like an outrageous bargain and I'm very envious! Once I get back to looking at auctions again I may need to be on the lookout for some of this lovely sounding juice.

[winesecretary]

At a sale in the USA this week G70 was going for about the same money, so it can be done… I find the bargains are usually around lot 1138 (or equivalent) in a sale than has featured multiple pristine cases of Romanee Conti (or similar).bidder fatigue is real.