2 half-bottles per lot
Details
Cockburn--Vintage 1955
Levels: into neck
"I have been able to follow the progress of this port from cask (in 1956), pungent and purple, to maturity. At random: bottled by Hunter and Olivier, still deep and plummy in 1980; by the IECWS (The Wine Society), tasted in the early 1980s: good flavour and balance, and, more recently, by unknown bottlers: each medium deep, with a warm glowing tawny rim; brandy showing on the nose; still fairly sweet, assertive, with good fruit, fair length but a bit hot and sharp. In 1990, lead capsule embossed and cork branded 'Cockburn's 1955 Vintage' but bottler unknown: excellent level, beautiful colour, beautiful gradation; soft, fragrant yet a touch of pepper and liquorice; sweet, medium full-bodied, lovely flavour, texture. Extended dry finish. Most recently: good colour; nose dusty at first, then creamy, opening up richly, frangrantly; lovely flavour, lean touch but refined and flowery. Long, dry, finish, fragrant aftertaste. Last noted at the Cockburn 'Memories of a Century' tasting, London, May 2002. At best ****." MB, Vintage Wine
2 half-bottles per lot
Levels: into neck
"I have been able to follow the progress of this port from cask (in 1956), pungent and purple, to maturity. At random: bottled by Hunter and Olivier, still deep and plummy in 1980; by the IECWS (The Wine Society), tasted in the early 1980s: good flavour and balance, and, more recently, by unknown bottlers: each medium deep, with a warm glowing tawny rim; brandy showing on the nose; still fairly sweet, assertive, with good fruit, fair length but a bit hot and sharp. In 1990, lead capsule embossed and cork branded 'Cockburn's 1955 Vintage' but bottler unknown: excellent level, beautiful colour, beautiful gradation; soft, fragrant yet a touch of pepper and liquorice; sweet, medium full-bodied, lovely flavour, texture. Extended dry finish. Most recently: good colour; nose dusty at first, then creamy, opening up richly, frangrantly; lovely flavour, lean touch but refined and flowery. Long, dry, finish, fragrant aftertaste. Last noted at the Cockburn 'Memories of a Century' tasting, London, May 2002. At best ****." MB, Vintage Wine
2 half-bottles per lot