Decant: 15 minutes - This was a bottle that I came across in an old cellar I was browsing through. Having never tried a wine from 1950, I thought I would rectify this oversight at once.
Plain 2-part moulded bottle. Handwritten label carrying the phrase,
"CKBUR
50". Black sealing wax had been used to seal the cork, which was recessed into the neck of the bottle. There were signs of seepage, although these could have been from other bottles above this one in the cellar since it had a very good fill into the neck. It was a struggle to get the wax off the top of the bottle and particularly the layer that lay over the top of the cork (port tongs would have been ideal) but eventually the cork could be seen through the clear green glass of the bottle and could be seen to read "Cockburns Vintage 1950, Bottled 1952". Removed very carefully, the cork came out intact and went into my basket of old corks. Scent on decanting was dominated by brandy, with a touch of bottle stink. I didn't decant it cleanly as there muct have been lots of fine sediment stirred up while I was scraping the wax off the top of the bottle and I didn't give it enough time to settle again.
A tasting note taken immediately.
Distinct very pale brown colour, with a green tinge on the rim and a slight hint of red in the centre. Colour and appearance very reminiscent of a very old madeira. Fusty nose dominated by the alcohol but a swirl brings out sugary and caramel tones. Harsh and bitter entry, some sweetness but the kind you find in cough sweets. Becomes more pleasant as you slurp to reveal sweet raspberries – I expect this to be very good in a few hours. Long aftertaste of burnt sugar and black coffee. 79/100 or 1/0.
79 points
TN: 1950 Cockburn Vintage Port
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