You never know what you’re going to get with this Port—it’s like the movie The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Don was very smart and brought three extra back-up bottles, to ensure he had enough, in case of the dreaded TCA curse that is so pervasive with this bottling. It was nice to get lucky and, with a short decanting time, ensure that this was not going to ruin the moment. Medium ruby color, with a pink-tawny meniscus. Nice to have a clean bottle from which to drink this fine Port, which at its best can provide loads of pleasure and be the best in show when it comes to 1983. Seductive and earthy notes of dried rose petal, cedar chest,and esteva. Medium-bodied, delivering a lush and silky palate presence, dry red-fruit flavors, along with cocoa and unblanched almond. Rich and powerful, with secondary characteristics firmly in place, but enough fruit in the tank to keep on for another decade or two. In top form and at its peak—a great example of how a perfect bottle of ’83 Cockburn’s is today. | 94+