1977 Dow's Vintage Port

[Andy Velebil]

Still retaining a deep purple color, with some licorise and signs of oxidation. The palate was very hot and lean and it was obvious this was an off bottle
Not Rated.

[Roy Hersh]

I've never seen anyone (maybe David) with such crappy luck with the 1977 Dow's. Andy, have you had ANY good bottles of this? Where did you buy yours?

[David Spriggs]

I've never seen anyone (maybe David) with such crappy luck with the 1977 Dow's. Andy, have you had ANY good bottles of this? Where did you buy yours?

Definitely bad luck on 1977 Dow for me. Andy may have gotten those bottles from me.

[Andy Velebil]

Outside of corked bottles, this was the first one from my cellar that was just plain old not good. Yes, this was a bottle bought from the UK and others in the group have shown fine so far. So one bad one in the group isn't bad....who say's the UK has the best storage conditions. Now, where is that pot stirring emoticon

Oh, and yes I've had some very nice bottles from my cellar and from other people's cellars, but I'd also estimate about a 30(+)% corked rate from my cellar or other people's cellars as well. While a fantastic bottle when it shows well, I no longer buy them due to the corked rate issue. I know Dave has had a similar high corked rate and even a bottle we shared from your cellar Roy was corked.

[Eric Menchen]

Note to self--do not open 1977 Dow's when Andy is around.

[Frederick Blais]

I'm opening one this thursday, I'll try to report back here.

[Glenn E.]

The only one I've ever opened showed fine on the day it was opened - not even Roy could detect that it was corked - but it certainly wasn't a stellar showing. But it was so badly corked by the next evening that Roy and Stuart couldn't drink the leftovers.

I have one more that I bought at the same time, and I fully intend to make sure the entire bottle is consumed the day it is opened.

[Frederick Blais]

Last Thursday the bottle was not corked.

I woundered if the bottle has been recorked, there was no sign on the cork, but it came out in perfect condition with loads of elasticity remaining like it had spent only 5 years there. The last time I had this Port must have been around 2003 and it was glorious, still good amount of fruit and great complexity and intensity, especially on the nose.

This bottle was showing much evolved flavours, mostly tertiary. No fruityness remains but it is still a very fine drink. It took about 3 hours in the decanter before the alcool wears off. Beautiful aromas of leather, tobacco, cocoa, old wood and toffey. The palate is smooth, good thickness as you don't feel the dryer style of Dow's. The tannins are fully integrated, lingering finish on licorice, all spice pumpkin marmalade and some heat showing but not in a bad way. Base on this bottle, there is no hurry but I doubt it would give more further down the line.

17.5/20