TN: 1980 Smith Woodhouse Vintage Port

[Al B.]

Decant: 2 hours - From a half bottle made of clear, green glass. Cork had been attacked by weevil and had a small groove from top to bottom. Port decanted slowly but cleanly through the coffee filter paper, showing a brown and potentially oxidised tinge to it. Nose full of revolting bottle stink. After a couple of hours in the decanter the nose had cleared up a little but was still dominated by stewed plums. Much better in the mouth, where the wine was sweet and well balanced with some subdued acidity, plenty of pune fruit mixed in with the stewed plums and tannins if you look for them. Short in the aftertaste. Not a bad bottle for an emergency decant, but not a bottle to hunt out. 85 points