1980 Dow Vintage Port

[Glenn E.]

American Crossword Puzzle Tournament Dow Vertical
New York City
March 19, 2011

My wife participates in the ACPT every year, and conveniently there is a lively Port tasting group in New York City. So every year we plan a Port tasting to coincide with the tournament, and this was the 2011 edition.

1980 Dow Vintage Port

Color: Wow, this seems out of place. Nearly the darkest Port of the night, eclipsed only by the 2003 and 2007. Looks completely wrong on the "older" placemat of 1960-1983. You could swap it with the 1997 and that might look right.
Nose: Fruity and bold. Some tomato or possibly tomato paste.
Palate: Amazingly not yet ready for prime time. This is a tannic beast. Under decanted - probably could have used 24 hours. In a way it seems a little disjointed like it might still be coming out of a closed phase.
Finish: Tannins and heat, ripe fruits. Very long.

Score: 93 points. Ask me again in 10 years. Maybe 20.