For The Love Of Port

• 1977 Smith Woodhouse Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (4/27/2024)
  Light amber with golden hints. The nose reveals warm red fruits, milk chocolate, and a touch of spice. The palate is lively, showing raspberry, cassis, and a hint of spirit. Acidity is bright and leads to a refreshing finish. (89 pts.)

This tasting note is one of several related tasting notes. Click [here] to see the original note in context.

This sounds like an off bottle to me. While I haven't opened one in a while and it isn't the most complex wine, it is usually one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful and dark 1977. Might be time to try one.

Eric Menchen wrote: ↑Mon Feb 03, 2025 3:09 pm This sounds like an off bottle to me. While I haven't opened one in a while and it isn't the most complex wine, it is usually one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful and dark 1977. Might be time to try one.

I've found there's some variation in the '77 SW's that I've had, but they've always consistently been dark. Some have been powerful and a few not as much. Maybe a few of the bottles I had weren't originally stored properly? Regardless, it's still my favorite VP from 1977.

We had one this past weekend, and it was more-or-less in line with Stewart's note. It was quite dark (for a 1977) and very tannic, but I noted a bit of astringency that kept its score down. But otherwise, yeah, warm red fruits, some darker purple fruits, maybe some milk chocolate, and in our case a bit of esteva.

I have a magnum left and see no need to open it any time soon... unless a proper occasion comes up.