1977 Smith Woodhouse

[winesecretary]

24 hr decant.

90% opaque, remarkably dark for a 43-year old wine, and uncharacteristically so for a 1977.

Nose quite dumb. Swirling eventually reveals some ink and slightly dusty black cherries.

There is sweet damson fruit on the palate but you have to work for it.

Big plummy, beefy, savoury tannins still on the finish. Overall, well balanced, but distinctly dry.

Easily the most backward '77 I have drunk in recent years. Earlier TPF notes on this port will tell you it might benefit from more time and they're absolutely right. It can now, just about, be drunk with pleasure after a good long decant. But it is not so much on a curve of maturity as in a sort of stasis. It is evolving so slowly it might well make its century.

[John M]

I got two magnums of this about 5 years ago and opened one within the year and I had the same maturity issue---came off like a 15 year old, not 40. Other will sit a long time.