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Pop and decant and pour.

Remarkably dark, still 90% opaque, red rim.

Nose very much in the plum, almost prune, licorice, and black currant mode.

Big rich congruent palate. Tannins still pretty obvious and quite brutal with this short decant. Long finish, though, where the fruit is starting to peep through.

This is ageing at glacial pace. Come back in five to twenty years, or decant for 24 hours.

+ 23 hours

Still 85% opaque, red rim. A bit more strawberry on the nose. Palate - and tannins - have softened somewhat, but the finish is still formidably chocolatey and there’s even a prickle of white pepper on the finish still. Drinkable with pleasure after the 24 hour decant but I am not going to pop another cork on this until 2030.

Interesting. Seems like a great bottle. 1980 bottles from other shippers that I've opened haven't been as young as yours.

@MigSu - the Symington 1980 wines are all pretty dark. The Taylor Fladgate ones are lighter. I do worry a bit with this one, and the Dow, that they won’t be ready until I am dead, but there is much to admire about them if not love.