1997 Souza Vintage Port

[Glenn E.]

From the recent buying opportunity. Opened for the 1st meeting of the Sammamish Port Club.

1997 Souza VP

Color: Dark purple, but not quite opaque. Looks very young - much younger than 20 years old, though the lack of opacity in the center does give a hint that it's older.

Nose: Rich and young. Grapey. Some alcohol which isn't quite resolved as spirit yet. Dark purple notes as well (boysenberry? mulberry?).

Palate: Rich, with good tannins. Needs another 5 years, I think. Could use 10. Good solid fruits in the purple spectrum, with some bluer notes as well. Only one of the three (87, 95, 97) that gives the impression that it might be a 50-year Port.

Score: 93 points. To me this was clearly the best of the three VPs, but it's too young to want to take home to finish tomorrow. I'd have taken either of the others for that purpose before the 97, preferably the 87. Most suspected that this will be better in 10 years than the 87 is now, and I agree. This has more structure than either of the other two and still has room to grow before peaking.