1980 Smith Woodhouse Vintage Port

Bob bman · Post by **Bob bman** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 2:23 pm

Tasted last week, from a half bottle. After a mere 3 hours in the decanter, medium body, medium sweet. Colour a little lighter than expected, though the wine was still rich and classier, more so than I recalled from my only previous bottles about 6 years ago.

I tasted dark chocolate, alcohol-infused maraschino cherries (like I used to get in my Black Russians, before I gave up spirts for wine and port!) and moccachino.

On the second day it was pinker and lighter, and some heat that was apparent the previous day was gone. I think I liked it better on day two..

I liked this wine much better than the one or two other 1980s I've had, perhaps this vintage is peaking? I don't think it will improve much if any, and it may not last beyond another 5 years, though who knows?

I score this 91 points.

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 3:33 pm

Bob,

I don't think the 1980 vintage Ports are peaking yet, maybe some of them are though as I have only had about 8 producers. In the past three months I have tried the Taylor (2x) and Fonseca as well as the Dow vs. Graham too.

Dow is my favorite, closely followed by Graham. The Taylor was more enjoyable than the Fonseca I had but I am not sure that was a pristine bottle of the '80 Fonseca we had tried.

I appreciate your fine notes and it is a pleasure to see you back once again. I hope you will come back on occasion and revisit with us!

Sincerely,

Roy

Post by **Andy Velebil** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 4:11 pm

Having had the 1980 SW in both 375ml and 750 ml bottles, both in the past two months, the 1/2 bottle shows considerable more age than the full bottle does. The full bottle didn't show it was peaking yet, where the 1/2 bottle was slightly past its best IMO. Here is a link to the TN's of the full bottle some of us shared at an offline in November

http://www.fortheloveofport.com/ftlopfo ... +woodhouse

Bob bman · Post by **Bob bman** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 4:49 pm

Hi Roy. I'd love to spend more time on this site but competition for the computer is tough around here!

I just got a bottle of 1980 dow which might die soon, though I got some others as well that I'd like to try, like the 92 Warre Cavadinha. We rarely see aged ports in Ontario, even more rarely are they fairly priced, but we got a Symington offer of about 35 ports and of course I bougth quite a bit.

Now there are even more on the shelves so I expect to be trying some them ASAP so that I can get more before they're all gone.

Bill Crann · Post by **Bill Crann** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 4:10 pm

Bob,
Nice notes on the '80 S-W. I've never come across any around here but I have picked up my share of the '92 Warre's you reference: it was very open and primary when I last had it a few years ago but it has enough tannins and balance to last quite awhile. Pick some up.

Bill

Bob bman · Post by **Bob bman** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 9:35 pm

Thanks Bill. :) I'm guessing that you are in Ontario?

Funny you mention the 92 Warre Cavadinha (the reason I'm guessing you live in this province), as I opened a bottle last night and had some tonight. I made some TNs but they are downstairs and I'm en route to beddy-bye, so they will have to wait. Suffice to say that I liked better than any similary young port I've had, and yes I will try to get more.

Bill Crann · Post by **Bill Crann** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 9:21 am

Bob,
We're in the thumb of Michigan but I have to buy VP when I pass through one of the cities. VP just doesn't sell well here except for the exceptional declarations. The '92 Warre's and Dow's stayed on the retailer wine shelves forever - you may be getting some of the stock that never made it out of the warehouses. But probably it's stock deliberately held back which would be better provinence-wise.

BC

Bob bman · Post by **Bob bman** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 12:38 pm

Interesting. I'm originally from Windsor, and we had a cottage betwen Clare and Harrison for many years when I was a kid. And we're off to Frankenmuth for some quick outlet mall shopping, and reliving past glories, the first week of January. Where are you? Do you ever offline with the Detroit gang on Wine Spectator forums? They have some good events, often in Windsor.