Decant: 9 hours - I love the 1994's for drinking now as well as for keeping. This is a wine that I have not had before and so picked one up from Berry Brothers when they were running a bin end sale a few weeks ago. The tasting note was taken 9 hours after decanting (when the wine was much better than when tasted just after decanting). There was a small amount of very fine sediment in the wine. Opaque red colour, uniform into the rim; no brown, no purple. Blackcurrant nose with hints of mint and cedar wood. Slides gently into the mouth with poise and elegance; sweet but less initial fruit than I expected. Midpalate sees more fruit flavours, but less than other '94s I've drunk. Soft tannins and an acidic backbone, balanced but with an odd, distracting sharp edge. Aftertaste blank for a while then a minute or so after swallowing a chocolate residue slides in and lasts a decent time.
This is not a great '94 but is a wine that is perfectly respectable. It will probably be better in 5-10 years. Not one of the luscious '94s to be opened and drunk today. 87 points
TN: 1994 Smith Woodhouse Vintage Port
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