1977 Dow's Vintage Port

[Frederick Blais]

Last Thursday the bottle was not corked.

I woundered if the bottle has been recorked, there was no sign on the cork, but it came out in perfect condition with loads of elasticity remaining like it had spent only 5 years there. The last time I had this Port must have been around 2003 and it was glorious, still good amount of fruit and great complexity and intensity, especially on the nose.

This bottle was showing much evolved flavours, mostly tertiary. No fruityness remains but it is still a very fine drink. It took about 3 hours in the decanter before the alcool wears off. Beautiful aromas of leather, tobacco, cocoa, old wood and toffey. The palate is smooth, good thickness as you don't feel the dryer style of Dow's. The tannins are fully integrated, lingering finish on licorice, all spice pumpkin marmalade and some heat showing but not in a bad way. Base on this bottle, there is no hurry but I doubt it would give more further down the line.

17.5/20

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