For The Love Of Port

OK, another poll. Time for a '77, but which one? I have ten to choose from - you have three days!

Tom

Never heard of a TN for an Offley 1977, this is my choice.

I voted SW77 - Stuart Chatfield raves about this wine and it would be good to see whether or not you agree.

Derek

The best 77 Smith's were in late 90s when I had 4 amazingly near perfect bottles (in my limited experience)... Since then (starting a few years later), I have not had one bottle that came close. They were and still are the best bottles of port I have had yet (along with a near perfect 63 Taylor). I bought 3 cases after that (came in the wood boxes) assuming they were from the same shipments and sat on them (tried 5 of them).

Somewhere on the Jancis site she mentioned how good the Smith was young and how it has been getting "wierder" every year. Will this ever come out of its wierdness? 8 hours in the decanter (plus a couple in the bottle) last year didn't even come close to bringing it out of it's 'slumber'(?I hope). The color of the Smith and the Gould were very dark whereas the bottles of Taylor and Fonseca were very light colored in comparison.

I voted Grahams, again. I recall this got a lot of yes's in the last poll, but in the end did not quite make the cut. But the mystery surrounding this port remains....Fantastic, as many tasters (and the prices sometimes,) support, or dog, as many tasters (and the prices sometimes,) support

I wish I had ten 77's to choose from myself, but perhaps in two weeks I'll get a shot at many of them :)

Jay

Well, 10 wines to choose from, 10 votes and its real close.

Whoever votes next might swing the decision one way or the other.

(But I'm not going to say how I voted!)

Derek stole my script

Yes has to be the SW. Runs Taylor close now, will last longer and half the price. Definitely what I'd take on my treasure island if I had to pick one to last a lifetime marooned.

I don't agree with JR's "weirdness" statement, but it is certainly a bit green on the mid palate and has some nuances like a young lbv. However, overall very well balanced with tannins to last a lifetime that don't ruin it now.

Must stop or I'll want to open another one myself and I'm running out again

Coincidentally, I see JR has just posted another SW 77 note on her site, but ranking it quite low (17/20) this time. She has posted some notes on a recent Symington vertical. However, it is revealing that they seemed to use SW above others as their 77 represenative bottle at that tasting!

Tom, this is easy - I'm waiting right moment to open my Fonseca -77 so it would be nice to hear your comment about it 8)

yep. the enigma. Grahams.

77 Ferreira was my "virgin" port some 20 or so years ago. I started late in life with VP at around age 35 but what an affair it has been!

The 77 Ferreira was $16.99 when I was first trying it . I have since bought a case or two and have just a couple of bottles left. While the last case was $40 per bottle, I'll bet it is still good value for a 77.

It is an unsung hero of the vintage and almost any vintage, ( The 2000 is still around $45)

It is still one of my favorite 77's. Always pleasant, good fruit, nice minty nose, silky mouthfeel, clear ruby color, nice finish . I give it about 91-92 points, RP gives it 87 or so.

Wow! - what a wide spread! At fifteen votes, all ten had a champion..

If the result is a tie, I will count the number of 'mentions in despatches'

Tom

We could start a row if Roy wasn't so busy right now! I like the Graham's 77. Roy thinks it has real flaws.

I would suggest you do a side by side of the Graham's and the Ferreira. In fact, how about a blind tasting. Have someone else serve them and not tell you which is which?
You really can't go wrong with any 77 but the Ferreira could surprise you with its quality.

With five hours left, we have a leader - but only just...

Tom

I vote that you open all 10 and do your own monthly offline!!

A little more seriously, I don't mind which one comes out on top, I just look forward to reading your note.

Alex

OK, voting over, -and we have a winner!

Fonseca it is.

Not surprisingly, the most expensive of the ten won - the Fonseca's in my cellar cost more than four times as much as the Offley's...

..await a TN

Tom

Jay Powers wrote:I voted Grahams, again. I recall this got a lot of yes's in the last poll, but in the end did not quite make the cut. But the mystery surrounding this port remains....Fantastic, as many tasters (and the prices sometimes,) support, or dog, as many tasters (and the prices sometimes,) support

I wish I had ten 77's to choose from myself, but perhaps in two weeks I'll get a shot at many of them :)

Jay

I'm of both opinions on the '77 Graham's, having been convinced of each of them more than once by bottles from the same case.

Best, John Trombley

Over the past week I've opened both a Smith Woodhouse and a Warre. The Smith Woodhouse was a bit clumsy but decent. Still young. The Warre is starting to go tawny but still some plummyness and a nice tipple.