1980 Smith Woodhouse Vintage Port

[Markus D.]

1980 Smith Woodhouse Vintage Port

Very dark red colour. Colourful and fruity nose with strawberries, cherries and black currents. Fruit and berry flavours continue when sipped as well as some cedar. Not too sweet. Moderate to short finish. Very good. 89 points

[Andy Velebil]

Markus,
Was this decanted, and if so for about how long?

[Roy Hersh]

I like this particular Port a bit more than you did Markus. The Gould Campbell is also pretty great from the '80 vintage. I am gaining more and more respect for 1980 as a vintage and wonder why even more Shippers did not declare that year.

[Markus D.]

Markus,
Was this decanted, and if so for about how long?

Hi Andy,

I suspect this could have been part of the problem of why I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd like to have. Only about an 1 to 1.5hrs (due to impatience ) I suspect giving it a few mores hours would've helped.

[Moses Botbol]

1980 is a great sleeper vintage. Can't recall a "bad" 1980 vintage in relation to price.

[Roy Hersh]

1980 Fonseca is "bad" no matter WHAT the price.

[Andy Velebil]

Markus,
Was this decanted, and if so for about how long?

Hi Andy,

I suspect this could have been part of the problem of why I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd like to have. Only about an 1 to 1.5hrs (due to impatience ) I suspect giving it a few mores hours would've helped.

Ah, yeah that may have been a slight issue. Do grab another bottle of this if you can and give it a nice long decant before drinking it to see if you change your mind about it or not.

[Andy Velebil]

1980 Fonseca is "bad" no matter WHAT the price.

Was going to say the same thing. The last bottle I opened at a small gathering at my place and it was the only Port I've poured out that wasn't corked.

[Glenn E.]

1980 Fonseca is "bad" no matter WHAT the price.

Was going to say the same thing. The last bottle I opened at a small gathering at my place and it was the only Port I've poured out that wasn't corked.

I've had a good bottle of it, though admittedly the Fonseca fanatic who brought it said that it was by far the best bottle of 1980 Fonseca that he'd ever opened. And I got the impression he'd opened a case or so of 'em.

[Roy Hersh]

Someone local?

[Glenn E.]

It was one of g-man's bottles the last time I was in NYC. It really was a nice bottle, but not even close to Fonseca's usual standard.