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On Tuesday 19th December 2017, at The Boot & Flogger, as arranged by Charles, we tasted eighteen 1977s. It was splendid.

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 1977 Gould Campbell;
• 1977 Smith Woodhouse;
• 1977 Quarles Harris;
• 1977 Graham;
• 1977 Dow;
• 1977 Warre;
• 1977 Cockburn;
• 1977 Factory House Blend;
• 1977 Morgan;
• 1977 Fonseca;
• 1977 Taylor;
• 1977 Croft;
• 1977 Sandeman;
• 1977 Offley;
• 1977 Ferreira;
• 1977 Niepoort;
• 1977 Kopke;
• 1977 Delaforce;
• Placemats (with embarrassing typo);
• Planning and arrangements.

Deep red, very dark — looking more like a 1985 port than a 1977; 95% opaque. Modestly fragranced nose with fragrant bramble and passion fruit. The sweet fruit delivers the first impression on the palate, poised and restrained at first, then a big bramble / passion fruit salad spreads over the tongue. Substantial tannins support a palate which matches the fruit and acidity perfectly. Fresh Mediterranean pine adds an extra fragrance to the late palate. Chewy black chocolate and black licorice combine on the finish. This is wonderful and superb port that is big, but totally unsubtle and not well balanced. 93/100. 19-Dec-17. Decanted 4½ hours.

70% opacity, rich red/purple. Nose of molasses but also some farmyard. Young, tannic, deep dark fruits. Very tannic!

GC77: dark red, 80% opaque. slightly sulphurous, but still drinkable with pleasure