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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.

Medium mature red colour with a pink rim; 90% opaque. Soft nose, not showing much but what little there is comprises sweet redcurrant cordial cmbined with harsh rose-hip. Light entry, sweet but with little flavour at first. Air on the mid-palate releases soft and gentle fruit. The palate has a lovely delicate structure with soft tannins nearly melded into the fruit with a wonderful lightness and elegance. A lovely aftertaste and finish, full of mature fruit with hints of tannins and some heat at first. This port has a balance and elegance that was missing from the Gould Campbell or Smith Woodhouse. 94/100. 19-Dec-17. Decanted 5 hours.

65% opacity, dark red. Hint of coffee and bitterness on the nose. Rich mouthfeel, heat mid to late palate, syrupy molasses, great structure, tannins in the finish.

QH77: pink-red, 405 opaque. Palate soft with heat mid-palate. Overall becoming faint: still alive, but drink up.