1980 Smith Woodhouse

Tasting notes for individual Ports, with an index sorted by vintage and alphabetically.
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Tasting notes for individual Ports, with an index sorted by vintage and alphabetically.
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jdaw1
Cockburn 1851
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1980 Smith Woodhouse

Post by jdaw1 »

A triple vertical of Gould Campbell, Smith Woodhouse and Quarles Harris, at the RAF Club on Thursday 17th November 2011, in honour of the 30th Birthday of the organiser. Links:
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jdaw1
Cockburn 1851
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Re: 1980 Smith Woodhouse

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SW80. Red, 90% opaque. Nosing of lemon grass and cherry. To taste light, with heat, and with lemon. Too light. Though thin, long and very pleasant.
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WS1
Cruz 1989
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Re: 1980 Smith Woodhouse

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very dark red, spicy on the nose, somehow lemon grassy, green beans, really tasty, very elegant port, very long aftertaste, good structure and balance. Overall a very good port!
"Sometimes too much to drink is barely enough"
Mark Twain
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Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
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Re: 1980 Smith Woodhouse

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

Dark red, 99% opaque. Quite closed on the nose, with a touch of rhubarb and brambles. Modest fruit on entry, but plenty of structure from the gentle tannins. Fruit builds up nicely, but is held in check by the acidity and tannins. A serious palate, but lacks just a little fruit. Empty aftertaste and a dry finish that has a woody fruitiness to it. This would certainly benefit from a few more years in the cellar. 88/100.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
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DRT
Fonseca 1966
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Re: 1980 Smith Woodhouse

Post by DRT »

Very dark - red liquorice on the palate with a slightly hollow finish.
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
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