1986 Smith Woodhouse LBV (unfiltered)

[jdaw1]

The Dow Magnum Vertical, Thursday 17th January 2013, at The Bung Hole.

Links:

• Review of evening as a whole;
• 1963 Dow (magnum);
• 1970 Dow (magnum);
• 1977 Dow (magnum);
• 1980 Dow (magnum);
• 1985 Dow (magnum);
• 1994 Dow (magnum);
• 1985 Warre (magnum);
• 1986 Smith Woodhouse LBV (750ml);
• 40Y Quevedo tawny (750ml);
• Two ‘secret’ ports brought by Cynthia;
• Placemats;
• Planning and arrangements.

[jdaw1]

The Smith Woodhouse was served blind and everyone asked to guess what they thought it was. Guesses were quite varied, being:
Cockburn 1963
Cockburn 1970
Dow 1963
Dow 1966
Dow Bomfim 1968
Dow 1983
Martinez 1967
Sandeman 1967
Sandeman 1982
Unknown 1966
Given the company this port was served in, I thought it showed very well and none of the guesses seemed to indicate that people failed to enjoy this port. A good showing for a bottle matured LBV with some decent time in the bottle.

[jdaw1]

SW86 LBV, served blind. We were hopeless.

Red, 40% opaque. My tasting-note enthusiasm was clearly diminishing, nay diminished, as I noted only ‟Dry”.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Bottle matured. Mid red and mature in appearance with a pink rim; 20% opaque. Slight nose of bruised Victoria plums. Balanced entry, a little lightweight on the palate but with plentiful fruit. A lovely core of soft tobacco tannins. Lots of cocoa show on the long tannin dominated finish. Served blind, this was guessed by all present to be a vintage port of age from 1963-1985. 90/100.