1980 Smith Woodhouse

[Alex Bridgeman]

Opened on 31 October 2007 and drunk after 8 hours in the decanter.

Very deep red, opaque centre and very dark rim. Nose still holds some primary blackcurrant. The initial entry into the mouth is sweet but a wave of tannin comes through, to be replaced in turn by the blackcurrant cordial that is promised on the nose. The aftertaste takes a while to come into focus, but then resolves itself into a dark cherry chocolate that lasts a long time. A surprisingly young wine that will continue to improve and will be better in a decade. Some had this as the wine of the night. 7-8 or 91/100.

[bman]

Tasted last week, from a half bottle. After a mere 3 hours in the decanter, medium body, medium sweet. Colour a little lighter than expected, though the wine was still rich and classier, more so than I recalled from my only previous bottles about 6 years ago.

I tasted dark chocolate, alcohol-infused maraschino cherries (like I used to get in my Black Russians, before I gave up spirts for wine and port!) and moccachino.

On the second day it was pinker and lighter, and some heat that was apparent the previous day was gone. I think I liked it better on day two..

I liked this wine much better than the one or two other 1980s I've had, perhaps this vintage is peaking? I don't think it will improve much if any, and it may not last beyond another 5 years, though who knows?

I score this 91 points.