From Tappit Hen (ex-cellars) and in a black glass. 2 hour decant: little on the nose, some alcohol and not much else. Harsh impact with lots of acidity and little fruit, dried out with a coffee / pine sap dominating. Hot aftertaste, lots of aniseed of lingering length. Not showing well. 82/100.
2½ hours later this was showing a mature red with bricking on the rim; 40% opaque. Soft in texture, but still with a harsh and bitter impactwith chalky tannins. Work on the palate releases some canned blackberry fruit and a light floral complexity of parma violets. Floral aftertaste and a gentle length.
In common with the other two tappit hens opened on this night, the decant was way too short for the wine to show well. Later in the evening the wine was much better and over the following 2-3 days it hit a peak where the port would have scored 4-5 points more than it did on the night. It was rightly compared to a younger vintage port not quite coming out of its closed phase. 87/100. Drunk 20-Feb-13. Decanted 4½ hours.
Review thread
NV 5G Muito Velho
1977 Dow from Tappit Hen
1977 Graham from Tappit Hen