1997 Smith Woodhouse

[Alex Bridgeman]

A bottle purchased and consumed in El Vino, Fleet Street. Deep red with a hint of brown on the rim. Gently stewed fruit on the nose, smelling of baked plums - pleasant and appetising. The stewed fruit, sweetened with brown sugar, comes through on the palate. There is a good acidic core, reminding me of brown apples. The mid-palate is dominated by the fruit - dates, bruised apples and sweet brambles supported by dusty tannins. Medium bodied and nicely focussed. Delicious aftertaste and finish with sweet sticky brambles throughout the length. Enjoyable port with 2-3 decades of life ahead of it. 88/100. Drunk 27-Mar-14. Decanted 1 hour.