ThePortForum.com

Neil C. arranged, at the Boot and Flogger, a horizontal of 1997s, the first since a 1997 Maturity Evaluation on 16th June 2014.

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 1997 Burmester;
• 1997 Quinta do Noval;
• 1997 Quinta do Noval Silval;
• 1997 Taylor;
• 1997 Fonseca;
• 1997 Croft Quinta da Roêda;
• 1997 Dow;
• 1997 Graham;
• 1997 Gould Campbell;
• 1997 Warre;
• 1997 Vesuvio;
• 1997 Smith Woodhouse;
• 1997 Quarles Harris;
• 1997 Martinez;
• 1997 Sandeman Vau;
• 1997 Ramos Pinto;
• 1997 Val da Figueira;
• 1997 Osborne;
• Planning and arrangements;
• Food order;
• Placemats (and in list of placemats).

Double-decanted 24½ hours. Very dark red with a narrow rim. Surprisingly closed on the nose, showing very little at first. After some persuasion the nose revealed dark blackcurrants and the palate was dominated by a fragrant bitter-sweet blackcurrant cordial - deep, dark and still very young: dark blackcurrants with vibrant tannins. Dark black cherry finish with a ripe and slightly chewy dark chocolate tannin finish. Such great promise for the future, although this big and brooding wine is a little out of balance at the moment. 93/100.

A relatively quiet nose is deceptive. Black cherries, loads of spice and tannic grip. Dark dark chocolate orange. Eucalyptus here too. This is rather good.

Almost incredibly dark colour. Smelt like Madeira. Palate very grapey.