At a private dinner, Coorparoo. This wine was hidden deep in my cellar and chosen for a special dinner. It opened with a deep ruby red with edge lightening and a fine nose of dark cherries, plum preserve, lavender and a touch of Grand Marnier. The palate is quite mature with lovely fruit giving way to tertiary characters of walnut, caramel and orange. Overnight in the decanter brought foward more primary fruit characters and nice touches of blood orange and lavender. The spirit was well balanced and the tannins just a fine line tucked in behind the other characters. A very good bottle of port.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I like it but definitely at end of drinking window. Fruit was not nearly as fresh as it was even 7 years ago. Alcohol comes through more than it ever has. Drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A little past it’s prime. Did not have the depth or fullness that I am used to. Still enjoyed but all. I used the balance of the bottle to make specialty cocktails.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Purchased at auction. Opened to breathe for 3h, then decanted for 6h more. Light, pale pink and tan in the glass. Very much a mature port, lots of alcohol, spices, pepper, memories of sweet prunes, sweet apples but the fruit intensity is long gone. Well balanced, enjoyed by family after Thanksgiving dinner. 89/90
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Enjoyed for my 45th birthday. Brilliant wine which was surprisingly light in color and body, but has great complexity of flavor - fruits, sprite and minerals - and a very long finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From a leaky half. A bit spirity with a sharp bit of alcohol on the nose and then slowly opening up. This is a light ruby color much like the Taylor’s. Only a small pour and would have been curious to follow this over time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
375 ml bottle, 6 hour initial decant This was a lovely wine and would have been better had it lasted until the night after opening. There was a spicy element to the nose... Cassia, Cinnamon and white pepper, along with bright, sweet blueberry jam . Less cassia earthiness on the palate but the strong spiciness was evident, although it dissipated somewhat after several more hours. Pretty balanced overall though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I have been nervous of 1977s after a really disappointing 1977 Port tasting 8 years ago. The winner that night was Dow and I could see why. Not the greatest Port tasted but certainly plenty of colour, depth of flavour and very rich. Lacking a bit of charm but at least there is some really concentration here. Think probably at its peak now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Allen Brothers Lava Cakes/Soufflé & 1977 Port. Pinch me!
Whenever I have wine this old, I always ask the people I share it with, what were you doing in 1977?
The beautiful thing about really old Port is how it softens all the edges & the elevated ABV. Smooth as silk.
This was a 375ml and farther along than a 750ml. The color was more Tawny than Port at this point. Wine on the leaner side. The fruits were; Thompson raisins, dates, figs, prunes, and some dried blackberries. Caramel, molasses, melted brown sugar, Cognac & Brandy presence, subtle wood shaving, nuts, butterscotch, graham cracker, dark withering flowers with beautiful acidity. The long finish was; rich, polished, well balanced, smooth and persistent for minerals.
If we had gone out for this dinner, it would have been $2500 plus tip & it wouldn’t have been this good which, is why we choose to cook rather than go out.
Cheese Course $25 pp Salad $18 pp Allen Brothers 6oz Ribcap $85 pp Carrots $9 pp Crispy Potato Wedges $12 pp Soufflé $20 pp Launois "Veuve Clemence" Brut Blanc de Blancs N/V Champagne $150 Glass of 2017 Pierre Boisson Bourgogne Blanc $25 pp 2018 Enderle & Moll Pinot Rose $75 1967 Bertani Valpolicella Amarone $625 2003 Chateau Lascombes $325 1977 Dow Port 375ml $275 Glass of Ruinart N/V Rose $35 pp $2591 plus tax and gratuity 7 Hour Dinner
Nor would the music & ambiance been as good.
Interesting exercise penciling it all out.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I was saving this Dow port for a special occasion and with some nervousness, I broke it out after years of storage. I was really anxious when I saw how brittle the cork was (came apart when opening), but showed no signs of leakage. I was delighted to find this Dow 1977 Porto Silver Jubilee Vintage Port to be superb, I was amazed at just how fresh and youthful this 40+ year old wine felt. The color of this remarkable wine was a pale transparent ruby. Not as full bodied as I expected, but nonetheless, delicious, having medium sweetness with plenty of berry and cherry fruit to go along.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Stood for several days at cellar temp, opened with tongs, poured clear. Decanted 3-4 hours.
My first bottle of two and first experience with this wine. Was a bit alcoholic on the nose and hot on the palate which distracted from what would have otherwise been a delicate nose of medium(+) complexity. Paired with dark chocolate tart.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cork soaked and crumbling, but no seepage. Get out your strainer for the broken cork and about 3 tablespoons of sediment. This bottle has no orange in the color and was still ruby. Beautiful black and red fruits in waves. Just the right level of sweetness.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still very young and needs a lot of time to open up. Sweet and easy to drink but still with some backbone. Some dark blackberry fruit with a touch of marzipan and vanilla.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Port Party, opened along with '77 Ferreira, '68 Warre, '84 Fladgate, and '94 Kopke.
This was a solid #2 at the beginning of the night, but became the best by the end. Time and air really helped this one a lot. Fact is that it would have gone another 20-30 years before really getting ready. That said, fantastic balance of fruit and caramel/raisin. Rich and deep, but not overly heavy. Paired well with bacon-wrapped almond-stuffed dates!
Color was still deep, even the other bottle of 77 was coppery/rust in color, but this was still strongly red.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Good clarity. Ruby in color with some pink bricking. Medium opacity. Clean nose of subtle cinnamon, dusty notes, and underlying strawberry. Viscous, cherry a touch of heat. Almost menthol. Long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
All Stars: Perfect cork, 3h decant. Pronounced alcohol on the nose, dried black plums, Christmas pudding. It was quite awkward, but may be we shouldn't have served Port after a Sauternes and Vouvray Moeulleux.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Saved for Christmas day. Stood the bottle the night before so the dregs would settle. Carefully uncorked it to find that the cork was shrunken but still intact. It crumbled even with careful extraction. Took a sip to happily find that the bottle was not corked! Through the filter into the decanter, there was significant sludge in the bottle as expected. Decanted for only around 5 hours, since recent reviewers mentioned that it oxidized quickly. The port itself was nice, dark ruby with some bricking/brown tint at the edge. Others said it was fruity, I got lots of citrus and tobacco on the nose. Good concentration with a medium mouth feel and firm tannin bite! Lots of wonderful flavors, too bad it was the only one we had. It was a 50/50 chance, so we brought a back up bottle of Kopke 1997 just in case. We'll get to save that for later. It's suggested that if you have it, drink it now. even though there is plenty of youth left in it, the cork won't last! Don't wait, enjoy yours now!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Birthday Dinner (2) 2014 (Jade Palace, Forum Galleria, Singapore): Hmm. Very good, but this bottle was not as impressive as the last one I had in 2010. While the last bottle came across youthful, even a bit too young, I could not help feeling that this was flagging ever so slightly. It felt a bit tired, less energetic. The nose was rather tight but very nice, with shades of mahogany and spice dancing around rich aromas of kirsch liqeur, maraschino cherries and sweet berries. With time, a little smoke and spice, some juniper notes and a little mineral character started showing as well. A nice and complex bouquet I thought. After that, the palate seemed really soft and mellow, showing none of the tightness of the nose. It did have quite deep, luscious notes of sweet maraschino cherries, blackberries and raisins seasoned with spice and mahogany – there was a beautiful voluptuousness about those flavours. However, it seemed to lack the freshness and structure necessary to make it a great Port, coming across really soft and mellow and gentle, especially towards the finish. Not a bad thing, but I would have really liked a little backbone and energy. This bottle seemed as though it needed drinking up and soon.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
My last bottle. Similar to those of recent years - orange/brown hue, loads of sediment, and starting to fade after being open a few hours. Nonetheless, still a great port that smooth with red and black fruits but also elements of licorice and mocha
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 8 hours. After popping had a taste and it was delicious. By dessert time after dinner it had a moldy smell to it and tasted off. Tried it again the following day but couldnt get myself to drink it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Needed the strainer because the cork disintegrated and mostly ended up in the bottle, but even with out that (expected) issue, the sediment is significant. The color is not dark and is developing an orange hue but is just as sweet, smooth, layered and nuanced as it was 5 years ago. Lovely Port.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Gorgeous 36-year old bottle. Raspberries, blackberries, and raisins on the nose and palate. Silky smooth. Thanks to Skytop Lodge sommelier Jim Beau, for opening, decanting, and interpreting this wonderful Port, and to Don C for gifting this to me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Interesting bottle. The softest cork yet, the most orange color I've seen (nearly looking like the 1991 Lopez de Heredia Gran Reserve) but relatively little sediment compared to other bottles - not even a teaspoon's worth. Still, the wine was fantastic. Elegant, overripe red and black fruits with the alcohol pretty well hid.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Oh dear. Stood this up overnight to decant overnight. On going to open it, noticed some discolouration / staining on the top of the selo. Removing the foil, the top of the cork was badly crystallised and there were signs of much seepage. The cork broke into three.
Decanting, this was very very pale - rather like a light Beaujolais in colour, only 30% opaque or so. There was nothing in the nose behind some heat - perhaps a boiled sweet; a mint, or something chewy and green. It was sharp on the tongue, thin and hot. Afterwards there was a lingering taste that took me some time to identify: I thought it was pipe or rolling tobacco; not pleasant anyway. A little acrid.
Clearly, a bottle spoiled by oxidisation. Lots of people have written about D77 being corked but I suspect they're actually just oxidised. Did Dow get a bad batch of corks that year?
I got a refund from the dealer, fortunately. And then we had to try the Poças 2003 to make up for it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The base neck fill and obvious signs of seepage with a crumbly cork had me worried, but because Port is Port, it withstood the oxygen onslaught and was another beautiful bottle. Soft, silky, elegant with just a twinge of orange at the rim. Beautifully layered fruits, mostly red with some black. Three of us polished this off with dessert and were looking for the last drop.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I lost half the cork into the bottle, but the wine itself was in terrific shape. Really light colour to it, beautiful wine - loved the length on it. Was the perfect match with a spiced Madagascan chocolate tart. My first bottle of old Dow's port - will definitely track down a few more of these.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sampled 7/8/11. Throwing off tons of sediment, as should be expected. Still a fine wine with a refined structure and profile. Wonder black and red fruits, although the alcohol is sinus clearing, it is not overly dominant on the palate. Probably still a good wine for up to another 5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Enjoyed with Tim and Mary Yummy! Cork fell right in the bottle. Used a screen Yo pour the wine. Great port. Plums, Jammy and delicious. Great with peanut butter pie and fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Combined bday dinner; 12/19/2010-12/20/2010 (Tornado): This is truly the first port I ever tasted with very dry brandy character. It packs a punch and is still barely put of it's teens. Dark black anise and cardamom scented fruit cake that shows only on the nose but also tampered by dark kirsch and tar. On the palate this is a heavy brandied cherries atop smoke and peat! Knockout port. Not for the faint hearted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
30-40-50 Dinner (Music and Wines of the 1960s, 70s and 80s) (Bounce, Iluma): A wonderful port, and a lovely way to end the dinner. Four hours of decanting did little to shake this one - I suspect that a decade more of age would be very welcome. No complaints on the night however. It had a beautiful nose, with typical dark Dow tones, with raisins, plums, mahogany wood, earth and dark chocolate seasoned with Christmas cake spices. It was the palate that really impressed me though. The balance was just pitch perfect. Viscous, weighty, concentrated, but with not a hair out of place or a smidgen of heat to distract, this wine was just a pure beam of layered flavours wrapped in supple velvety robes, with brandied cherries, dark dark berries, some licorice, tar and a toasty finish with tons of spice. Complex, serious, brilliant, but still very tightly coiled in its very core. I can only imagine this getting better and better as time unwinds and unfolds its whole package.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Quite simply the best port that I have ever had. There were discussions amongst the others of this still being a baby and needing 10 more years to get into its drinking window, but, this just great. bright powerful nose. yes, the alcohol was there, but that is part of port. For the first time, for me, the alcohol and the fruit and the wine all came together and really was a great experience.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 6 hours. Still massive, with huge amounts of dark, smoky, roasted fruit on the nose and palate. The tannins are silky smooth, and the overall texture is lusciously supple. The alcohol is in balance with the rich fruit flavors and full body of the wine. Simply divine - enjoy it now or cellar for another 10-15 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
3/8/2024 - skurtz wrote: flawed
Brown in the decanter, alcoholic and badly oxidized :-(
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2023 - skurtz wrote:
Consistent with my previous note. Sieved, filtered and decanted to try to bring out the best of this port. Academically interesting but not delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/19/2023 - drjb wrote: 93 Points
At a private dinner, Coorparoo. This wine was hidden deep in my cellar and chosen for a special dinner. It opened with a deep ruby red with edge lightening and a fine nose of dark cherries, plum preserve, lavender and a touch of Grand Marnier. The palate is quite mature with lovely fruit giving way to tertiary characters of walnut, caramel and orange. Overnight in the decanter brought foward more primary fruit characters and nice touches of blood orange and lavender. The spirit was well balanced and the tannins just a fine line tucked in behind the other characters. A very good bottle of port.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/26/2023 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 90 Points
I like it but definitely at end of drinking window. Fruit was not nearly as fresh as it was even 7 years ago. Alcohol comes through more than it ever has. Drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2022 - Tarzan1969 wrote: 88 Points
A little past it’s prime. Did not have the depth or fullness that I am used to. Still enjoyed but all. I used the balance of the bottle to make specialty cocktails.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2022 - skurtz Likes this wine: 90 Points
Purchased at auction. Opened to breathe for 3h, then decanted for 6h more. Light, pale pink and tan in the glass. Very much a mature port, lots of alcohol, spices, pepper, memories of sweet prunes, sweet apples but the fruit intensity is long gone. Well balanced, enjoyed by family after Thanksgiving dinner. 89/90
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/2/2022 - Volleyball Likes this wine: 95 Points
Enjoyed for my 45th birthday. Brilliant wine which was surprisingly light in color and body, but has great complexity of flavor - fruits, sprite and minerals - and a very long finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/10/2022 - Matt T wrote: 90 Points
From a leaky half. A bit spirity with a sharp bit of alcohol on the nose and then slowly opening up. This is a light ruby color much like the Taylor’s. Only a small pour and would have been curious to follow this over time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/7/2021 - paulf Likes this wine: 93 Points
375 ml bottle, 6 hour initial decant
This was a lovely wine and would have been better had it lasted until the night after opening.
There was a spicy element to the nose... Cassia, Cinnamon and white pepper, along with bright, sweet blueberry jam .
Less cassia earthiness on the palate but the strong spiciness was evident, although it dissipated somewhat after several more hours. Pretty balanced overall though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/14/2021 - Loathesome Likes this wine: 91 Points
I have been nervous of 1977s after a really disappointing 1977 Port tasting 8 years ago. The winner that night was Dow and I could see why. Not the greatest Port tasted but certainly plenty of colour, depth of flavour and very rich. Lacking a bit of charm but at least there is some really concentration here. Think probably at its peak now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/10/2020 - Somm David T Likes this wine: 93 Points
Allen Brothers Lava Cakes/Soufflé & 1977 Port. Pinch me!
Whenever I have wine this old, I always ask the people I share it with, what were you doing in 1977?
The beautiful thing about really old Port is how it softens all the edges & the elevated ABV. Smooth as silk.
This was a 375ml and farther along than a 750ml. The color was more Tawny than Port at this point. Wine on the leaner side. The fruits were; Thompson raisins, dates, figs, prunes, and some dried blackberries. Caramel, molasses, melted brown sugar, Cognac & Brandy presence, subtle wood shaving, nuts, butterscotch, graham cracker, dark withering flowers with beautiful acidity. The long finish was; rich, polished, well balanced, smooth and persistent for minerals.
If we had gone out for this dinner, it would have been $2500 plus tip & it wouldn’t have been this good which, is why we choose to cook rather than go out.
Cheese Course $25 pp
Salad $18 pp
Allen Brothers 6oz Ribcap $85 pp
Carrots $9 pp
Crispy Potato Wedges $12 pp
Soufflé $20 pp
Launois "Veuve Clemence" Brut Blanc de Blancs N/V Champagne $150
Glass of 2017 Pierre Boisson Bourgogne Blanc $25 pp
2018 Enderle & Moll Pinot Rose $75
1967 Bertani Valpolicella Amarone $625
2003 Chateau Lascombes $325
1977 Dow Port 375ml $275
Glass of Ruinart N/V Rose $35 pp
$2591 plus tax and gratuity
7 Hour Dinner
Nor would the music & ambiance been as good.
Interesting exercise penciling it all out.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2020 - dkwins Likes this wine: 94 Points
This exceeded my expectations and drinking very well. The higher alcohol level did not interfere with a very balanced and rich port.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/26/2020 - SingerD Likes this wine:
I was saving this Dow port for a special occasion and with some nervousness, I broke it out after years of storage. I was really anxious when I saw how brittle the cork was (came apart when opening), but showed no signs of leakage. I was delighted to find this Dow 1977 Porto Silver Jubilee Vintage Port to be superb, I was amazed at just how fresh and youthful this 40+ year old wine felt. The color of this remarkable wine was a pale transparent ruby. Not as full bodied as I expected, but nonetheless, delicious, having medium sweetness with plenty of berry and cherry fruit to go along.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/9/2020 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Cork soaked but not a leaker. Silky smooth candied red fruits with some black cherry and hints of dried herbs. Another winning bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2020 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Ruby red - used a Coravin to access about 1/2 the bottle. Classic Dow. Very sweet red and black fruits but not jammy and loads of purity and elegance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2019 - europat55 wrote: 92 Points
Tasted blind.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/23/2019 - MikeJK Likes this wine: 92 Points
Stood for several days at cellar temp, opened with tongs, poured clear. Decanted 3-4 hours.
My first bottle of two and first experience with this wine. Was a bit alcoholic on the nose and hot on the palate which distracted from what would have otherwise been a delicate nose of medium(+) complexity. Paired with dark chocolate tart.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/30/2018 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Cork soaked and crumbling, but no seepage. Get out your strainer for the broken cork and about 3 tablespoons of sediment. This bottle has no orange in the color and was still ruby. Beautiful black and red fruits in waves. Just the right level of sweetness.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2017 - canan wrote: 93 Points
Still very young and needs a lot of time to open up.
Sweet and easy to drink but still with some backbone. Some dark blackberry fruit with a touch of marzipan and vanilla.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/27/2017 - Paui wrote: flawed
bad bottle
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/20/2017 - morpheusrising Likes this wine: 93 Points
From Magnum.
Port Party, opened along with '77 Ferreira, '68 Warre, '84 Fladgate, and '94 Kopke.
This was a solid #2 at the beginning of the night, but became the best by the end. Time and air really helped this one a lot. Fact is that it would have gone another 20-30 years before really getting ready. That said, fantastic balance of fruit and caramel/raisin. Rich and deep, but not overly heavy. Paired well with bacon-wrapped almond-stuffed dates!
Color was still deep, even the other bottle of 77 was coppery/rust in color, but this was still strongly red.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/15/2016 - King Julien wrote: 92 Points
Poured a glass via Coravin and let it sit for 2 hours. The extra air seemed to improve it. It was OK.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/12/2016 - King Julien wrote: 91 Points
Poured a glass via Coravin. It was ok. Not very sweet.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2016 - theportguy wrote: 93 Points
Good clarity. Ruby in color with some pink bricking. Medium opacity. Clean nose of subtle cinnamon, dusty notes, and underlying strawberry. Viscous, cherry a touch of heat. Almost menthol. Long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2015 - jswine15 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking wonderfully, rich and smooth, but still lots of ripe fruit and a wonderful nose. This will go for a long time
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/16/2015 - Nekodab wrote: 95 Points
Outstanding port. Drank with chocolate cake with pecans. This popped so well together.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/23/2015 - AV2012 wrote:
All Stars: Perfect cork, 3h decant. Pronounced alcohol on the nose, dried black plums, Christmas pudding. It was quite awkward, but may be we shouldn't have served Port after a Sauternes and Vouvray Moeulleux.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2014 - SportstHER Likes this wine: 93 Points
Saved for Christmas day. Stood the bottle the night before so the dregs would settle. Carefully uncorked it to find that the cork was shrunken but still intact. It crumbled even with careful extraction. Took a sip to happily find that the bottle was not corked! Through the filter into the decanter, there was significant sludge in the bottle as expected. Decanted for only around 5 hours, since recent reviewers mentioned that it oxidized quickly. The port itself was nice, dark ruby with some bricking/brown tint at the edge. Others said it was fruity, I got lots of citrus and tobacco on the nose. Good concentration with a medium mouth feel and firm tannin bite! Lots of wonderful flavors, too bad it was the only one we had. It was a 50/50 chance, so we brought a back up bottle of Kopke 1997 just in case. We'll get to save that for later. It's suggested that if you have it, drink it now. even though there is plenty of youth left in it, the cork won't last! Don't wait, enjoy yours now!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/2/2014 - msimoes wrote: flawed
another one w massive TCA
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/11/2014 - Paul S wrote: 93 Points
Birthday Dinner (2) 2014 (Jade Palace, Forum Galleria, Singapore): Hmm. Very good, but this bottle was not as impressive as the last one I had in 2010. While the last bottle came across youthful, even a bit too young, I could not help feeling that this was flagging ever so slightly. It felt a bit tired, less energetic. The nose was rather tight but very nice, with shades of mahogany and spice dancing around rich aromas of kirsch liqeur, maraschino cherries and sweet berries. With time, a little smoke and spice, some juniper notes and a little mineral character started showing as well. A nice and complex bouquet I thought. After that, the palate seemed really soft and mellow, showing none of the tightness of the nose. It did have quite deep, luscious notes of sweet maraschino cherries, blackberries and raisins seasoned with spice and mahogany – there was a beautiful voluptuousness about those flavours. However, it seemed to lack the freshness and structure necessary to make it a great Port, coming across really soft and mellow and gentle, especially towards the finish. Not a bad thing, but I would have really liked a little backbone and energy. This bottle seemed as though it needed drinking up and soon.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/17/2014 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 93 Points
My last bottle. Similar to those of recent years - orange/brown hue, loads of sediment, and starting to fade after being open a few hours. Nonetheless, still a great port that smooth with red and black fruits but also elements of licorice and mocha
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/2/2013 - msimoes wrote: flawed
Decanted 8 hours. After popping had a taste and it was delicious. By dessert time after dinner it had a moldy smell to it and tasted off. Tried it again the following day but couldnt get myself to drink it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2013 - Nedder_travels_the_world Likes this wine: 94 Points
Consistent with previous tasting notes. this is a lovely port with no flaws. drink or hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/1/2013 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Needed the strainer because the cork disintegrated and mostly ended up in the bottle, but even with out that (expected) issue, the sediment is significant. The color is not dark and is developing an orange hue but is just as sweet, smooth, layered and nuanced as it was 5 years ago. Lovely Port.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/1/2013 - Pour Boy wrote: 94 Points
Gorgeous 36-year old bottle. Raspberries, blackberries, and raisins on the nose and palate. Silky smooth. Thanks to Skytop Lodge sommelier Jim Beau, for opening, decanting, and interpreting this wonderful Port, and to Don C for gifting this to me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/10/2013 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Interesting bottle. The softest cork yet, the most orange color I've seen (nearly looking like the 1991 Lopez de Heredia Gran Reserve) but relatively little sediment compared to other bottles - not even a teaspoon's worth. Still, the wine was fantastic. Elegant, overripe red and black fruits with the alcohol pretty well hid.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/20/2013 - djewesbury wrote:
Oh dear. Stood this up overnight to decant overnight. On going to open it, noticed some discolouration / staining on the top of the selo. Removing the foil, the top of the cork was badly crystallised and there were signs of much seepage. The cork broke into three.
Decanting, this was very very pale - rather like a light Beaujolais in colour, only 30% opaque or so. There was nothing in the nose behind some heat - perhaps a boiled sweet; a mint, or something chewy and green. It was sharp on the tongue, thin and hot. Afterwards there was a lingering taste that took me some time to identify: I thought it was pipe or rolling tobacco; not pleasant anyway. A little acrid.
Clearly, a bottle spoiled by oxidisation. Lots of people have written about D77 being corked but I suspect they're actually just oxidised. Did Dow get a bad batch of corks that year?
I got a refund from the dealer, fortunately. And then we had to try the Poças 2003 to make up for it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/21/2013 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 93 Points
The base neck fill and obvious signs of seepage with a crumbly cork had me worried, but because Port is Port, it withstood the oxygen onslaught and was another beautiful bottle. Soft, silky, elegant with just a twinge of orange at the rim. Beautifully layered fruits, mostly red with some black. Three of us polished this off with dessert and were looking for the last drop.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/3/2012 - winebling Likes this wine: 91 Points
I lost half the cork into the bottle, but the wine itself was in terrific shape. Really light colour to it, beautiful wine - loved the length on it. Was the perfect match with a spiced Madagascan chocolate tart. My first bottle of old Dow's port - will definitely track down a few more of these.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/23/2012 - andrewdodd86 wrote: 93 Points
Solid bottle, my oldest port yet. Loved it. Cork was shot, but wine was nice. Soft. Drink now IMO.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/10/2011 - mxpbuy wrote: 91 Points
Sampled 7/8/11. Throwing off tons of sediment, as should be expected. Still a fine wine with a refined structure and profile. Wonder black and red fruits, although the alcohol is sinus clearing, it is not overly dominant on the palate. Probably still a good wine for up to another 5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/15/2011 - unclmky wrote: 91 Points
Enjoyed with Tim and Mary Yummy! Cork fell right in the bottle. Used a screen Yo pour the wine. Great port. Plums, Jammy and delicious. Great with peanut butter pie and fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2011 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Surprisingly light in color. Ruby red, some bricking. Fig, apricot, plum, prunes.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/19/2010 - Alex H wrote: 90 Points
Combined bday dinner; 12/19/2010-12/20/2010 (Tornado): This is truly the first port I ever tasted with very dry brandy character. It packs a punch and is still barely put of it's teens. Dark black anise and cardamom scented fruit cake that shows only on the nose but also tampered by dark kirsch and tar. On the palate this is a heavy brandied cherries atop smoke and peat! Knockout port. Not for the faint hearted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2010 - Paul S wrote: 94 Points
30-40-50 Dinner (Music and Wines of the 1960s, 70s and 80s) (Bounce, Iluma): A wonderful port, and a lovely way to end the dinner. Four hours of decanting did little to shake this one - I suspect that a decade more of age would be very welcome. No complaints on the night however. It had a beautiful nose, with typical dark Dow tones, with raisins, plums, mahogany wood, earth and dark chocolate seasoned with Christmas cake spices. It was the palate that really impressed me though. The balance was just pitch perfect. Viscous, weighty, concentrated, but with not a hair out of place or a smidgen of heat to distract, this wine was just a pure beam of layered flavours wrapped in supple velvety robes, with brandied cherries, dark dark berries, some licorice, tar and a toasty finish with tons of spice. Complex, serious, brilliant, but still very tightly coiled in its very core. I can only imagine this getting better and better as time unwinds and unfolds its whole package.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2008 - Dale451 wrote: 94 Points
Quite simply the best port that I have ever had. There were discussions amongst the others of this still being a baby and needing 10 more years to get into its drinking window, but, this just great. bright powerful nose. yes, the alcohol was there, but that is part of port. For the first time, for me, the alcohol and the fruit and the wine all came together and really was a great experience.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/5/2007 - beaunehead wrote: 96 Points
Decanted for 6 hours. Still massive, with huge amounts of dark, smoky, roasted fruit on the nose and palate. The tannins are silky smooth, and the overall texture is lusciously supple. The alcohol is in balance with the rich fruit flavors and full body of the wine. Simply divine - enjoy it now or cellar for another 10-15 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/14/2007 - davidrh1 wrote:
C-Night 4/14/2007
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2002 - KeyMaster wrote: 90 Points
Puissant. Demandait à respirer au moins 1 heure avant. Aurait pu encore vieillir facilement 5 ans.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment