A real surprise here--the third bottle of this that I've opened, and by a long shot the best! I had my doubts on a heavily corroded capsule and a cork that instantly slid into the bottle, but to my surprise, this seems to have been kept perfectly!
Beautiful color showing a nice transition between ruby and more of a brick red. Much deeper color than I have seen in previous bottles from Warres in this vintage, and much more reminiscent of the '94--generally a richer vintage for Warres.
This had developed perfectly. Mellow and smooth, with a surprisingly rich finish. Nice light raisiny notes with a deep, molassesy note like Christmas pudding. Not the most complex port out there, but a perfect example of what the right storage (not on my part!) can do to make the absolute most of a nearly 50 year-old wine!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A beautiful clean spirit cuts black fruits. It has florals and licorice notes and is complex and engaging. It is concentrated yet light on its feet and finishes with freshness and persistence. Still very young.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I see that I started a note 2 years ago and didn't finish it. So this time the cork was again crappy, loose and I nearly pushed it into the bottle. It was just the sharp fine screw of the Durand that enabled me to hook it, and it came out leaving only a couple of bits behind. However the excellent capsule did what the cork would probably have failed to do. Level was excellent, and wine decanted cleanly. Mature colour, and nose quite lovely, and lively, reminiscent of Burgundy in a way. Mouthfeel very good, slightly uneven if one wanted to be critical, but alcohol and acid balance just right, mercifully. I doubt that after a dozen Burgundys my friends will be critical. I rarely give marks, but this would have to be a 93+.
Owned since release, stored quite well and hardly moved. A compensation for getting old. I have bought 21st century VPs but I'm not going to last long enough to taste them at this optimum stage.
edit, next day: not quite as good as before. A bit of firmness in the mid palate, a bit uneven in a way. Aftertaste a bit dry. I'll leave the mark at 93 though.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I was gifted the bottle this fall. Cork showed significant sign of leakage and did not come out cleanly. Had to push through. Label damaged. Wine was fine to drink but I wonder about its cellar history, if that may have degraded it a bit over 40+ years. Red fruit palate and smooth, but a lighter and less complex wine than I expected. Still my guests and I enjoyed it, served as dessert after a meal of traditional northern Italian Lasagne.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Needed 30 mins or so to open up. A a very nicely balanced wine. Fully mature of course and the fruit has faded, but there is still some fruit there and overall it's a joy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sammamish Port Club - 1970's Ports (Seattle, Washington): Fairly clear with purple and light rose on the extreme edge. Earthy, chalky, dusty slate on the nose. Sweet flipper profile with cherry candy, light spirit, and some nice acidity. Good balance on the long finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Friday Night Uptown Brown Bagger (R&D's): Lovely ruby color. Aromas of cherry, red currant, licorice, sage, cinnamon and strawberry jam. So complex and engaging. The palate is a bit more straightforward, but no less enjoyable, with abundant red fruit tones- cherry, raspberry coulis and kirsch. Hints of spice in the finish. Always a pleasure to sip this wine. (R&D)
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I bought this one a few years after release, and it’s been slumbering in my cellar ever since. It has a medium ruby color; lovely classic port nose. Nutty undertone, delicious grape candy notes. This one has held up well, but I suggest you drink them if you still have them
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
In my cellar since purchase in 1982. Last of my ‘77’s. It did not age quite as well as the legendary ‘63’s - but still, at 48 years old, this bottle exhibited aged Port at its very best. Especially for those who are looking for finess and elegance not raw power in their aged Ports.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Coravin fun - Ch. de Beaucastel (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Surprisingly lightweight but not in a bad way, more ethereal actually, ripe red hued fruit, a little nuttiness and sweet spice in support. Off dry, alcohol well contained, again that sense of ethereal delicacy. Very nice indeed.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
It took me almost 24 years to revisit this wine, but here we are. First bottle from a four bottle lot purchased at auction in 2020. Level base of neck / very top shoulder. Crumbly cork but removed with relative ease. Carefully and gently decanted with the help of my decanting machine. Light and lively colour, mature but with a bright ruby core; wonderfully expressive and complex nose (cedar, blood orange, sultanas, spices, white nuts, roses, tobacco, blonde caramel), harmonious and with excellent depth; the palate has good volume and a silky-smooth texture, delicately sweet but very fresh and bright, tannins are as good as resolved but continue to provide some grip in the background; relatively dry finish with notes of negroni and boudoir powder. Classical Warre, well on its plateau of maturity, no rush but no further upside either.
This is a great port, with some fresh summer fruits character (think a very subtle strawberry) and a bit of winter baking spices (allspice and anise are the two that come to mind). This is definitely on the lighter--subtler, depending on your feeling--side of ports. It's delicious, but it doesn't punch per se in the way you might expect.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Stewed ripe summer fruits (strawberries, blackberries and raspberries). Very open and rich. No tightness. Syrup like taste. Great woth chocolate tart. **Note: my wife scored this 98, to me its more mid 90s but I only had 1 taste from her glass :-)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Purchased from a cellar sale. Cork fell apart in the last half. Light red. Fine blood orange aromas. Beautiful spirit. Very fine. Palate mirrors the nose. Very fine. Fully mature and drinking wonderfully. Long. Sweet.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
An Epic Summer Wine Weekend; 7/1/2022-7/3/2022 (Muskoka, Ontario, Canada): This pours totally translucent, light garnet. Bricking is really only light. Aromatically a little tight on opening, but after 30 minutes it really opens up. The nose is just a lovely profile. Complex but only moderately intense aromas lift from the glass showing blood orange, grapefruit, cherry, red plum, cinnamon and clove. The palate is even better showing lovely balance of acid, fruit, and alcohol with very little remaining tannin. There is a lovely blood orange element on the palate, with a finish that lingers impressively.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I love the 77 Warre, mellow, perfect sweetness, dried black fruit, chestnut, sultana, subtly spicy. Perfectly smooth, pliant and plump without any intrusive warmth.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Double decanted 5 hours before serving. Cork split near the bottom, but managed to filter well. A simply outstanding vintage port! A lighter garnet with light brown edges. Intoxicating bouquet of toffee, caramel, plums, coffee, and subtle Asian spices. Expansive on the palate with sweet caramel and fruit cake notes. Super complex, long, sweet finish with fully integrated tannins. Just a marvelous drinking experience!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Garnet colour and some orange bricking. It is, after all, 45 years old! Such an intense aroma of raisin and fruit compote and Christmas spices - clove, mace and nutmeg. Rich beyond belief. Simply exploding with thickness and power, pouring over my tongue with fleshy, velvety voluptuousness, ending with a tart acidity and a rather brutal finish. Fascinating. Good Lord. One bottle of this with cheeses and you will *die*.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Just opened it for later tonight. Another crappy cork, fell straight in despite almost surgical care to avoid pushing down. However, decanted cleanly, not having stood up for years. Quite mature not very dense colour. Nose seems very attractive at this stage, but I'll keep an eye on it during the day.
.....more later....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bottle was seeping when I got it (a few months ago). Stood upright in my cellar waiting for the right time to drink it. The cork was a mess - most of it completely fell apart and into the wine. I filtered it out and decanted it. Amazingly, the wine was still fresh. There are loads of fruit still on this. Tannins are fully resolved. Nice stuff. Better on day 1.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Agreeing with previous review: soft, fantastic nose, very pretty, delicious but not enthralling, rather light-colored, and half of the cork dropped into the bottle despite my best efforts with an ah-so :/
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This years port while decorating the christmas tree. unable to extract cork, even with ah-so - very loose & dropped into the bottle. Decanted through muslin, 2hrs. Very tawny in colour, mellow nose and fairly spirity palate with some nice red fruit showing. Medium finish. May be a sub-optimal bottle.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
4th Saturday Group: Uptown Brown Bag: Standard bottle, courtesy of our hosts. Bright ruby crimson color. Currant, plum, red berry and spice notes. Abundant ripe red berry fruit on the palate, with a lingering finish. Cherry and spice qualities emerge as it sits. Excellent. 93+ pts.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fantastic depth and complexity on the nose, with dried cranberry and cherry. Red fruits on the entry with a touch of warm spice. Great balance through the mid-palate, and just a touch of sweetness on the long finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Garnet/cherry colour with some oily, orange rivulets. Big, thick, alcoholic legs. Unctuous, dense, rich, sweet but not cloying. The alcohol is very forward, not integrated - it's too dominant for my taste. The wine is still young, full of energy and life. The finish is spicy and peppery, but it carries through with enough sweetness and notes of caramelised oranges and toffee apples to complete the experience. Powerful, overpowering even. Not subtle.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Taupe-y light red. Light toffee and raisin notes on the nose with graceful length on the finish. Less complex than other 77's I've had, but a delight nonetheless.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Generally I like Warre a lot but never convinced by the 1977 but then I think it is overall a disappointing vintage and nowhere near the early comparisons with 1963. This was a light red and have had bottles almost pink in the past. Two thirds of a wine. Easy to drink, soft and round but a bit boring with little grip and nothing like the quality the producer and vintage should have resulted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 375. Pulled from the cellar because I noted it to be a leaker with low shoulder level, so not expecting much. On decanting it was the color of a sherry. Over time it got a little darker, with a red tinge. Remarkably it was quite enjoyable and even elegant. Medium sweetness, which I see as typical for Warre's. Not spirity at all (maybe better because of the angel's share?). It improved over hours and was still very good the next day. Other than the color, it was in the trajectory of past bottles.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pallette is quite simple actually, more of the things found on the nose really. Dried currants out the wazoo. Tannins well integrated and barely detectable at this point. Finish goes on for a long old while though which is pleasant as you don't have to come back as often (ideal for 9pm on Christmas day).
Honestly much more of a simple port compared to the 77 Dow and Graham's I've drunk recently. I don't see any more upside from here but I don't think you're in a rush to drink. For the £65 I paid I'd garner more pleasure from a 30YO tawny. This might not be the best showing bottle so YMMV.
Time to Taste 2000 Bordeaux (R&D's): Courtesy of our hosts, their anniversary year, double decanted a few hours before service. Deep ruby red color. Aromas of white currants, cherry, red berry fruit, spiced plum and fig. Terrific fruit on the palate, with chocolate and spice elements in the finish. This bottle was drinking beautifully tonight.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Seems in a good place; mature enough for my palate. Gentle spice, some toffee, raisin. Easy drinking, but not overly complex. Maybe a less than ideal bottle.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark tawny in color With a glint of Garnet. I see your nose off toffee and tobacco. Tastes of marzipan, toffee, tobacco, and hints of espresso and menthol. A bad cork that pushed through when attempting to dislodge. Still drank well however very much like a tawny port instead of a vintage. Drink up.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted blind in Vintage Port of the 60's and 70's event with Winetasters of Toronto Club 1977 Warre Porto Vintage was nutty and evolved. The clear and medium tawny mature vintage port showed bouquet of medicinal herbs and nuts, with little fruit to complement at this stage. It was full-bodied, spicy with medium level of acidity, and medium-low level of mature softening tannin. The finish, filled with coffee, caramel, toffee and nuts, was long but lacked the charm and complexity. Similar to the 1977 Croft's Porto Vintage, it was more developed and lost the fruit characters than other vintage ports at the event, probably reflecting the generally shorter lifespan of the 1977 vintage ports. It was rated the sixth at the table, and the second among all tasters at the event.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Probably flawed. May update. Cork moldy and some signs of seepage once foil removed. Cork broke off at bottom with Durand. Good color, but very odd nose. Almost petrol, half blew off after 30 min in glass. Used a repour and will revisit this week **update** have tasted a couple times since and the wine calms down after a decant and/or in a big grand cru burg glass.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A rare opportunity to taste a really mature port. Clean cork and easy decant. Quite pale now but no browning in the meniscus. Fragrant spicy nose. Luscious in the mouth with delicate fruit. Lots of licorice and vanilla. Good grip, long finish. We drank it alone after dessert. Stilton would be nice but by no means essential.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This medium amber-colored wine offers a rich core of red cherry and fig fruit that is buttressed with milk chocolate, vanilla, clove, caramel and pine nuts. Medium-bodied, moderately sweet and with excellent balancing acidity, it stays solid on the mid-palate and keeps its alcohol in check (when served at the appropriate temperature). The tannins have completely melted at this stage. With a finish that lingers nicely, this is a Port that is fully mature and quite enjoyable. Well-cellared specimens should make it to their 50th birthday. Drink now-2027.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sammamish Port Club - December 2019 (Sammamish, Washington): Decanted 3.5 hours. Dark strawberry in color with lightening on the edges to light pink. Spice and red fruit on the nose. Intense crushed red fruit and cinnamon on the palate. Lush, rich mouthfeel. Very long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep garnet color. Plums, cherries and dark berries. Rich aroma. Lucius and sweet. A wonderful vintage port. A perfect end to an evening filled with great company and food. Enjoy for many years to come.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
In Norton. Color quite pale when decanted before dinner, and darkened modestly over the next couple of hours. Not much sweetness, which was fine, and in fairness not spirity, but the fruit just wasn't attractive.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Here the wine is a very pale ruby with an almost colourless meniscus. It’s open for business almost as soon as the cork is pulled, offering up aromas of kirsch, dried red berries and cherry Jolly Ranchers. The palate is cool and almost playfully light in body, nicely poised between sweetness, acidity and alcohol. Tannins are fully resolved. A tertiary note of old library books is left behind in the glass. Surely at its peak now, if not veering into old age. 92-93
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Looking back at previous notes, this seems to be my go to Christmas port. It’s a good port to have at lunch, not heavy, good berry fruit taste with a tinge of spice there. Long taste. Funny people start by saying “Cannot take port now” and before you know it the bottle is finished
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cork fell straight in but this was beautifully pure in its pale rose-hip colour and equally clean on the palate. As previously noted, this is neither particularly sweet, nor any longer weighty, but good bottles of this have all the elegance an aged VP can conjure.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
cheers - I bought 5 of the 77's in the early 90's. This was my last....and BEST.....tasting of this port. I decanted, the sediment was heavy, the wine was copper colored. The smell, taste, and overall experience is incredible. Just a beautiful bottle.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fine mid ruby. Quite spirity on opening but much better 10 hours later. Still some red and raisin fruits, spiciness, peppery. Very smooth and long. Really fine middle weight port. Storage hadn't been great and cork loose but this still delivered.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1977 and 1963 Vintage Ports... (Regional Wines and Spirits, Wellington, New Zealand): Visually, far more dense than the 1975 Delaforce, with a touch of ruby in the centre. Spicy, balsam and sappy nose, with a nice touch of floral nuance. Very powerful in the mouth, with a sweet and fiery finish. This is very good - outstanding for me, with its concentration a special feature, but I wonder if the finish is slightly disjointed?
Monthly Tasting Group: Worldwide Chardonnay (Oceanaire, Mpls, MN): Was looking forward to this, but for me, I didn't find much of anything in the way of fruit left, subtle raisin liqueur at best, dominated by the alcohol and the wood influence that remains. Seen much better days -too bad. Some saw more in this than I though.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent bottle. Light ruby in the glass, no bricking. Sherry-like hints in the nose along with red fruits. Balanced and integrated, with cherry and red fruit, well-blended tannins. On the lighter side, with a medium finish. Delicious to welcome in the new year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted with the Monday Night Wine Group. The cork was soaked on this...decanted for over an hour before drinking. Would never have realized this was 40 years old. Delicious. Think this still has some years to go and fortunately I've a few bottles left. Probably bring next bottle a year from now for our Monday Night Wine Group.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
FTLOP 12th Anniversary; 7/21/2017-7/23/2017 (Seattle, Washington): Light ruby-amber in color. Mostly transparent with fine-grained sediment. Subdued nose with some slight hints of Christmas spice. Perhaps some slight TCA. Bing cherry notes with some baking spice on the mid-palate. Medium-long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for over five hours, and more time would not have hurt. Showed much better than previous bottle (9/26/16) due to longer decant. The cork broke at the bottom of the worm, remaining piece removed with the ah-so. The wine was clear, with a medium- ruby color, and loads of sediment. The nose showed dark red fruits, Christmas cake spices, and a touch of alcohol. The palate followed the nose, with added flavors of chocolate and raisin. A satisfying vintage port that needs a long decant, and should be enjoyed sooner rather than later.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From magnum. Not the best bottle: very tertiary, slightly drying and slightly hot. Lacking fresh fruit. Still, a pleasant drink, if somewhat disappointing.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
4th Saturday Group brown bagger (R&D's): There was something very weird going on with this bottle. Spice, red fruit and a lot of pepper on the nose and palate. Like the zins we had earlier tonight, this was just a lot of raisiny fruit and pepper.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Perfect bottle with perfect cork, only wet on bottom edge and no discoloration or fungal growth, not common with most '77's I've opened.
Decanted for 10 hours. Still showed strong spirits on nose and palate. Fruit showed through, but the aguardiente just didn't blow off and made it difficult to enjoy with a chocolate torte. Maybe slow-ox with a leakier cork would have helped??
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
shared with pat and doubled1969 at selkirk manor. i was introduced to port by keith in the late 70's and stashed away a bunch. have been waiting for them to mature. had to try at least one before i bite the dust. recent reviews from others have been less than complimentary. this was a half bottle. paired with walnuts, dark chocolate and blue cheese. cork was fragile and fully saturated. extracted in multiple pieces. not decanted. not filtered. at first the wine was shy and ungiving. after 30 minutes aromatics emerged on the nose and palate. no off putting aromas. very smooth. no discernible tannins or acid. overall, quite enjoyable. last sip was sacrificed due to extensive dregs and sediment. remaining bottles are 750's. will hang on to them, even if they wind up in probate of my estate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
My 40th Birthday Weekend; 2/17/2017-2/20/2017: I recognize this as being a good example of vintage port from a supposedly great year. That being said, this is a hot sweet mess to me and smelled of prune and some things I don't particularly want to eat for dessert. I hate port.
An easy drinking port, if there is such a thing. Held up well after a Christmas extravaganza. Not a particularly dense or sophisticated drink, it is balanced well with sweet cherry fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really liked this. Double decanted then opened for a retirement party. Intoxicating nose, very elegant styled. Not a particularly dense VP, but just what I was looking for in this case.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for about an hour. Opened for a belated anniversary (9/16) celebration, and sipped while watching the first presidential debate -- definitely should have had something stronger! Not as expressive as other TNs indicate, probably due to the shorter decant. The wine was clear, with a light+ ruby color, and loads of sediment. The nose was muted, but showed some dark red fruits and a touch of alcohol. The palate followed the nose and was also muted. Lesson learned--needs more decant time!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Simple but lovely flavors of chocolate, cherries, raisins, crème de violette, and a touch of tobacco. Not very deep or broad. Not much energy. Nowhere near the power of the 1977 Fonseca. Still, elegant and delicious. I suggest drinking now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
There is a lot to like about this port. Consumption started after a 6 hr decant. Strawberry jam, violets, vanilla, Rosewater with hint if white pepper, cardamon and Cassia bark earthiness. Finish is not super long and there is a fraction of heat, but it is still good drinking. It held together pretty well and 24 hrs later, the flavour profile hadn't changed much. This is a better bottle than the last one of these I had a few years ago. Probably not a top tier port but very nice to drink none the less.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for several hours. Very light transparent ruby colour but no bricking. Nose of classic stollen and christmas cake and a bit too much vapour from the high alcohol. Palate is very mellow and integrated and harmonious but seems to have lost some layered complexity compared to past occasions...... it is now rather like a high alcohol and spirity version of an old Burgundy. No length or resonance. Re-assessing my previous opinions, I think it is time to drink this up.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank up at Stratton with the boys after a hard day on the slopes. Had this wine here a few yrs ago, and was highly disappointed. Not this time: This wine's in great shape. A bit sherry-like in appearance, pale and very light ruby, with browning at edges. Nose is very sherry-like, cloves, and raisins also prominent on the nose. Some red fruit, lots of raisins, caramel & molasses, and lots of spice or pepper, or both, on the palate. Quite viscous and quite spicy, with some tea-like nuance. A bit high in alcohol. Very interesting bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lovely Port! It was a first for me and my friends and we loved it, even to those that didn't usually appreciated Portos. The cork was a bit messy, but I managed to extract it. Lots of deposits, so be careful.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A wonderful amber coloring with some bricking on the rim. (The cork crumbled during the extraction process). Fully mature with lots of caramel, dried cherry and a hint of leather. Very, very smooth! Last bottle from a great vintage. (I was surprised that no raisin notes developed).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
We were not huge fans, opened two bottles as we thought the first was off somehow, the aroma was faint, color a thin rose red, and the flavor was just disjointed. The alcohol was pronounced and it had a slightly bitter aftertaste that was not pleasant. The first bottle was a bit thinner but both were the same otherwise.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Inside of capsule and top of cork were in bad shape, looked kind of mildewed or corroded. Cork mostly came out, but bottom crumbled into the bottle, so we strained the port while pouring. Given all that, we didn't have high hopes for this bottle but it ended up being very similar to our prior one, lighter style port. Brighter red color, but it was enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Good enough for the Chinese president on his visit to London this week, so I thought a good enough excuse for us to match. This bottle only filled to base of neck. Ruby colour. So much less sweet than I'd expected from Warre. No evident spirit. Round and oh so drinkable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ruby with translucent edges. Surprisingly fresh and light. A slight but entirely enjoyable savory aspect was lurking behind the traditional and expected notes. Huge amounts of sediment at the bottom of this fellow.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I'm reading my tasting note from one year ago, and I have the same reaction: not only is this a questionable bottle, I am now questioning the provenance of this entire lot that I bought from Zachys in 2012. This is, once again, more tawny than ruby, and is really much too dry and under fruited. Followed over three nights, same results. Edgemont guys, my place.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Surprisingly primal nose of red and black cherry, red plum and Asian spice. Full palate with medium acidity, the fruit is layered and unctuous. There's a real density to the sweetness, drinking well, but has some legs..
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A terrific Christmas port. A garnet coloring with some orange bricking along the rim. (The cork was soft when pulled). Decanted for about 2-3 hours. Fully mature with some dried cherry along with leather, tobacco, and chocolate. Very smooth.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 10 hours previously. Quite pale at decant but when drunk a lovely light ruby. Very good bottle. Lovely red fruits, raisins, definite bite and pepperiness. Cloves, spices, chinese tea, keep finding more. Great balance, long. Maybe slightly spirity on first opening but much more harmonious when drunk. Extremely enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wonderful ruby color with a bit of orange. Beautiful bouquet and flavor combining candied crab apples with dusty notes. Very unctuous with the perfect marriage of sugar and alcohol. A high octane wine with grace, finesse, and a long lingering finish. Magnificent. Most dessert wines do not improve in the bottle. I would venture that this is even true of Sauternes. But it is not true of Port. Find an old vintage wine from one of the great houses, and you will be very happy indeed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was fair, not great. Lots of spice - clove, some nutmeg, along with some fruitcake. The balance and poise were nice - but it wasn't particularly perfumed or complex. 15/20.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The cork was wholly saturated and broke apart. This port may have been compromised. More of a tawny color and more tawny in profile than ruby. This showed more roasted golden fruit than red fruit, dried yellow raisin, toffee, with the spirit not entirely integrated. Frankly, this should have been better, richer, less dried. From Zachys auction 12/2012. Sag Harbor guys' weekend.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still quite intense garnet red, on palate quite angular and rather short. Sweetness level was good, not overpowering Not a very elegant wine at this stage and probably never was. Interesting but not much more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Unique ruby red color, at first thought it was a sign of it having turned but it actually tasted fine. More of a bright taste rather than a raisiny taste. Loads of big chunk sediment in the bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark, blood red opaque colour. Nose rich in Stollen and Christmas cake with lots of brandied raisins. Palate is very complete and integrated except for a bit if alcoholic heat. A beautiful port that is drinking very well now but has years ahead to evolve further. Short on length. My only regret is that we didn't decant it for 10-12 hours, which is where previously it has shown at its very best.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Color was a very light red. Lighter than I’m used to in an aged vintage port. This is not a deep, concentrated port but rather a very elegant, flowery wine. First opened, very acidic, alcoholic, tannic. After 8 hour decant it was a beautiful flower. When I received the bottle earlier this year there was signs of prior seepage so I was leery. When I went to remove the cork it was so loose that it slid into the bottle. I could not get any traction to insert the corkscrew. In the end though, this was a delicious port.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From my former cellar, flooded in the early 80s. At least the ?lead lined inner capsule protected the cork. Embossed bottle and cleanly pulled cork confirms the vintage - label inevitably virtually destroyed. Colour an even translucent deep rose red with clear edges in glass. Herbaceous brambly fruit aromas carry forward to a concentrated flavour. A touch of spirity heat contributes a balancing effect giving grip. Great length. It may not quite achieve the depth (or perhaps richness) of a Fonseca/Taylor, but this is great example in a different style. Undoubtedly best as a food (cheese/crisp fruit) port. Superb, especially as many other reviews were so damning with faint praise. Drink now or perhaps over the next five years to enjoy at peak - although I have little doubt will hold up well enough for 50 years from vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose of dirty laundry, crème de mûre and juniper, with high alcohol. Palate has a smooth texture, with high alcohol and a tingly pop-rock acidity. Flavours of guava juice, lychee, dark chocolate and raisin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank after 89 Pichon Baron and grilled lamb dinner. Fantastic evening indeed. 77 Wares cork came out nice and clean. Port is about 60 pcnt opaque w clear edges. Nose of dried fruit and alcohol. Full sweet mouth with more dried fruit, spice, and brandy. Robust profile in spite of light coloration. Drank with aged cheddar which pulled out the butterscotch in the port. Must repeat!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Clear red color, no brown edges. Raspberry and licorice with some spice on the back end. A bit of alcoholic heat as well. Very sweet. Nice bottle, although would prefer more subdued alcohol.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The cork split into two pieces when I tried to open the bottle but still came out relatively problem free.
This is my first Warre's port experience and it is very nice indeed Open (5) hours it has a wonderful nose distinctive of a good vintage porto. Very nice taste with a 30 second plus finish and lingers on the tongue. Very well balanced and fully mature I feel this wine will easily hold 10-20 more years.
Medium dark ruby red color this wine is at or near its peak. With each sip you want to go back for more which for me is a very good sign of quality. With a wine of this age one can expect some bottle variation which is why you see highly variable scores on the cellar tracker but this example appears pristine and a fine example of this house style. The 1977 Fonseca vintage porto I had 6 months ago was a little better (93+-94 points) but not much as this will hold its's own and come close to the Fonseca in blind tests I am sure.
Rich, balanced and mature this wine is everything one could expect and highly recommended.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bought from James Nicholson in Belfast. Opened to accompany the shepherd's pie I've just made for this evening..
D+0: Slightly worried. The cork came out cleanly but was wet to the tip, even though it isn't penetrated throughout. The selo at the top of the bottle was slightly stained. It's pale, still red but about 50% opaque. (see below) On the nose this mainly has some mixed spice and raisins (like a light fruit cake). If you put your mind to it, there's a buttery vanilla to this, underneath. It tastes rather thin right now. But we'll see how it opens up.
D+4: Fruit & flowers have opened up on the nose and in the mouth, also it's darker than I originally estimated with the tiny amount I poured after I decanted; perhaps 60%. Still pale though, with bricking at the rim. I tasted some VA at the finish. Definitely this is becoming quite 'tawnified' and oxidised. Very pleasant to drink but past its best. Faded through the evening.
about 85? hard to say.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was a wonderful bottle to finish off the evening. I was initially worried about the soaked-through cork, but the wine was not affected. The color was medium to light ruby, the nose was a combination of primary fruit and some raisins and figs, the finish long and warm. I believe this one is ready for drinking now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From half bottle, from a recent auction lot. Wow, this was just extraordinary, even with little air. There was an intriguing, delicious aspect of this wine that made me think of the aromatic lift that Viognier gives to Cote Rotie. It comes on in this Port like sweet, ripe fruit and sweet garrigue, just short of tropical, along with spiced orange peel and strawberry high notes. It is interesting just how forward, bright and sweet-fruited this is showing right after uncorking. I left some for the second night, when I would expect a '77 port would show even better, but no, the fireworks were on the first night. Truly enjoyable and I am so happy digging into these ports this winter.
Saturday night of storm Nemo. 24.5 inches of snow fell overnight in my town. Perfect night for older Port.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened Fred's bottle at Stratton super bowl trip. This wine has seen better days. The color is tending toward the clear side now, nose very much of spirits mixed with some caramel. Ripe raisins, caramel and maybe toffee on the palate. Very sweet, and very lacking in any remaining acidity. I didn't enjoy this wine. Drink this wine now!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fabulous. Made my mouth happy. Went so well with Stilton and walnuts. Not too sweet. Long finish. Great burst of flavor. Some caramel flavors. Nice color. Not deep color. Beautiful body
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A bit light, but nice and well-balanced. Smooth, mostly red fruit, with light floral, clove and anise hints. Not deeply complex, but still very pleasant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lots of dried sweet black tea leaves and spiced licourice. But waning and kinda weak on the body and finish. Elegant yes but would have preferred deeper richer fruit notes. Also a little alc on the finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
(jm's old world education@paulS') Chocolate on the nose, with dusty berries, raisins, sweet ethylene and fresh leather. Cool-tea sweetness, old smoke, toffee raisins, oily caramel viscosity. Paired perfectly with our 72-month comte cheese, INCREDIBLY with the Époisses, thereby showing lovely herbal garrigue on the finish. Lovely and complex, this port drinks better paired than on it's own.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Year-end "James Bond" Party (Chad's, Chuville): This was pleasant, good actually, but a bit behind some of the great 1977 vintage ports. It had a great nose, with dried figs and raisins, cherry liquer and a touch of earthy aromas. The palate was a little more lackluster when first poured. However, it did improve markedly after some 48 hours in the bottle. It was initially rather deep-set and reticent, even after some time in the decanter. However, it took on some depth over the next couple of days. Rather sweet, with markedly lowish acidity for 1977, it still managed to come across pretty balanced, with a nice sense of finesses to rather simple but yummy flavours of dried figs and raisins, some chocolate cake, moving into a herby, spicy finish, with sprigs of rosemary, thyme and sage - very garrigue like - mixed in with more typical notes of cinamon and cloves. I liked it, but thought it lacked a bit of complexity and overall oomph. There seems to have been a lot of variability in previous tasting notes, but this particular bottle still had some life in it and would probably have gone on nicely for some time yet.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The cork was in fantastic condition, soaked about 1/3 through and surprisingly dense. This excellent condition probably contributed to a wine that seems to have been slower to open than the other examples in the database. At 5 hours, it was working to open, with wonderful fresh tea, fruit and spice characters in a lighter, but still very tannic body. At 17 hours, this was probably a touch past ideal, but was much more approachable, with raspberry iced tea, baking spices, and fresh orange and just a hint of tawny-ness balanced with perfect and fresh amounts of acidity and tannin. Delicious. I agree with other notes that this should be consumed in the next 5 years for peak drinking.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Appears I got lucky. This had all the finese of vintage port. Alcohol, fruit and spice all in balance with a nose and attack that is unique in wine based drinks. No problem with length or lack of grip. A half case wine at current prices on the Hugh Johnson scale. Biglama has it right
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Well past its prime - Cork leaking slightly and crumbled when opened, color of old bricksm, and not much flavor left. Even after standing upright for a day-and-a-half andthen decanting, there was a lot of fine sediment floating in the wine (at least that's what it looked like). Not much pleasure in this bottle. This bottle didn't always have great storage conditions, and judging by some of the other reviews it's easy to see what a difference that can make.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I wasn't sure about the provenance of this bottle so it was flash decanted for sediment and poured about an hour later. Still a nice crimson colour. Quite light bodied with plenty of acidity holding together a wine in perfect nick as it turned out. Quite a torrefied air to the nose and palate but with very sweet dark red fruits. Much weightier the second night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
4 hr decant. Some Vanilla an white pepper, all spice cinnamon on the nose. Excellent weight with some initial sweetness, plum and white pepper again . Finishes slightly hot but not excessively so. Perhaps a little short on the finish but providing some lovely drinking now. I'd expect this to hold it's current form for a few more years but without improvement
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Clear redish in color. Nose of walnuts, roasted chesnuts, dried raisins and flowers. Wonderfully smooth and silky. Long long creamy finish that lasts. What a port from a great vintage and well worth the wait. Drink now to 2018.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I had expected better things from this, as 1977 was thought to be an excellent vintage when it was declared (although reviews since have been more mixed). It has all the elements of a vintage port, sweetness, fruit, a certain fieriness, but compared to the best it seems a little weedy. Perhaps it has faded a little from its best, but on this showing I don't think it was ever all that brilliant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was purchased from BBR only a couple years ago. Although the cork crumbled I suspect excellent storage. Quite deep with a remarkably red-fruited nose. Very clean. Correct balance of sweetness. Gentle and forceful at the same time. Ready but also steady! Maybe not the most complex but proof that a well stored 77 still has the potential to offer huge pleasure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Red crimson center, red rim with clear signs of age. Vanilla, cherry, green tea, a little white chocolate, violets. Smooth, red currants, fennel, light tannin and acid, violets and cumin. Great now, won't improve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for four hours. Medium red, slight bricking around the edge; soft mellow nose of dark red fruit and licorice; medium weight, with flavours of raisins and chocolate. Not particularly complex, but seductively smooth and pretty. Less richness, depth and power than other '77s such as Graham's and Taylor's, but still very good if somewhat straight forward. This is the twelfth bottle I've had and I personally think on this showing the wine is fully mature and although there is no rush to drink up I don't think there is anything to be gained by keeping this much longer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ruby colour. No sign of age. Long fruit aftertaste, gentle flavour, but this bottle had a slightly bitter tinge on the first taste - perhaps oddity of this bottle?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
On offer by the glass at the O&C in Pall Mall...one of the key reasons to stay there! Deep, deep ruby color. And I think JR has it right: " Round and sweet and full and easy."" We had seconds. And then thirds.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The cork on this bottle was seeping a tad, but the fill was base neck. Double decanted 24 hours ahead of service. On initial opening, color was a light red with brown tinges, and the palate was very hot with alcohol. When served 24 hours later, the color hadn't really changed. However, the alcohol had burned off quite a bit and did so completely once in the glass. Very good sweetness with a touch of dryness on the finish. A very nice wine that's perhaps a little on the downhill side of fully mature.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
High fortification level with leather, clove, dried fruit and spice on the nose. No discernible tannin, medium acidity and sweetness, dried fruit, light caramel and toasted almonds and other kernals in the mouth. Rich without being cloying. A little disappointing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
On the nose, chocolate, candyfloss, mild caramel, vanilla and bergamot. On the palate, wonderful texture of warm chocolate and shortbread, with warm forest fruits, demerera sugar and hints of Earl Grey. Long finish. Incredible wine. Probably as good as it will get now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
light, in color, nose and body. quite yummy lighter raisin, yet not as bold or rich as I prefer. Had with good cheeses as final plate after bbq lamb dinner.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Friday night dinner at Lisa and Lee's with Jamie and Rich. Brought a pair of Duckhorn Merlots - the '04 Three Palms and the '04 Estate - and then we realized we "needed" a port to best complement the chocolates we had after dinner - so Lee and I came back to our house and pulled this bottle. Surprisingly light in color and somewhat cloudy, but delicious and just right for the chocolate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tawny in colour with brick tones at rim and expected sediments. Decanted only an hour before serving and consumed over two hours. Opulent medicinal notes of port with notes of prune, chocolate and tobacco along with sweet spice. Full, greasy and tight with a powerful backbone, still young and has years ahead to fully develop and show itself.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
As expected from the producer and with the age this is a gentle, balanced port of contemplation rather than power. UPDATE: 1/22/11 the leftover 1/3 of a bottle found in the refrigerator was still very lovely, much to my surprise for a VP of this age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had a mediocre bottle before but this one was singing. Very promising on opening, immediately showing an attractive, fruity nose. Soft in the mouth, with a racy and dry finish. We gave it some 8 hours in the decanter, which helped greatly. Lovely elegant fruit, fresh cherries, some prunes, and nice layers of more aged tones, such as tobacco and spices. A soft and elegant port, that is peak drinking now, but will hold as well. Very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted approximately 4 hours before serving. The cork was completely soaked and broke during extraction, causing fears of prunes, raisins or worse. However it wasn't meant to be as the coloring was a medium garnet with a hint of bricking around the rim of the glass. The flavors were that ot sweet cherry, chocolate, tobacco and a hint of mint with no raisin or purne notes. A delicious port!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
X Mas week, need a sweet wine to sip and enjoy. 2xDecant. Beautiful color. Golden red brown, redder than rust color, a translucent clear nector. Serious raisin going on with the P&P, sweet, rich, layered, some winter/pumpkin spice. Should develop nicely over next few days.
12/31 - Just a bit left to try on day 6 before going out. Been vacuumed and in bottle for this time. Nose is gone, just a hint of raisin left. Smoked prunes. Light glycerin almost thin palate now. Sweetness w prune and raisin there, some cherry too the red/black color. The finish just hangs on the palate. Nice
With this evolution the wine is ageless, acid, alch fruit smoky oak all balanced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner at Matyson (Matyson, Philadelphia, PA): Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of licorice, Kirsch, white pepper and wet stones. Singular flavors of licorice and currants on the palate. Medium acidity, full bodied. The wine doesn't seem corked but it does seem a bit off so no rating.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Clear, light ruby color. Nose of raspberry and licorice, with passing notes of dark chocolate and sweet buttercream. Similar palate, with cherry and cinnamon. Considerable hot spirit emerged late, but did not completely spoil the very long, sweet finish. Very little sign of maturity in this bottle, a little linear but clean. Filtered and decanted 2 hours, this barely changed at all over the next 6 hours. Drink now, or hold to see if further aging adds some more interest.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decnted 10 hours in advance. Stunningly gorgeous. Silence-creating despite a raucus birthday dinner gathering and being the last of 9 wines. Fully mature but has decades ahead of it.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted about 5 hours and consumed over 2 hours. Nice cherry/raisin nose. Quite a bit of heat on the palate, which never cooled down with time. Racy with less complexity than I had expected. I've enjoyed this port several times: while not obviously flawed, this bottle was less impressive...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
IWFSC Governors Lunch (Racquet Club): Another solid showing for this port, though I still think it's a bit early for many of these 77s as there is still some tightness and heat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Didn't take detailed notes by this point. Medium red. Candy, raisin, and some coffee notes. Some heat was detectable. It was enjoyable but not overwhelming or anything. Paired with a molten chocolate cake and chocolate covered banana ice cream.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for eight hours. Medium red, slight bricking around the edge; spirity nose, hint of fruit and licorice; medium weight, raisins, chocolate. This seems to have taken on a new lease of life with good complexity not evident in other bottles I've had over the past two or three years. Very good and on this showing has a few years left despite being in its mature phase.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Looks a lot older than the 77 Dow's, showing a little VA and plenty of antique smells. It is rich and spirity with a clean, sweet red wine feel to the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cork soaked through & partially disintegrated on opening. Opened, 2oz poured, cork replaced. After 1hr. Very light colour - raspberry, translucent, initially no nose but rasins & coffee with swirling. Lovely bright intense attack. Fresh! Slight citrus component? Moderate finish. Like this. After 4hrs. Little change. With a full flavoured Gorgonzola, delicious. After 12 days (In the fridge, in a sealed 1/4 bottle). Still delicious - no oxidative flavours, just lovely chocolate & coffee with wonderful juicy acidity. Long finish. No overt alcohol. All gone, so sad.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner for Angela (Chez Patrick, Sun Street, Hong Kong): Decanted for 8 hours. Dark, still opaque red colour like thick blood. Nutty, lightly confected nose.....lovely.....very light...almost no fruit on the nose. Still lots of tough acidic, tannic black fruit on the palate with lovely very woody and nutty character. Good but not outstanding length.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Stood up 3 days before and decanted 2 hours before. Off color, like Raspberry and cloudy which I found off-putting. Good port nose but seemed to be loosing focus on the palate. I think this bottle was in decline.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Stearns Reunion Tour (HK Stearns Manhattan Pad): Pop & pour for a little party tomorrow night. Just a taste. Thief'd a small glass and re vacuumed, will decant and re-bottle in the morning.
Just about a burnt light red color, translucent. Mature port. Ahhh all good here, a peak at what tomorrow will bring. Nose has raisin, layers of spice already there. Great nose. Mouth coat and feels as others note, just great . . . fills the palate.The lingering fruit totally different from the raisin attack on the front & mid palate. Dried and roasted, or a dark roasted coffee and figs touch of prunes, really intense. While it lingers is not a hugely deep wine, perhaps the force of youth as giving way to a more subtle wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted about 4.5 hours and consumed over about 2 hours. Wonderfully complex nose with cherry, raisin, and subtle flowers. Medium full on the palate with a very sweet cherry finish. Great length. A wonderful port.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 6 hours before drinking over a long Christmas turkey lunch with Greg and Sayo at our house in Thailand. Still a very deep ruby colour although transparent and bricking a little at the rim. A really intense nose of black and red berries together with dusky Indian spices like ground cardoman and unground nutmeg. Extremely rich and mouthfilling on the palate, sweetness and and unfolding parade of fruits from ripe balacberries and resperries through to dried raisens and prunes and apricots. Great length. Really enjoyable and went brilliantly with the Stollen we had instead of Christmas Pudding.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The Blind Drunks monthly tasting (Rich & Dana's): Pale ruby color turning clear toward the edge. Notes of spicy red currants, flowers and berries. Nice balance on entry, with flavors of red fruit, cinnamon and spice. Nice finish, dominated be red fruit tones.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for ten hours. Medium red, slight bricking around the edge; spirity nose, hint of fruit and licorice; medium weight, raisins, chocolate. Not particularly complex and the fruit is beginning to fade. Very pleasant, but fairly straight forward. This is the ninth bottle I've had and I personally think on this showing the wine is past it's peak and although there is no rush to drink up I shan't keep the remaining three bottles for more than another two or three years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted about 90 minutes. Nice raisin/prune nose. Quite hot a first, but settled down as the evening wore on. Racy on the palate with a nice sweet finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Although woofully short on decant time, I opened a 1977 Warre's Vintage Port. I must say with only a couple hours of decant time it showed wonderfully. I've compared the Warre's as a Rolls-Royce before and this was no different. As I sit here typing this with the last glass left, the color is still a medium dark ruby with no signs of any bricking or fading. The nose was typical soft and elegant Warre's, so inviting and elegant you just want to smell it for ages. With soft blueberries, a touch of licorice, and a faint wiff of eucalyptis. Although the palate is not a massive bodied VP like a Taylors, this bottle is just such an elegant wine that you never want to stop drinking it. It shows no sign of fading and only the slightest hint that this is a 31 year old wine. The palate offers some soft plums, bing cherry, some menthol, and a touch of spirit, which is followed but a long and wonderful finish. Perhaps the best 1977 Warre's I"ve had, and I'm glad I was able to share it in the company of a good friend that I've not seen in some time. 93 Points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Superb stuff. Rather pruney to me, a little spice but mostly just sooooo smooth and balanced, completely a point. Looking forward to the rest of the bottle over the next couple of nights.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened to a very un-integrated mixture of hotness and nuttiness. Bricking is evident, there certainly is not much stuffing left in this bottle! After 45 minutes the wine was showing much better. Walnut and cedar, better integrated.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1989 vs 1990 Bordeaux: Nose of cherry and baking spice. Palate is medium to full with rich fruit and well integrated alcohol. nice finish. Good acidity. Well integrated tannin. earth. dark fruits. Really nice. Likely drinking at peak or even slightly past. Will hold and continue to drink well for several more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Slight signs of seepage. Cork fell into the bottle. +2 hours decanting -- incredibly smooth with little heat, fruit and cocoa. While not super complex, absolutely delicious and a good example of why I like vintage port. This has years ahead of it but I don't think it has the backbone to improve much.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lawtons shadow T'giving. Double decanted about 8 hrs. Drinking very well. Spirit in balance. Nonsticky sweetness. Plenty of fruit and good spiciness. Not profound but very very good. Drinking well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A remarkable experience, and quite a surprise. G brought this bottle up north 2 months ago for her HS reunion, and left about half the magnum, corked and stored in the booze cabinet. Pulled it out last night w/ FBM and Miker, expecting that it would have fallen apart and would need to be poured out.
Quite to the contrary, this was drinking better now than 2 months ago. In fact, it performed best after 20-30 minutes in the glass. Starts out very boozy on the nose, with port fruit and oak on the palate, hints of the roughness witnessed in June. Everything smooths out with add'l air.
Based on the way this performed, I have to think that this has a tremendously long remaining life.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Slightly transparant with a brownish hue. The smell is delicate and filled with nuts and chocolate. The taste on the other hand is WOW... Starts out a little delicate with elegant tones of walnut, leather and dark chocolate but then explodes with flavour. It is very concentrated and elegant at the same time. Simply amazing balance and the length is simply on a high level of complexity. Without a doubt a VP at the top that is just perfect to drik now but will easily be able to keep for many years. Has everything that a VP should have, fruit, nuts (almond/walnut), chocolate, coffee and leather.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sending w/ G. to her 30 year HS reunion. Since it was a 1.5L, figured there was enough to take a quick taster. Rated "85" but didn't record as such, since it likely "user error", at least partially. No decant, and on reading earlier reviews, maybe this is required. Boozy and hot, both on nose and palate. Heat on palate, and seemingly thin. Reminds me a bit of a Lesec CdR I had that was disproportionately alcoholic. Filled up a .375, and will followup over the next several days.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium ruby with a slightly tawny rim. On the nose, sweet tobacco and juicy strawberry with elements of spicebox. On the second day the nose had changed to figs and dates with strawberry and licorice elements. Touch of heat. On the palate, good acidity with flavors of date essence and resolved tannins. Very nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
That '70's show...all '70's all the time: Loire, Spain, Ca, Bordeaux, Port. (Applewood): This is a '77 Warre's? Wow. It's like no other bottle that I've tried in the past. I usually find this to be a solid, fairly light and silky Port that's been drinking harmoniously for at least ten years, but this is the most youthful and opulent bottle that I've had. Much more tannic than I'm accustomed too, with a nice rich core of sweet black fruit, sweet baker's spices, dark chocolate and licorice. Delicious. Low A.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is an odd one. Decanted for two hours. Fullish colour, feeble, vegetal nose. Medium body, little fruit and depth, profoundly disappointing and, at this stage, merited no more than 82 (if that). Left in decanter overnight and, out of interest, tried again for breakfast to see if it was as bad as I remembered. Greatest resurrection since Lazarus. Nose was full of red fruits and hint of violets although a bit 'hot', the wine had put on weight and had become a beautifully balanced port with a good finish. Not a blockbuster, but feminine and charming. Will try again in a year's time to see if it gets through this dumb stage. If I'm tempted to open before then I'll give it a good 8 hours in a decanter.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for approximately 4 1/2 hours. Translucent ruby hue. Nose very slow to develop, and still muted when consumed, suggesting plum, blackcurrants, and lots of alcohol. Very hot on the palate, with a core of semi-sweet fruit slowly building so that the alcohol was nearly overcome, but not totally. Moderate finish. For a wine with nearly 30 years of unknown provenance, it performed solidly.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A Pre-Christmas dinner in Calgary 02 Shafer HSS, 00 Pavie (Cilantro's): Wine was popped and poured and perhaps a decant would have helped. Lots of alcohol on the nose and on the finish. This wine reminded me of Hall's cough drops. Not much going on here and really not that enjoyable. Half a glass and then forgotten about.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Stood up in celler for days prior to opening, but sediment was still present in wine, I assume from long car ride to host home. Lesson, drop off days in advance if consuming away from storage location. Drank at a friends home after a fine meal. Still on the youngish side but very delicious. would benefit from few more years in cellar and should hold for another decade after that.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted November 4, 2006 at home. Opened and decanted for sediment before serving immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Sweet Wine glass. Raspberry color in the glass, slightly dusty looking. Big nose of nuts, raisins, cassis and a touch of dry sherry. Flavors of dried currants, dried black berries and a nutty finish. Still a little on the youngish side I’d recommend holding another 5 years unless you have several to burn. Should last another 10+ years easily.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Barolo Bash II (Bottega del Vino, NYC): Initially a bit hot on the nose, but it blows off ti fruit, coffee, and spicy notes. On the palate, it's a touch alcoholic, but with really nice sweetness. Caramel notes, coffee notes. Great fruit. Needs more time. This was decanted about 3 1/2 hours - should have given it twice that at least.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner at Tribeca Grill (Tribeca Grill, New York): Wonderful nose with slight peppery notes. Beautiful ine. Wonderful balance. Great acids, clean fruit. Really a pleasure to drink this. Decanted for about 3-4 hours. Has many years to go.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A fully mature '77 Warre's finally! The color was a bit light, if dark cherry can be considered light. The flavors were of raisin, prune, blackberry, leather, tobacco and fruit, all blended harmoniously. No harsh finish and it wasn't heavy. If anything, it almost seemed light for a VP, but it was delicious and there was none left at the end of the evening.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Disappointing to say the least. Very thin throughout, with more heat than fruit. Tasted like robitussin. This bottle was clearly past its prime. Tasted over 3 days, with little improvement. Will try another bottle soon to compare.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lots of heat and alcohol and the fruit (prune if I had to say) was diminished and not at the forefront (this was a 1/2 bottle- had plenty of sediment). In hindsight I wish it had been decanted longer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Compared to the other times that I have enjoyed this wine, for the first time, I thought that it was losing its fruit. While still wonderful, it does not measure up to past tastings and doesn't come close to the Fonseca from the same year. Maybe this was an "off bottle," but I plan on consuming the rest of them in my cellar in the coming year or so.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
SWS Port Tasting (Seattle, WA): Reddish color with some bricking. Some spice on the nose and not a lot of fruit. Fairly sweet on the palate with some heat and a short finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
With "Winos." Apropriately lightened but no browning. Mildly spirity when first opened, but all in balance after ~3.5 hrs of decanting. Lovely mature port with gentle sweetness, spice and nonprimary fruit, I suppose plum if one had to choose. Drinking well but no hurry.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had a glass of this at Acme Chophouse @ SBC Park the other night. DEEP and dark color like essence of port. Rich, concentrated and lucious on the palate. Nice tannins, but a bit hot on the finish. Really good stuff. The 1977 Taylor Fladgate is supposed to be better. How can this be? I have two bottles of the Taylor and now I am really curious. Regardless, I found the 1977 Warre VP to be really impressive. K&L has about a case of this available for $90 per bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consumed at the Marine Room with John and Royce Campbell (ordered from the wine list). Similar impression to 1/14/03, with the exception that the wine was obviously properly decanted (no sediment) and was accordingly much smoother, without any bitterness and with much less biting tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consumed at Decos Restaurant (San Diego). Bottle brought from the personal cellar of Ken Johnson. The waiter did not properly decant the wine, leaving a large amount of sediment in the decanter (some of which made it into the glass and likely added a bitter component). Deep reddish amber in color. Clean nose, showing moderately intense ripe plum, licorice, blackberries and black tea. Full-bodied on the palate, with massive, still somewhat astringent tannins. Long, slightly astringent finish. Needs more time to develop its full potential.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
4/20/2024 - MAkita Likes this wine: 95 Points
A real surprise here--the third bottle of this that I've opened, and by a long shot the best! I had my doubts on a heavily corroded capsule and a cork that instantly slid into the bottle, but to my surprise, this seems to have been kept perfectly!
Beautiful color showing a nice transition between ruby and more of a brick red. Much deeper color than I have seen in previous bottles from Warres in this vintage, and much more reminiscent of the '94--generally a richer vintage for Warres.
This had developed perfectly. Mellow and smooth, with a surprisingly rich finish. Nice light raisiny notes with a deep, molassesy note like Christmas pudding. Not the most complex port out there, but a perfect example of what the right storage (not on my part!) can do to make the absolute most of a nearly 50 year-old wine!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/17/2024 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
A beautiful clean spirit cuts black fruits. It has florals and licorice notes and is complex and engaging. It is concentrated yet light on its feet and finishes with freshness and persistence. Still very young.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/12/2024 - Obia Likes this wine: 100 Points
Vraiment un porto magnifique, à point, translucide, nez de framboise et de poire william, soyeux et voluptueux en bouche, longue finale.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2024 - john_s Likes this wine: 93 Points
I see that I started a note 2 years ago and didn't finish it. So this time the cork was again crappy, loose and I nearly pushed it into the bottle. It was just the sharp fine screw of the Durand that enabled me to hook it, and it came out leaving only a couple of bits behind. However the excellent capsule did what the cork would probably have failed to do. Level was excellent, and wine decanted cleanly. Mature colour, and nose quite lovely, and lively, reminiscent of Burgundy in a way. Mouthfeel very good, slightly uneven if one wanted to be critical, but alcohol and acid balance just right, mercifully. I doubt that after a dozen Burgundys my friends will be critical. I rarely give marks, but this would have to be a 93+.
Owned since release, stored quite well and hardly moved. A compensation for getting old. I have bought 21st century VPs but I'm not going to last long enough to taste them at this optimum stage.
edit, next day: not quite as good as before. A bit of firmness in the mid palate, a bit uneven in a way. Aftertaste a bit dry. I'll leave the mark at 93 though.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2023 - Arve Jøndahl wrote:
Til Stilton og Port
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2023 - TooManyBottles19 wrote: 91 Points
I was gifted the bottle this fall. Cork showed significant sign of leakage and did not come out cleanly. Had to push through. Label damaged. Wine was fine to drink but I wonder about its cellar history, if that may have degraded it a bit over 40+ years. Red fruit palate and smooth, but a lighter and less complex wine than I expected. Still my guests and I enjoyed it, served as dessert after a meal of traditional northern Italian Lasagne.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2023 - TheGreenFrog Likes this wine: 94 Points
Needed 30 mins or so to open up. A a very nicely balanced wine. Fully mature of course and the fruit has faded, but there is still some fruit there and overall it's a joy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2023 - theportguy wrote: 93 Points
Sammamish Port Club - 1970's Ports (Seattle, Washington): Fairly clear with purple and light rose on the extreme edge. Earthy, chalky, dusty slate on the nose. Sweet flipper profile with cherry candy, light spirit, and some nice acidity. Good balance on the long finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/15/2023 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
Friday Night Uptown Brown Bagger (R&D's): Lovely ruby color. Aromas of cherry, red currant, licorice, sage, cinnamon and strawberry jam. So complex and engaging. The palate is a bit more straightforward, but no less enjoyable, with abundant red fruit tones- cherry, raspberry coulis and kirsch. Hints of spice in the finish. Always a pleasure to sip this wine. (R&D)
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/6/2023 - BernieMSY Likes this wine: 94 Points
I bought this one a few years after release, and it’s been slumbering in my cellar ever since. It has a medium ruby color; lovely classic port nose. Nutty undertone, delicious grape candy notes. This one has held up well, but I suggest you drink them if you still have them
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/5/2023 - Old Wine Maven Likes this wine:
In my cellar since purchase in 1982. Last of my ‘77’s. It did not age quite as well as the legendary ‘63’s - but still, at 48 years old, this bottle exhibited aged Port at its very best. Especially for those who are looking for finess and elegance not raw power in their aged Ports.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2023 - chatters wrote:
Coravin fun - Ch. de Beaucastel (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Surprisingly lightweight but not in a bad way, more ethereal actually, ripe red hued fruit, a little nuttiness and sweet spice in support. Off dry, alcohol well contained, again that sense of ethereal delicacy. Very nice indeed.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2022 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 94 Points
It took me almost 24 years to revisit this wine, but here we are. First bottle from a four bottle lot purchased at auction in 2020. Level base of neck / very top shoulder. Crumbly cork but removed with relative ease. Carefully and gently decanted with the help of my decanting machine. Light and lively colour, mature but with a bright ruby core; wonderfully expressive and complex nose (cedar, blood orange, sultanas, spices, white nuts, roses, tobacco, blonde caramel), harmonious and with excellent depth; the palate has good volume and a silky-smooth texture, delicately sweet but very fresh and bright, tannins are as good as resolved but continue to provide some grip in the background; relatively dry finish with notes of negroni and boudoir powder. Classical Warre, well on its plateau of maturity, no rush but no further upside either.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/25/2022 - MAkita Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is a great port, with some fresh summer fruits character (think a very subtle strawberry) and a bit of winter baking spices (allspice and anise are the two that come to mind). This is definitely on the lighter--subtler, depending on your feeling--side of ports. It's delicious, but it doesn't punch per se in the way you might expect.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/7/2022 - Lord of the Bottles Likes this wine: 98 Points
Stewed ripe summer fruits (strawberries, blackberries and raspberries). Very open and rich. No tightness. Syrup like taste. Great woth chocolate tart. **Note: my wife scored this 98, to me its more mid 90s but I only had 1 taste from her glass :-)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/7/2022 - richard.presser Likes this wine: 94 Points
Purchased from a cellar sale.
Cork fell apart in the last half.
Light red.
Fine blood orange aromas. Beautiful spirit. Very fine.
Palate mirrors the nose. Very fine. Fully mature and drinking wonderfully. Long. Sweet.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/2022 - Wine Canuck wrote: 94 Points
An Epic Summer Wine Weekend; 7/1/2022-7/3/2022 (Muskoka, Ontario, Canada): This pours totally translucent, light garnet. Bricking is really only light. Aromatically a little tight on opening, but after 30 minutes it really opens up. The nose is just a lovely profile. Complex but only moderately intense aromas lift from the glass showing blood orange, grapefruit, cherry, red plum, cinnamon and clove. The palate is even better showing lovely balance of acid, fruit, and alcohol with very little remaining tannin. There is a lovely blood orange element on the palate, with a finish that lingers impressively.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2022 - hunter4us Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for 4 hours. nutty - hazelnut, dry (typical Warre style), light sweetness, smooth. gentle fruit. has years ahead but why wait?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/26/2022 - englishman's claret wrote: 94 Points
I love the 77 Warre, mellow, perfect sweetness, dried black fruit, chestnut, sultana, subtly spicy. Perfectly smooth, pliant and plump without any intrusive warmth.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2022 - BHRH Likes this wine: 95 Points
Double decanted 5 hours before serving. Cork split near the bottom, but managed to filter well. A simply outstanding vintage port! A lighter garnet with light brown edges. Intoxicating bouquet of toffee, caramel, plums, coffee, and subtle Asian spices. Expansive on the palate with sweet caramel and fruit cake notes. Super complex, long, sweet finish with fully integrated tannins. Just a marvelous drinking experience!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/23/2022 - ricard Likes this wine: 96 Points
Garnet colour and some orange bricking. It is, after all, 45 years old! Such an intense aroma of raisin and fruit compote and Christmas spices - clove, mace and nutmeg. Rich beyond belief. Simply exploding with thickness and power, pouring over my tongue with fleshy, velvety voluptuousness, ending with a tart acidity and a rather brutal finish. Fascinating. Good Lord. One bottle of this with cheeses and you will *die*.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2022 - john_s Likes this wine:
Just opened it for later tonight. Another crappy cork, fell straight in despite almost surgical care to avoid pushing down. However, decanted cleanly, not having stood up for years. Quite mature not very dense colour. Nose seems very attractive at this stage, but I'll keep an eye on it during the day.
.....more later....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/7/2022 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Opened for an event at Bill's three days earlier so we drank the leftovers. Amazing longevity; still singing.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/1/2022 - europat55 wrote: 92 Points
From 375ml
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2022 - trumpet60201 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Bottle was seeping when I got it (a few months ago). Stood upright in my cellar waiting for the right time to drink it. The cork was a mess - most of it completely fell apart and into the wine. I filtered it out and decanted it. Amazingly, the wine was still fresh. There are loads of fruit still on this. Tannins are fully resolved. Nice stuff. Better on day 1.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/15/2022 - FiggySmalls Likes this wine: 93 Points
Agreeing with previous review: soft, fantastic nose, very pretty, delicious but not enthralling, rather light-colored, and half of the cork dropped into the bottle despite my best efforts with an ah-so :/
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2021 - dave747400 wrote: 91 Points
This years port while decorating the christmas tree. unable to extract cork, even with ah-so - very loose & dropped into the bottle. Decanted through muslin, 2hrs. Very tawny in colour, mellow nose and fairly spirity palate with some nice red fruit showing. Medium finish. May be a sub-optimal bottle.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/27/2021 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
4th Saturday Group: Uptown Brown Bag: Standard bottle, courtesy of our hosts. Bright ruby crimson color. Currant, plum, red berry and spice notes. Abundant ripe red berry fruit on the palate, with a lingering finish. Cherry and spice qualities emerge as it sits. Excellent. 93+ pts.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/6/2021 - Jakobs portvinsarkiv wrote: flawed
Fugtig prop, lidt kælder
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/5/2021 - theportguy wrote: 94 Points
Fantastic depth and complexity on the nose, with dried cranberry and cherry. Red fruits on the entry with a touch of warm spice. Great balance through the mid-palate, and just a touch of sweetness on the long finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/29/2021 - ricard Likes this wine: 94 Points
Garnet/cherry colour with some oily, orange rivulets. Big, thick, alcoholic legs. Unctuous, dense, rich, sweet but not cloying. The alcohol is very forward, not integrated - it's too dominant for my taste. The wine is still young, full of energy and life. The finish is spicy and peppery, but it carries through with enough sweetness and notes of caramelised oranges and toffee apples to complete the experience. Powerful, overpowering even. Not subtle.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/10/2021 - Neecies wrote:
Taupe-y light red. Light toffee and raisin notes on the nose with graceful length on the finish. Less complex than other 77's I've had, but a delight nonetheless.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/9/2021 - Loathesome wrote: 89 Points
Generally I like Warre a lot but never convinced by the 1977 but then I think it is overall a disappointing vintage and nowhere near the early comparisons with 1963. This was a light red and have had bottles almost pink in the past. Two thirds of a wine. Easy to drink, soft and round but a bit boring with little grip and nothing like the quality the producer and vintage should have resulted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/9/2021 - cweiss wrote:
From 375. Pulled from the cellar because I noted it to be a leaker with low shoulder level, so not expecting much. On decanting it was the color of a sherry. Over time it got a little darker, with a red tinge. Remarkably it was quite enjoyable and even elegant. Medium sweetness, which I see as typical for Warre's. Not spirity at all (maybe better because of the angel's share?). It improved over hours and was still very good the next day. Other than the color, it was in the trajectory of past bottles.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/29/2020 - Pooogles Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nose is dried currants and fruit cake.
Pallette is quite simple actually, more of the things found on the nose really. Dried currants out the wazoo. Tannins well integrated and barely detectable at this point. Finish goes on for a long old while though which is pleasant as you don't have to come back as often (ideal for 9pm on Christmas day).
Honestly much more of a simple port compared to the 77 Dow and Graham's I've drunk recently. I don't see any more upside from here but I don't think you're in a rush to drink. For the £65 I paid I'd garner more pleasure from a 30YO tawny. This might not be the best showing bottle so YMMV.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
9/5/2020 - AllRed wrote: 94 Points
Time to Taste 2000 Bordeaux (R&D's): Courtesy of our hosts, their anniversary year, double decanted a few hours before service. Deep ruby red color. Aromas of white currants, cherry, red berry fruit, spiced plum and fig. Terrific fruit on the palate, with chocolate and spice elements in the finish. This bottle was drinking beautifully tonight.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/29/2020 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Seems in a good place; mature enough for my palate. Gentle spice, some toffee, raisin. Easy drinking, but not overly complex. Maybe a less than ideal bottle.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/25/2020 - efeldhake@yahoo.com Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark tawny in color With a glint of Garnet. I see your nose off toffee and tobacco. Tastes of marzipan, toffee, tobacco, and hints of espresso and menthol. A bad cork that pushed through when attempting to dislodge. Still drank well however very much like a tawny port instead of a vintage. Drink up.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/26/2020 - apple1813 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tasted blind in Vintage Port of the 60's and 70's event with Winetasters of Toronto Club
1977 Warre Porto Vintage was nutty and evolved. The clear and medium tawny mature vintage port showed bouquet of medicinal herbs and nuts, with little fruit to complement at this stage. It was full-bodied, spicy with medium level of acidity, and medium-low level of mature softening tannin. The finish, filled with coffee, caramel, toffee and nuts, was long but lacked the charm and complexity.
Similar to the 1977 Croft's Porto Vintage, it was more developed and lost the fruit characters than other vintage ports at the event, probably reflecting the generally shorter lifespan of the 1977 vintage ports.
It was rated the sixth at the table, and the second among all tasters at the event.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2020 - wilkinsmd Likes this wine: 95 Points
Color is going pale, esp. compared to a ‘94 opened just before. But man oh man, this is why you wait - it was singing!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/15/2020 - Jd6725 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Probably flawed. May update. Cork moldy and some signs of seepage once foil removed. Cork broke off at bottom with Durand. Good color, but very odd nose. Almost petrol, half blew off after 30 min in glass. Used a repour and will revisit this week
**update** have tasted a couple times since and the wine calms down after a decant and/or in a big grand cru burg glass.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/27/2019 - Whidah Likes this wine: 93 Points
A rare opportunity to taste a really mature port. Clean cork and easy decant. Quite pale now but no browning in the meniscus. Fragrant spicy nose. Luscious in the mouth with delicate fruit. Lots of licorice and vanilla. Good grip, long finish. We drank it alone after dessert. Stilton would be nice but by no means essential.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2019 - Mingles Likes this wine: 93 Points
That worked. Not as deep/grippy as a Taylor’s 66 had about 20 years ago, but delightful with Stilton on Boxing Day. Yum.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/20/2019 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 92 Points
This medium amber-colored wine offers a rich core of red cherry and fig fruit that is buttressed with milk chocolate, vanilla, clove, caramel and pine nuts. Medium-bodied, moderately sweet and with excellent balancing acidity, it stays solid on the mid-palate and keeps its alcohol in check (when served at the appropriate temperature). The tannins have completely melted at this stage. With a finish that lingers nicely, this is a Port that is fully mature and quite enjoyable. Well-cellared specimens should make it to their 50th birthday. Drink now-2027.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/6/2019 - theportguy wrote: 93 Points
Sammamish Port Club - December 2019 (Sammamish, Washington): Decanted 3.5 hours. Dark strawberry in color with lightening on the edges to light pink. Spice and red fruit on the nose. Intense crushed red fruit and cinnamon on the palate. Lush, rich mouthfeel. Very long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2019 - europat55 wrote: 93 Points
Tasted blind.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/6/2019 - Robwild Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deep garnet color. Plums, cherries and dark berries. Rich aroma. Lucius and sweet. A wonderful vintage port. A perfect end to an evening filled with great company and food. Enjoy for many years to come.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/15/2019 - Rogershkg wrote: 89 Points
This was not as good as previous bottles all from the same case. Maybe it's losing a bit with age
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/28/2019 - cweiss Does not like this wine:
In Norton. Color quite pale when decanted before dinner, and darkened modestly over the next couple of hours. Not much sweetness, which was fine, and in fairness not spirity, but the fruit just wasn't attractive.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2019 - Poussin Likes this wine: 92 Points
Here the wine is a very pale ruby with an almost colourless meniscus. It’s open for business almost as soon as the cork is pulled, offering up aromas of kirsch, dried red berries and cherry Jolly Ranchers. The palate is cool and almost playfully light in body, nicely poised between sweetness, acidity and alcohol. Tannins are fully resolved. A tertiary note of old library books is left behind in the glass. Surely at its peak now, if not veering into old age. 92-93
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2018 - Rogershkg Likes this wine: 92 Points
Looking back at previous notes, this seems to be my go to Christmas port. It’s a good port to have at lunch, not heavy, good berry fruit taste with a tinge of spice there. Long taste. Funny people start by saying “Cannot take port now” and before you know it the bottle is finished
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2018 - rwpalmer wrote: 93 Points
Cork fell straight in but this was beautifully pure in its pale rose-hip colour and equally clean on the palate. As previously noted, this is neither particularly sweet, nor any longer weighty, but good bottles of this have all the elegance an aged VP can conjure.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2018 - franm Likes this wine: 93 Points
cheers - I bought 5 of the 77's in the early 90's. This was my last....and BEST.....tasting of this port. I decanted, the sediment was heavy, the wine was copper colored. The smell, taste, and overall experience is incredible. Just a beautiful bottle.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/27/2018 - cannym Likes this wine: 92 Points
Fine mid ruby. Quite spirity on opening but much better 10 hours later. Still some red and raisin fruits, spiciness, peppery. Very smooth and long. Really fine middle weight port. Storage hadn't been great and cork loose but this still delivered.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2018 - Wineson Likes this wine:
Very good
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/24/2018 - Marc wrote: 90 Points
1977 and 1963 Vintage Ports... (Regional Wines and Spirits, Wellington, New Zealand): Visually, far more dense than the 1975 Delaforce, with a touch of ruby in the centre. Spicy, balsam and sappy nose, with a nice touch of floral nuance. Very powerful in the mouth, with a sweet and fiery finish. This is very good - outstanding for me, with its concentration a special feature, but I wonder if the finish is slightly disjointed?
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
5/6/2018 - rocknroller wrote:
Monthly Tasting Group: Worldwide Chardonnay (Oceanaire, Mpls, MN): Was looking forward to this, but for me, I didn't find much of anything in the way of fruit left, subtle raisin liqueur at best, dominated by the alcohol and the wood influence that remains. Seen much better days -too bad. Some saw more in this than I though.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2018 - LightDancer wrote: 93 Points
Excellent bottle. Light ruby in the glass, no bricking. Sherry-like hints in the nose along with red fruits. Balanced and integrated, with cherry and red fruit, well-blended tannins. On the lighter side, with a medium finish. Delicious to welcome in the new year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/27/2017 - Adelage Likes this wine: 94 Points
On the lighter side but excellent after 40 year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2017 - Rogershkg Likes this wine: 92 Points
One of the lighter ports but excellent
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/3/2017 - acyso wrote: flawed
Vinetasters: Brown Bag (Skokie, IL): Served double blind. Despite being corked, I did correctly identify this as an aged Port.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/26/2017 - canan wrote: 94 Points
1977 Vintage Ports from MG (P81): Juicy young cherry fruit with a wonderful acidity and structure. The balance is amazing. Very nice wine.
From MG.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
9/25/2017 - MNWG Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasted with the Monday Night Wine Group. The cork was soaked on this...decanted for over an hour before drinking. Would never have realized this was 40 years old. Delicious.
Think this still has some years to go and fortunately I've a few bottles left.
Probably bring next bottle a year from now for our Monday Night Wine Group.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/23/2017 - theportguy wrote: 87 Points
FTLOP 12th Anniversary; 7/21/2017-7/23/2017 (Seattle, Washington): Light ruby-amber in color. Mostly transparent with fine-grained sediment. Subdued nose with some slight hints of Christmas spice. Perhaps some slight TCA. Bing cherry notes with some baking spice on the mid-palate. Medium-long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/10/2017 - Ben.r@isst.org Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very nice balance after 40 years in the bottle...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/30/2017 - VlgJeff wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for over five hours, and more time would not have hurt. Showed much better than previous bottle (9/26/16) due to longer decant. The cork broke at the bottom of the worm, remaining piece removed with the ah-so. The wine was clear, with a medium- ruby color, and loads of sediment. The nose showed dark red fruits, Christmas cake spices, and a touch of alcohol. The palate followed the nose, with added flavors of chocolate and raisin. A satisfying vintage port that needs a long decant, and should be enjoyed sooner rather than later.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/27/2017 - David J Cooper wrote: 90 Points
Light red/brown. Dried apricots, fig preserve and alcohol. Very spirity. Delicious earthy Christmas cake flavours and a hot finish.
I liked this.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2017 - ronnieroots wrote: 87 Points
From magnum. Not the best bottle: very tertiary, slightly drying and slightly hot. Lacking fresh fruit. Still, a pleasant drink, if somewhat disappointing.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/25/2017 - AllRed wrote: 86 Points
4th Saturday Group brown bagger (R&D's): There was something very weird going on with this bottle. Spice, red fruit and a lot of pepper on the nose and palate. Like the zins we had earlier tonight, this was just a lot of raisiny fruit and pepper.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2017 - RKatzDO Does not like this wine:
Perfect bottle with perfect cork, only wet on bottom edge and no discoloration or fungal growth, not common with most '77's I've opened.
Decanted for 10 hours. Still showed strong spirits on nose and palate. Fruit showed through, but the aguardiente just didn't blow off and made it difficult to enjoy with a chocolate torte. Maybe slow-ox with a leakier cork would have helped??
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/11/2017 - bacchus wrote: 90 Points
shared with pat and doubled1969 at selkirk manor. i was introduced to port by keith in the late 70's and stashed away a bunch. have been waiting for them to mature. had to try at least one before i bite the dust. recent reviews from others have been less than complimentary. this was a half bottle. paired with walnuts, dark chocolate and blue cheese. cork was fragile and fully saturated. extracted in multiple pieces. not decanted. not filtered. at first the wine was shy and ungiving. after 30 minutes aromatics emerged on the nose and palate. no off putting aromas. very smooth. no discernible tannins or acid. overall, quite enjoyable. last sip was sacrificed due to extensive dregs and sediment. remaining bottles are 750's. will hang on to them, even if they wind up in probate of my estate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/18/2017 - doctornoah Does not like this wine:
My 40th Birthday Weekend; 2/17/2017-2/20/2017: I recognize this as being a good example of vintage port from a supposedly great year. That being said, this is a hot sweet mess to me and smelled of prune and some things I don't particularly want to eat for dessert. I hate port.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/26/2016 - Radboy wrote: 92 Points
An easy drinking port, if there is such a thing. Held up well after a Christmas extravaganza. Not a particularly dense or sophisticated drink, it is balanced well with sweet cherry fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2016 - WST Likes this wine: 91 Points
Really liked this. Double decanted then opened for a retirement party. Intoxicating nose, very elegant styled. Not a particularly dense VP, but just what I was looking for in this case.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/29/2016 - MateusPetrus Likes this wine: 90 Points
Simple fruit, opened and decanted for a wedding, all enjoyed it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/26/2016 - VlgJeff wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for about an hour. Opened for a belated anniversary (9/16) celebration, and sipped while watching the first presidential debate -- definitely should have had something stronger! Not as expressive as other TNs indicate, probably due to the shorter decant. The wine was clear, with a light+ ruby color, and loads of sediment. The nose was muted, but showed some dark red fruits and a touch of alcohol. The palate followed the nose and was also muted. Lesson learned--needs more decant time!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/12/2016 - rmalloy wrote: 90 Points
Simple but lovely flavors of chocolate, cherries, raisins, crème de violette, and a touch of tobacco. Not very deep or broad. Not much energy. Nowhere near the power of the 1977 Fonseca. Still, elegant and delicious. I suggest drinking now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/17/2016 - paulf wrote: 93 Points
There is a lot to like about this port. Consumption started after a 6 hr decant. Strawberry jam, violets, vanilla, Rosewater with hint if white pepper, cardamon and Cassia bark earthiness. Finish is not super long and there is a fraction of heat, but it is still good drinking. It held together pretty well and 24 hrs later, the flavour profile hadn't changed much. This is a better bottle than the last one of these I had a few years ago. Probably not a top tier port but very nice to drink none the less.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/18/2016 - Goldstone Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted for several hours. Very light transparent ruby colour but no bricking. Nose of classic stollen and christmas cake and a bit too much vapour from the high alcohol. Palate is very mellow and integrated and harmonious but seems to have lost some layered complexity compared to past occasions...... it is now rather like a high alcohol and spirity version of an old Burgundy. No length or resonance. Re-assessing my previous opinions, I think it is time to drink this up.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/8/2016 - cephomer Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drank up at Stratton with the boys after a hard day on the slopes. Had this wine here a few yrs ago, and was highly disappointed. Not this time: This wine's in great shape. A bit sherry-like in appearance, pale and very light ruby, with browning at edges. Nose is very sherry-like, cloves, and raisins also prominent on the nose. Some red fruit, lots of raisins, caramel & molasses, and lots of spice or pepper, or both, on the palate. Quite viscous and quite spicy, with some tea-like nuance. A bit high in alcohol. Very interesting bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/9/2016 - cwjames Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drank with supper with friends so no proper tasting notes. Stupendous wine. No fire but wonderfully integrated tannins and fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2015 - Vmaster007 wrote: 91 Points
Lovely Port! It was a first for me and my friends and we loved it, even to those that didn't usually appreciated Portos. The cork was a bit messy, but I managed to extract it. Lots of deposits, so be careful.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2015 - OmiyaDrinker wrote: 91 Points
Fresh, port nose. Clove, cinnamon, liqorice aromas. Dark, brooding, and sophisticated palate ending with a delicious syrupy finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2015 - vinolovers wrote: 93 Points
A wonderful amber coloring with some bricking on the rim. (The cork crumbled during the extraction process). Fully mature with lots of caramel, dried cherry and a hint of leather. Very, very smooth! Last bottle from a great vintage. (I was surprised that no raisin notes developed).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/21/2015 - ex-sommelier wrote:
We were not huge fans, opened two bottles as we thought the first was off somehow, the aroma was faint, color a thin rose red, and the flavor was just disjointed. The alcohol was pronounced and it had a slightly bitter aftertaste that was not pleasant. The first bottle was a bit thinner but both were the same otherwise.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2015 - Coachron13 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Inside of capsule and top of cork were in bad shape, looked kind of mildewed or corroded. Cork mostly came out, but bottom crumbled into the bottle, so we strained the port while pouring. Given all that, we didn't have high hopes for this bottle but it ended up being very similar to our prior one, lighter style port. Brighter red color, but it was enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/25/2015 - rwpalmer wrote: 93 Points
Good enough for the Chinese president on his visit to London this week, so I thought a good enough excuse for us to match. This bottle only filled to base of neck. Ruby colour. So much less sweet than I'd expected from Warre. No evident spirit. Round and oh so drinkable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/17/2015 - Deux Chevaux wrote:
Ruby with translucent edges. Surprisingly fresh and light. A slight but entirely enjoyable savory aspect was lurking behind the traditional and expected notes. Huge amounts of sediment at the bottom of this fellow.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/11/2015 - Pknut wrote:
I'm reading my tasting note from one year ago, and I have the same reaction: not only is this a questionable bottle, I am now questioning the provenance of this entire lot that I bought from Zachys in 2012. This is, once again, more tawny than ruby, and is really much too dry and under fruited. Followed over three nights, same results. Edgemont guys, my place.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2015 - Bill Bucklew wrote: 90 Points
Surprisingly primal nose of red and black cherry, red plum and Asian spice. Full palate with medium acidity, the fruit is layered and unctuous. There's a real density to the sweetness, drinking well, but has some legs..
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/11/2015 - IJC Likes this wine:
Remarkably light in color and body, delicious. to be continued...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2015 - RayOB wrote: 90 Points
Drank in London
More fainter than other '77s but a lovely nose full of fruit cake and spice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2015 - NickBurwood Likes this wine: 94 Points
Identical to my April '14 note. Superb.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2014 - vinolovers wrote: 93 Points
A terrific Christmas port. A garnet coloring with some orange bricking along the rim. (The cork was soft when pulled). Decanted for about 2-3 hours. Fully mature with some dried cherry along with leather, tobacco, and chocolate. Very smooth.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2014 - cannym Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted 10 hours previously. Quite pale at decant but when drunk a lovely light ruby. Very good bottle. Lovely red fruits, raisins, definite bite and pepperiness. Cloves, spices, chinese tea, keep finding more. Great balance, long. Maybe slightly spirity on first opening but much more harmonious when drunk. Extremely enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2014 - tcosgriff Likes this wine: 100 Points
Wonderful ruby color with a bit of orange. Beautiful bouquet and flavor combining candied crab apples with dusty notes. Very unctuous with the perfect marriage of sugar and alcohol. A high octane wine with grace, finesse, and a long lingering finish. Magnificent. Most dessert wines do not improve in the bottle. I would venture that this is even true of Sauternes. But it is not true of Port. Find an old vintage wine from one of the great houses, and you will be very happy indeed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/27/2014 - Seth Rosenberg wrote: 90 Points
This was fair, not great. Lots of spice - clove, some nutmeg, along with some fruitcake. The balance and poise were nice - but it wasn't particularly perfumed or complex. 15/20.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/10/2014 - AWBryce Likes this wine: 92 Points
Sweet caramel, spicy palate. A nice bite on the tip of the tounge. Good long dark fruit finish. Alcohol was in check. Very nice.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/9/2014 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
Second Sunday Group: 2007 California Cabs/blends (R&D's): Berry, red licorice, cherry and floral notes. Red fruit and berry flavors. Nice finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/19/2014 - Pknut wrote:
The cork was wholly saturated and broke apart. This port may have been compromised. More of a tawny color and more tawny in profile than ruby. This showed more roasted golden fruit than red fruit, dried yellow raisin, toffee, with the spirit not entirely integrated. Frankly, this should have been better, richer, less dried. From Zachys auction 12/2012. Sag Harbor guys' weekend.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2014 - Bandreas wrote: 88 Points
Still quite intense garnet red, on palate quite angular and rather short. Sweetness level was good, not overpowering
Not a very elegant wine at this stage and probably never was.
Interesting but not much more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/15/2014 - Coachron13 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Unique ruby red color, at first thought it was a sign of it having turned but it actually tasted fine. More of a bright taste rather than a raisiny taste. Loads of big chunk sediment in the bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/26/2014 - Goldstone Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark, blood red opaque colour. Nose rich in Stollen and Christmas cake with lots of brandied raisins. Palate is very complete and integrated except for a bit if alcoholic heat. A beautiful port that is drinking very well now but has years ahead to evolve further. Short on length. My only regret is that we didn't decant it for 10-12 hours, which is where previously it has shown at its very best.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/5/2014 - cliffkol wrote: 92 Points
Color was a very light red. Lighter than I’m used to in an aged vintage port. This is not a deep, concentrated port but rather a very elegant, flowery wine. First opened, very acidic, alcoholic, tannic. After 8 hour decant it was a beautiful flower. When I received the bottle earlier this year there was signs of prior seepage so I was leery. When I went to remove the cork it was so loose that it slid into the bottle. I could not get any traction to insert the corkscrew. In the end though, this was a delicious port.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2014 - NickBurwood Likes this wine: 95 Points
From my former cellar, flooded in the early 80s. At least the ?lead lined inner capsule protected the cork. Embossed bottle and cleanly pulled cork confirms the vintage - label inevitably virtually destroyed.
Colour an even translucent deep rose red with clear edges in glass. Herbaceous brambly fruit aromas carry forward to a concentrated flavour. A touch of spirity heat contributes a balancing effect giving grip. Great length. It may not quite achieve the depth (or perhaps richness) of a Fonseca/Taylor, but this is great example in a different style.
Undoubtedly best as a food (cheese/crisp fruit) port.
Superb, especially as many other reviews were so damning with faint praise.
Drink now or perhaps over the next five years to enjoy at peak - although I have little doubt will hold up well enough for 50 years from vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/12/2014 - Drinking Trees wrote:
Nose of dirty laundry, crème de mûre and juniper, with high alcohol. Palate has a smooth texture, with high alcohol and a tingly pop-rock acidity. Flavours of guava juice, lychee, dark chocolate and raisin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/20/2013 - chiefwatt Likes this wine: 89 Points
Drank after 89 Pichon Baron and grilled lamb dinner. Fantastic evening indeed. 77 Wares cork came out nice and clean. Port is about 60 pcnt opaque w clear edges. Nose of dried fruit and alcohol. Full sweet mouth with more dried fruit, spice, and brandy. Robust profile in spite of light coloration. Drank with aged cheddar which pulled out the butterscotch in the port. Must repeat!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2013 - Radboy wrote: 92 Points
Still drinking well with a very nice core of light cherries with medium flesh.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2013 - Janstan Likes this wine: 91 Points
Slightly off, but still a pleasant post dinner sip
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/4/2013 - acidqueen wrote: 90 Points
Clear red color, no brown edges. Raspberry and licorice with some spice on the back end. A bit of alcoholic heat as well. Very sweet. Nice bottle, although would prefer more subdued alcohol.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/4/2013 - Johnnybegood Likes this wine: 93 Points
The cork split into two pieces when I tried to open the bottle but still came out relatively problem free.
This is my first Warre's port experience and it is very nice indeed Open (5) hours it has a wonderful nose distinctive of a good vintage porto. Very nice taste with a 30 second plus finish and lingers on the tongue. Very well balanced and fully mature I feel this wine will easily hold 10-20 more years.
Medium dark ruby red color this wine is at or near its peak. With each sip you want to go back for more which for me is a very good sign of quality. With a wine of this age one can expect some bottle variation which is why you see highly variable scores on the cellar tracker but this example appears pristine and a fine example of this house style. The 1977 Fonseca vintage porto I had 6 months ago was a little better (93+-94 points) but not much as this will hold its's own and come close to the Fonseca in blind tests I am sure.
Rich, balanced and mature this wine is everything one could expect and highly recommended.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/20/2013 - pdadams66 Likes this wine: 90 Points
At its peak, drinking very well. Lighter red fruits, not a blockbuster, but has that classic Warre's taste. Subtle and refined.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2013 - djewesbury wrote: 85 Points
Bought from James Nicholson in Belfast. Opened to accompany the shepherd's pie I've just made for this evening..
D+0:
Slightly worried. The cork came out cleanly but was wet to the tip, even though it isn't penetrated throughout. The selo at the top of the bottle was slightly stained.
It's pale, still red but about 50% opaque. (see below)
On the nose this mainly has some mixed spice and raisins (like a light fruit cake). If you put your mind to it, there's a buttery vanilla to this, underneath.
It tastes rather thin right now. But we'll see how it opens up.
D+4:
Fruit & flowers have opened up on the nose and in the mouth, also it's darker than I originally estimated with the tiny amount I poured after I decanted; perhaps 60%. Still pale though, with bricking at the rim.
I tasted some VA at the finish. Definitely this is becoming quite 'tawnified' and oxidised. Very pleasant to drink but past its best.
Faded through the evening.
about 85? hard to say.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/28/2013 - empire80 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very enjoyable, raisins, warm spices, long finish. At its peak but no hurry at all.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/26/2013 - matro wrote: 94 Points
This was a wonderful bottle to finish off the evening. I was initially worried about the soaked-through cork, but the wine was not affected. The color was medium to light ruby, the nose was a combination of primary fruit and some raisins and figs, the finish long and warm. I believe this one is ready for drinking now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/9/2013 - Pknut wrote:
From half bottle, from a recent auction lot.
Wow, this was just extraordinary, even with little air.
There was an intriguing, delicious aspect of this wine that made me think of the aromatic lift that Viognier gives to Cote Rotie. It comes on in this Port like sweet, ripe fruit and sweet garrigue, just short of tropical, along with spiced orange peel and strawberry high notes. It is interesting just how forward, bright and sweet-fruited this is showing right after uncorking. I left some for the second night, when I would expect a '77 port would show even better, but no, the fireworks were on the first night. Truly enjoyable and I am so happy digging into these ports this winter.
Saturday night of storm Nemo. 24.5 inches of snow fell overnight in my town. Perfect night for older Port.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/8/2013 - cephomer Does not like this wine: 88 Points
Opened Fred's bottle at Stratton super bowl trip. This wine has seen better days. The color is tending toward the clear side now, nose very much of spirits mixed with some caramel. Ripe raisins, caramel and maybe toffee on the palate. Very sweet, and very lacking in any remaining acidity. I didn't enjoy this wine. Drink this wine now!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/1/2013 - Zinlady Likes this wine: 95 Points
Fabulous. Made my mouth happy. Went so well with Stilton and walnuts. Not too sweet. Long finish. Great burst of flavor. Some caramel flavors. Nice color. Not deep color. Beautiful body
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/23/2013 - ecola Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great caramel and graham cracker backed up by a strong core of dark fruit. Wonderful balance between fruit, acid, and secondary flavors.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/6/2013 - gimonca Likes this wine: 90 Points
A bit light, but nice and well-balanced. Smooth, mostly red fruit, with light floral, clove and anise hints. Not deeply complex, but still very pleasant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/4/2013 - Alex H wrote: 86 Points
Lots of dried sweet black tea leaves and spiced licourice. But waning and kinda weak on the body and finish. Elegant yes but would have preferred deeper richer fruit notes. Also a little alc on the finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2012 - JerM wrote: 93 Points
(jm's old world education@paulS') Chocolate on the nose, with dusty berries, raisins, sweet ethylene and fresh leather. Cool-tea sweetness, old smoke, toffee raisins, oily caramel viscosity. Paired perfectly with our 72-month comte cheese, INCREDIBLY with the Époisses, thereby showing lovely herbal garrigue on the finish. Lovely and complex, this port drinks better paired than on it's own.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/29/2012 - Paul S wrote: 92 Points
Year-end "James Bond" Party (Chad's, Chuville): This was pleasant, good actually, but a bit behind some of the great 1977 vintage ports. It had a great nose, with dried figs and raisins, cherry liquer and a touch of earthy aromas. The palate was a little more lackluster when first poured. However, it did improve markedly after some 48 hours in the bottle. It was initially rather deep-set and reticent, even after some time in the decanter. However, it took on some depth over the next couple of days. Rather sweet, with markedly lowish acidity for 1977, it still managed to come across pretty balanced, with a nice sense of finesses to rather simple but yummy flavours of dried figs and raisins, some chocolate cake, moving into a herby, spicy finish, with sprigs of rosemary, thyme and sage - very garrigue like - mixed in with more typical notes of cinamon and cloves. I liked it, but thought it lacked a bit of complexity and overall oomph. There seems to have been a lot of variability in previous tasting notes, but this particular bottle still had some life in it and would probably have gone on nicely for some time yet.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/21/2012 - mwneil wrote: 85 Points
Nice port but we drank with a 66 Warre's. The 77 could not compare. It tasted of more alcohol, less bouquet and wine was more sugary.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/29/2012 - grantsky wrote: 96 Points
Color was a light ruby, nose of toffee, caramel, spice and red fruit. Still had great structure and has many many good years ahead.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/17/2012 - AllRed wrote: 91 Points
35th Anniversary Party Cellar Tasting; 6/16/2012-6/17/2012 (Rich & Dana's): Light color. Aromas of currants, cherry and kirsch. Red fruit, spice and blackberry brandy flavors on the palate. 750ml.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/10/2012 - BradboBaggins Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decant: 5 hours, then 17 hours
The cork was in fantastic condition, soaked about 1/3 through and surprisingly dense. This excellent condition probably contributed to a wine that seems to have been slower to open than the other examples in the database. At 5 hours, it was working to open, with wonderful fresh tea, fruit and spice characters in a lighter, but still very tannic body. At 17 hours, this was probably a touch past ideal, but was much more approachable, with raspberry iced tea, baking spices, and fresh orange and just a hint of tawny-ness balanced with perfect and fresh amounts of acidity and tannin. Delicious. I agree with other notes that this should be consumed in the next 5 years for peak drinking.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/28/2012 - Sonoffalstaff wrote: 92 Points
Appears I got lucky. This had all the finese of vintage port. Alcohol, fruit and spice all in balance with a nose and attack that is unique in wine based drinks. No problem with length or lack of grip. A half case wine at current prices on the Hugh Johnson scale. Biglama has it right
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/16/2012 - jeffm_fla wrote: 78 Points
Well past its prime - Cork leaking slightly and crumbled when opened, color of old bricksm, and not much flavor left. Even after standing upright for a day-and-a-half andthen decanting, there was a lot of fine sediment floating in the wine (at least that's what it looked like). Not much pleasure in this bottle. This bottle didn't always have great storage conditions, and judging by some of the other reviews it's easy to see what a difference that can make.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/6/2012 - DAN BAILEY wrote:
I wasn't sure about the provenance of this bottle so it was flash decanted for sediment and poured about an hour later. Still a nice crimson colour. Quite light bodied with plenty of acidity holding together a wine in perfect nick as it turned out. Quite a torrefied air to the nose and palate but with very sweet dark red fruits. Much weightier the second night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/4/2012 - overhill wrote:
Bordeaux night at Matt's (with wives) (Matt's house): I do not normally drink port but this was drinking well with a strong brown sugar component.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/8/2012 - paulf Likes this wine: 91 Points
4 hr decant. Some Vanilla an white pepper, all spice cinnamon on the nose. Excellent weight with some initial sweetness, plum and white pepper again . Finishes slightly hot but not excessively so. Perhaps a little short on the finish but providing some lovely drinking now. I'd expect this to hold it's current form for a few more years but without improvement
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/6/2012 - Poisey wrote: 93 Points
Clear redish in color. Nose of walnuts, roasted chesnuts, dried raisins and flowers. Wonderfully smooth and silky. Long long creamy finish that lasts. What a port from a great vintage and well worth the wait. Drink now to 2018.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2012 - wind5001 wrote: 90 Points
Held up quite impressively. Probably a bit past its prime. But all in all still a strong showing!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2012 - vumansky wrote: 91 Points
Bring Your Special Bottle Night (Crown Wine Cellars, Hong Kong): I'm not a big port fan... Medium red. Red fruit, raisins and chocolate hints. Smooth. At drinking peak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/10/2012 - andtheodor wrote:
Tobacco, old caramel, asphalt, date, chemical (chlorine?) nose. Soft, silky, carob and stale coffee palate, moderately sweet. Not really my thing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/12/2012 - La Grappe wrote: 86 Points
I had expected better things from this, as 1977 was thought to be an excellent vintage when it was declared (although reviews since have been more mixed). It has all the elements of a vintage port, sweetness, fruit, a certain fieriness, but compared to the best it seems a little weedy. Perhaps it has faded a little from its best, but on this showing I don't think it was ever all that brilliant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2012 - rwpalmer wrote: 93 Points
This was purchased from BBR only a couple years ago. Although the cork crumbled I suspect excellent storage. Quite deep with a remarkably red-fruited nose. Very clean. Correct balance of sweetness. Gentle and forceful at the same time. Ready but also steady! Maybe not the most complex but proof that a well stored 77 still has the potential to offer huge pleasure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/7/2012 - pdadams66 wrote: 91 Points
Red crimson center, red rim with clear signs of age.
Vanilla, cherry, green tea, a little white chocolate, violets.
Smooth, red currants, fennel, light tannin and acid, violets and cumin.
Great now, won't improve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2011 - mariolanza wrote: 89 Points
Certainly not a brilliant vintage for Warre's very thin and no length, hardly any sweetness, strange
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/21/2011 - nskelsey wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for four hours. Medium red, slight bricking around the edge; soft mellow nose of dark red fruit and licorice; medium weight, with flavours of raisins and chocolate. Not particularly complex, but seductively smooth and pretty. Less richness, depth and power than other '77s such as Graham's and Taylor's, but still very good if somewhat straight forward. This is the twelfth bottle I've had and I personally think on this showing the wine is fully mature and although there is no rush to drink up I don't think there is anything to be gained by keeping this much longer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/22/2011 - Rogershkg wrote: 90 Points
Ruby colour. No sign of age. Long fruit aftertaste, gentle flavour, but this bottle had a slightly bitter tinge on the first taste - perhaps oddity of this bottle?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2011 - Coollawyer wrote: 95 Points
Beautiful ruby colour. Honey melon tannins are already very goof. Strawberry blueberries. Beautiful.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2011 - M.Batard wrote: 92 Points
On offer by the glass at the O&C in Pall Mall...one of the key reasons to stay there! Deep, deep ruby color. And I think JR has it right: " Round and sweet and full and easy."" We had seconds. And then thirds.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/24/2011 - Border Boss wrote: 87 Points
The cork on this bottle was seeping a tad, but the fill was base neck. Double decanted 24 hours ahead of service. On initial opening, color was a light red with brown tinges, and the palate was very hot with alcohol. When served 24 hours later, the color hadn't really changed. However, the alcohol had burned off quite a bit and did so completely once in the glass. Very good sweetness with a touch of dryness on the finish. A very nice wine that's perhaps a little on the downhill side of fully mature.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/24/2011 - chatters wrote:
High fortification level with leather, clove, dried fruit and spice on the nose. No discernible tannin, medium acidity and sweetness, dried fruit, light caramel and toasted almonds and other kernals in the mouth. Rich without being cloying. A little disappointing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/12/2011 - bmagic wrote: 94 Points
On the nose, chocolate, candyfloss, mild caramel, vanilla and bergamot.
On the palate, wonderful texture of warm chocolate and shortbread, with warm forest fruits, demerera sugar and hints of Earl Grey. Long finish. Incredible wine. Probably as good as it will get now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2011 - MarkL wrote: 89 Points
Good, not great. Lots of heat and a little thin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/10/2011 - tsmathiesen wrote: 88 Points
light, in color, nose and body. quite yummy lighter raisin, yet not as bold or rich as I prefer.
Had with good cheeses as final plate after bbq lamb dinner.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/18/2011 - Zweder wrote: 88 Points
In itself a beautiful and mature vintage port wine, but the finish spoils it; too much heat/alcohol.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2011 - eastover wrote:
Friday night dinner at Lisa and Lee's with Jamie and Rich. Brought a pair of Duckhorn Merlots - the '04 Three Palms and the '04 Estate - and then we realized we "needed" a port to best complement the chocolates we had after dinner - so Lee and I came back to our house and pulled this bottle. Surprisingly light in color and somewhat cloudy, but delicious and just right for the chocolate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2011 - Umay Ceviker wrote: 93 Points
Tawny in colour with brick tones at rim and expected sediments. Decanted only an hour before serving and consumed over two hours. Opulent medicinal notes of port with notes of prune, chocolate and tobacco along with sweet spice. Full, greasy and tight with a powerful backbone, still young and has years ahead to fully develop and show itself.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/2/2011 - kellersc wrote: 91 Points
Fruity with a spicy note. Great lingering on the tongue.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2011 - cweiss wrote:
As expected from the producer and with the age this is a gentle, balanced port of contemplation rather than power.
UPDATE: 1/22/11 the leftover 1/3 of a bottle found in the refrigerator was still very lovely, much to my surprise for a VP of this age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2011 - Biglama wrote: 94 Points
na middernacht gedronken bij de kazen. prima port, mooi gerijpt, donkere tonen, goed drinkbaar, heeft nog volop fruit en levendigheid.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2010 - timcullen wrote: 95 Points
New years eve with mum dad nick clare nick dee. Delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2010 - ronnieroots wrote: 93 Points
Had a mediocre bottle before but this one was singing. Very promising on opening, immediately showing an attractive, fruity nose. Soft in the mouth, with a racy and dry finish. We gave it some 8 hours in the decanter, which helped greatly. Lovely elegant fruit, fresh cherries, some prunes, and nice layers of more aged tones, such as tobacco and spices. A soft and elegant port, that is peak drinking now, but will hold as well. Very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2010 - vinolovers wrote: 93 Points
Decanted approximately 4 hours before serving. The cork was completely soaked and broke during extraction, causing fears of prunes, raisins or worse. However it wasn't meant to be as the coloring was a medium garnet with a hint of bricking around the rim of the glass. The flavors were that ot sweet cherry, chocolate, tobacco and a hint of mint with no raisin or purne notes. A delicious port!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2010 - Rogershkg wrote: 94 Points
Ruby colour, clear no sign of age, classic vintage port with long aftertaste of red fruit
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2010 - tplskylrk wrote: 92 Points
X Mas week, need a sweet wine to sip and enjoy. 2xDecant. Beautiful color. Golden red brown, redder than rust color, a translucent clear nector. Serious raisin going on with the P&P, sweet, rich, layered, some winter/pumpkin spice. Should develop nicely over next few days.
12/31 - Just a bit left to try on day 6 before going out. Been vacuumed and in bottle for this time. Nose is gone, just a hint of raisin left. Smoked prunes. Light glycerin almost thin palate now. Sweetness w prune and raisin there, some cherry too the red/black color. The finish just hangs on the palate. Nice
With this evolution the wine is ageless, acid, alch fruit smoky oak all balanced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/1/2010 - cma82 wrote: 90 Points
Good but not stunning, but this bottle may not have been stored perfectly. Showed quite a bit of heat on the palate, which was distracting.
Continued to improve over the two days it was open.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/24/2010 - wineismylife wrote:
Dinner at Matyson (Matyson, Philadelphia, PA): Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of licorice, Kirsch, white pepper and wet stones. Singular flavors of licorice and currants on the palate. Medium acidity, full bodied. The wine doesn't seem corked but it does seem a bit off so no rating.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/11/2010 - petitblanc wrote: 91 Points
Clear, light ruby color. Nose of raspberry and licorice, with passing notes of dark chocolate and sweet buttercream. Similar palate, with cherry and cinnamon. Considerable hot spirit emerged late, but did not completely spoil the very long, sweet finish. Very little sign of maturity in this bottle, a little linear but clean. Filtered and decanted 2 hours, this barely changed at all over the next 6 hours. Drink now, or hold to see if further aging adds some more interest.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2010 - Goldstone wrote: 96 Points
Decnted 10 hours in advance. Stunningly gorgeous. Silence-creating despite a raucus birthday dinner gathering and being the last of 9 wines. Fully mature but has decades ahead of it.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2010 - ecnemergut wrote: 84 Points
Decanted about 5 hours and consumed over 2 hours. Nice cherry/raisin nose. Quite a bit of heat on the palate, which never cooled down with time. Racy with less complexity than I had expected. I've enjoyed this port several times: while not obviously flawed, this bottle was less impressive...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/17/2010 - timcullen wrote: 94 Points
Excellent as ever. Wonder how much there is left? Smooth. Drank with basti and emma after blind tasting of solaia with siepi
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2009 - winefool wrote: 92 Points
IWFSC Governors Lunch (Racquet Club): Another solid showing for this port, though I still think it's a bit early for many of these 77s as there is still some tightness and heat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2009 - mye wrote:
Didn't take detailed notes by this point.
Medium red. Candy, raisin, and some coffee notes. Some heat was detectable. It was enjoyable but not overwhelming or anything. Paired with a molten chocolate cake and chocolate covered banana ice cream.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2009 - nskelsey wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for eight hours. Medium red, slight bricking around the edge; spirity nose, hint of fruit and licorice; medium weight, raisins, chocolate. This seems to have taken on a new lease of life with good complexity not evident in other bottles I've had over the past two or three years. Very good and on this showing has a few years left despite being in its mature phase.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/10/2009 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
Looks a lot older than the 77 Dow's, showing a little VA and plenty of antique smells. It is rich and spirity with a clean, sweet red wine feel to the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/7/2009 - dave747400 wrote: 94 Points
Cork soaked through & partially disintegrated on opening. Opened, 2oz poured, cork replaced.
After 1hr. Very light colour - raspberry, translucent, initially no nose but rasins & coffee with swirling. Lovely bright intense attack. Fresh! Slight citrus component? Moderate finish. Like this.
After 4hrs. Little change. With a full flavoured Gorgonzola, delicious.
After 12 days (In the fridge, in a sealed 1/4 bottle). Still delicious - no oxidative flavours, just lovely chocolate & coffee with wonderful juicy acidity. Long finish. No overt alcohol. All gone, so sad.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/31/2009 - Goldstone wrote: 92 Points
Dinner for Angela (Chez Patrick, Sun Street, Hong Kong): Decanted for 8 hours. Dark, still opaque red colour like thick blood. Nutty, lightly confected nose.....lovely.....very light...almost no fruit on the nose. Still lots of tough acidic, tannic black fruit on the palate with lovely very woody and nutty character. Good but not outstanding length.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/21/2009 - vintage61 wrote: 90 Points
Stood up 3 days before and decanted 2 hours before. Off color, like Raspberry and cloudy which I found off-putting. Good port nose but seemed to be loosing focus on the palate. I think this bottle was in decline.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/13/2009 - LeechDogg wrote: 90 Points
Wonderful for what it is, but lacked a lot of mouth feel and red fruit. Mostly raisin and a slightly hot finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/12/2009 - bigdogflow wrote: 94 Points
Awesome wine! Wonderful tastes of hazelnut and walnut with plum and raisan. Finish goes on forever.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/10/2009 - tplskylrk wrote: 92 Points
Stearns Reunion Tour (HK Stearns Manhattan Pad): Pop & pour for a little party tomorrow night. Just a taste. Thief'd a small glass and re vacuumed, will decant and re-bottle in the morning.
Just about a burnt light red color, translucent. Mature port. Ahhh all good here, a peak at what tomorrow will bring. Nose has raisin, layers of spice already there. Great nose. Mouth coat and feels as others note, just great . . . fills the palate.The lingering fruit totally different from the raisin attack on the front & mid palate. Dried and roasted, or a dark roasted coffee and figs touch of prunes, really intense. While it lingers is not a hugely deep wine, perhaps the force of youth as giving way to a more subtle wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/8/2009 - clarktoews wrote: 92 Points
oustanding! very impressed how well it held up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/3/2009 - MeMyself&I wrote: 92 Points
Consumed over a couple of days. great complex nose, light-bodied but quite smooth. Very complex flavor profile.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/2/2009 - ecnemergut wrote: 93 Points
Decanted about 4.5 hours and consumed over about 2 hours. Wonderfully complex nose with cherry, raisin, and subtle flowers. Medium full on the palate with a very sweet cherry finish. Great length. A wonderful port.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2008 - AndrewSGHall wrote:
Amazingly like a cigar humidor in nose and palate with cedar, tobacco and curing spice. Light on the body and incredibly persistent. Delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2008 - Goldstone wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 6 hours before drinking over a long Christmas turkey lunch with Greg and Sayo at our house in Thailand. Still a very deep ruby colour although transparent and bricking a little at the rim. A really intense nose of black and red berries together with dusky Indian spices like ground cardoman and unground nutmeg. Extremely rich and mouthfilling on the palate, sweetness and and unfolding parade of fruits from ripe balacberries and resperries through to dried raisens and prunes and apricots. Great length. Really enjoyable and went brilliantly with the Stollen we had instead of Christmas Pudding.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2008 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
The Blind Drunks monthly tasting (Rich & Dana's): Pale ruby color turning clear toward the edge. Notes of spicy red currants, flowers and berries. Nice balance on entry, with flavors of red fruit, cinnamon and spice. Nice finish, dominated be red fruit tones.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/12/2008 - nskelsey wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for ten hours. Medium red, slight bricking around the edge; spirity nose, hint of fruit and licorice; medium weight, raisins, chocolate. Not particularly complex and the fruit is beginning to fade. Very pleasant, but fairly straight forward. This is the ninth bottle I've had and I personally think on this showing the wine is past it's peak and although there is no rush to drink up I shan't keep the remaining three bottles for more than another two or three years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/22/2008 - David J Cooper wrote:
Aged red. Lot's of nice fruit but ruined by a very musty note. From a half bottle. Very sad.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/18/2008 - KeithAkers wrote: 93 Points
ERI Pre Auction tasting (union league club, chicago IL): nose: great nose of roasted nuts, chocolate, raisins, dark cherry, and bits of dates and prunes
taste: nice raisiny taste with chocolate, prunes, roasted nuts, dark cherry, and cranberry tones
overall: a really great attack and wonderful nutty finish. Tremendous feel and the nose just jumps out at you
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/10/2008 - ecnemergut wrote: 90 Points
Decanted about 90 minutes. Nice raisin/prune nose. Quite hot a first, but settled down as the evening wore on. Racy on the palate with a nice sweet finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/20/2008 - cofidis2 wrote: 93 Points
Although woofully short on decant time, I opened a 1977 Warre's Vintage Port. I must say with only a couple hours of decant time it showed wonderfully. I've compared the Warre's as a Rolls-Royce before and this was no different. As I sit here typing this with the last glass left, the color is still a medium dark ruby with no signs of any bricking or fading. The nose was typical soft and elegant Warre's, so inviting and elegant you just want to smell it for ages. With soft blueberries, a touch of licorice, and a faint wiff of eucalyptis. Although the palate is not a massive bodied VP like a Taylors, this bottle is just such an elegant wine that you never want to stop drinking it. It shows no sign of fading and only the slightest hint that this is a 31 year old wine. The palate offers some soft plums, bing cherry, some menthol, and a touch of spirit, which is followed but a long and wonderful finish. Perhaps the best 1977 Warre's I"ve had, and I'm glad I was able to share it in the company of a good friend that I've not seen in some time. 93 Points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2008 - abh wrote:
Superb stuff. Rather pruney to me, a little spice but mostly just sooooo smooth and balanced, completely a point. Looking forward to the rest of the bottle over the next couple of nights.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/23/2008 - LeechDogg wrote: 86 Points
Opened to a very un-integrated mixture of hotness and nuttiness. Bricking is evident, there certainly is not much stuffing left in this bottle! After 45 minutes the wine was showing much better. Walnut and cedar, better integrated.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2008 - kris.h wrote: 93 Points
1989 vs 1990 Bordeaux: Nose of cherry and baking spice. Palate is medium to full with rich fruit and well integrated alcohol. nice finish. Good acidity. Well integrated tannin. earth. dark fruits. Really nice. Likely drinking at peak or even slightly past. Will hold and continue to drink well for several more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/4/2008 - mhurford wrote: 93 Points
Pale ruby. Vivid fruit, smooth tannins with huge middle palate and finish. Fabulous wine, drinking very well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/29/2007 - spartacus111 wrote: 93 Points
Slight signs of seepage. Cork fell into the bottle. +2 hours decanting -- incredibly smooth with little heat, fruit and cocoa. While not super complex, absolutely delicious and a good example of why I like vintage port. This has years ahead of it but I don't think it has the backbone to improve much.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2007 - cweiss wrote:
Lawtons shadow T'giving. Double decanted about 8 hrs. Drinking very well. Spirit in balance. Nonsticky sweetness. Plenty of fruit and good spiciness. Not profound but very very good. Drinking well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/2/2007 - vanpe003 wrote: 92 Points
A remarkable experience, and quite a surprise. G brought this bottle up north 2 months ago for her HS reunion, and left about half the magnum, corked and stored in the booze cabinet. Pulled it out last night w/ FBM and Miker, expecting that it would have fallen apart and would need to be poured out.
Quite to the contrary, this was drinking better now than 2 months ago. In fact, it performed best after 20-30 minutes in the glass. Starts out very boozy on the nose, with port fruit and oak on the palate, hints of the roughness witnessed in June. Everything smooths out with add'l air.
Based on the way this performed, I have to think that this has a tremendously long remaining life.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/10/2007 - canan wrote:
Slightly transparant with a brownish hue. The smell is delicate and filled with nuts and chocolate. The taste on the other hand is WOW...
Starts out a little delicate with elegant tones of walnut, leather and dark chocolate but then explodes with flavour. It is very concentrated and elegant at the same time. Simply amazing balance and the length is simply on a high level of complexity. Without a doubt a VP at the top that is just perfect to drik now but will easily be able to keep for many years. Has everything that a VP should have, fruit, nuts (almond/walnut), chocolate, coffee and leather.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/20/2007 - vanpe003 wrote:
Sending w/ G. to her 30 year HS reunion. Since it was a 1.5L, figured there was enough to take a quick taster. Rated "85" but didn't record as such, since it likely "user error", at least partially. No decant, and on reading earlier reviews, maybe this is required. Boozy and hot, both on nose and palate. Heat on palate, and seemingly thin. Reminds me a bit of a Lesec CdR I had that was disproportionately alcoholic. Filled up a .375, and will followup over the next several days.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/7/2007 - dougsmith wrote: 91 Points
Medium ruby with a slightly tawny rim. On the nose, sweet tobacco and juicy strawberry with elements of spicebox. On the second day the nose had changed to figs and dates with strawberry and licorice elements. Touch of heat. On the palate, good acidity with flavors of date essence and resolved tannins. Very nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/16/2007 - vancouvermatt wrote: 92 Points
Had at the Harris steakhouse in SanFran. Perfect finish to a meal. Absolutely fantastic at 30 years of age and could go for many more...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2007 - BradKNYC wrote:
That '70's show...all '70's all the time: Loire, Spain, Ca, Bordeaux, Port. (Applewood): This is a '77 Warre's? Wow. It's like no other bottle that I've tried in the past. I usually find this to be a solid, fairly light and silky Port that's been drinking harmoniously for at least ten years, but this is the most youthful and opulent bottle that I've had. Much more tannic than I'm accustomed too, with a nice rich core of sweet black fruit, sweet baker's spices, dark chocolate and licorice. Delicious. Low A.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/5/2007 - nskelsey wrote: 92 Points
This is an odd one. Decanted for two hours. Fullish colour, feeble, vegetal nose. Medium body, little fruit and depth, profoundly disappointing and, at this stage, merited no more than 82 (if that). Left in decanter overnight and, out of interest, tried again for breakfast to see if it was as bad as I remembered. Greatest resurrection since Lazarus. Nose was full of red fruits and hint of violets although a bit 'hot', the wine had put on weight and had become a beautifully balanced port with a good finish. Not a blockbuster, but feminine and charming. Will try again in a year's time to see if it gets through this dumb stage. If I'm tempted to open before then I'll give it a good 8 hours in a decanter.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/2/2007 - DougLee wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for approximately 4 1/2 hours. Translucent ruby hue. Nose very slow to develop, and still muted when consumed, suggesting plum, blackcurrants, and lots of alcohol. Very hot on the palate, with a core of semi-sweet fruit slowly building so that the alcohol was nearly overcome, but not totally. Moderate finish. For a wine with nearly 30 years of unknown provenance, it performed solidly.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/21/2006 - DelYap wrote: 85 Points
A Pre-Christmas dinner in Calgary 02 Shafer HSS, 00 Pavie (Cilantro's): Wine was popped and poured and perhaps a decant would have helped. Lots of alcohol on the nose and on the finish. This wine reminded me of Hall's cough drops. Not much going on here and really not that enjoyable. Half a glass and then forgotten about.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/21/2006 - DelYap wrote: 85 Points
This wine reminded me of Hall's cough drops. Not much going on here and really not that enjoyable. Half a glass and then forgotten about.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/4/2006 - vintage61 wrote: 91 Points
Stood up in celler for days prior to opening, but sediment was still present in wine, I assume from long car ride to host home. Lesson, drop off days in advance if consuming away from storage location. Drank at a friends home after a fine meal. Still on the youngish side but very delicious. would benefit from few more years in cellar and should hold for another decade after that.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/4/2006 - wineismylife wrote: 92 Points
WIML92,WA92,WS92
Tasted November 4, 2006 at home. Opened and decanted for sediment before serving immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Sweet Wine glass. Raspberry color in the glass, slightly dusty looking. Big nose of nuts, raisins, cassis and a touch of dry sherry. Flavors of dried currants, dried black berries and a nutty finish. Still a little on the youngish side I’d recommend holding another 5 years unless you have several to burn. Should last another 10+ years easily.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/3/2006 - trankin wrote: 91 Points
Barolo Bash II (Bottega del Vino, NYC): Initially a bit hot on the nose, but it blows off ti fruit, coffee, and spicy notes. On the palate, it's a touch alcoholic, but with really nice sweetness. Caramel notes, coffee notes. Great fruit. Needs more time. This was decanted about 3 1/2 hours - should have given it twice that at least.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/14/2006 - trankin wrote: 94 Points
Dinner at Tribeca Grill (Tribeca Grill, New York): Wonderful nose with slight peppery notes. Beautiful ine. Wonderful balance. Great acids, clean fruit. Really a pleasure to drink this. Decanted for about 3-4 hours. Has many years to go.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/13/2006 - ricovino wrote: 91 Points
great cap to an evening, slight bricking, spice, tobacco, raisin, somewhat hot, but not to an extreme
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/17/2006 - vinolovers wrote: 92 Points
A fully mature '77 Warre's finally! The color was a bit light, if dark cherry can be considered light. The flavors were of raisin, prune, blackberry, leather, tobacco and fruit, all blended harmoniously. No harsh finish and it wasn't heavy. If anything, it almost seemed light for a VP, but it was delicious and there was none left at the end of the evening.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/25/2006 - futronic wrote: 87 Points
Light orange/brown colour. Aromas of nuts, raisins, harsh alcohol. Medium-full bodied, nutty like a tawny, oxidized/sherry notes. Moderate finish, nuts, raisins, mint. Drink now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/22/2006 - tcfwine wrote:
Disappointing to say the least. Very thin throughout, with more heat than fruit. Tasted like robitussin. This bottle was clearly past its prime. Tasted over 3 days, with little improvement. Will try another bottle soon to compare.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/15/2006 - EricFromMD wrote: 86 Points
Lots of heat and alcohol and the fruit (prune if I had to say) was diminished and not at the forefront (this was a 1/2 bottle- had plenty of sediment). In hindsight I wish it had been decanted longer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/27/2005 - headdocs wrote: 88 Points
Compared to the other times that I have enjoyed this wine, for the first time, I thought that it was losing its fruit. While still wonderful, it does not measure up to past tastings and doesn't come close to the Fonseca from the same year. Maybe this was an "off bottle," but I plan on consuming the rest of them in my cellar in the coming year or so.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2005 - rooview wrote:
Dark cherry liquer chocolate in a port. Spicy with a lot of alcoholic heat. Not sure if I liked it...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2005 - kris.h wrote: 90 Points
SWS Port Tasting (Seattle, WA): Reddish color with some bricking. Some spice on the nose and not a lot of fruit. Fairly sweet on the palate with some heat and a short finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2005 - Winetex wrote: 91 Points
Good aged port but incredibly alcoholic hot on the finish. Some sediment in the bottle probably due to travel.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/29/2005 - cweiss wrote:
With "Winos." Apropriately lightened but no browning. Mildly spirity when first opened, but all in balance after ~3.5 hrs of decanting. Lovely mature port with gentle sweetness, spice and nonprimary fruit, I suppose plum if one had to choose. Drinking well but no hurry.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2005 - JasonD wrote:
Signs of sepage, mature, very integrated and a joy to drink now. Decanted for about 3 hours and drank over the next 3.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/17/2005 - mdavis wrote:
This wine is showing a lot of heat and alcohol, unfortunately. The fruit was significantly diminished.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2005 - winefool wrote: 92 Points
Group #12, My #7 - Medium red pink. Sweet round aroma of red fruit. Full cola red fruit. Spicy zingy finish. Needs time? 4/05
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2005 - PaulH wrote:
Had a glass of this at Acme Chophouse @ SBC Park the other night. DEEP and dark color like essence of port. Rich, concentrated and lucious on the palate. Nice tannins, but a bit hot on the finish. Really good stuff. The 1977 Taylor Fladgate is supposed to be better. How can this be? I have two bottles of the Taylor and now I am really curious. Regardless, I found the 1977 Warre VP to be really impressive. K&L has about a case of this available for $90 per bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/10/2004 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 93 Points
Consumed at the Marine Room with John and Royce Campbell (ordered from the wine list). Similar impression to 1/14/03, with the exception that the wine was obviously properly decanted (no sediment) and was accordingly much smoother, without any bitterness and with much less biting tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2003 - JeffJo wrote: 95 Points
Showing better than the Dow '77, leathery and dark berry with a good finish. Lasted being open for 10 days without signs of going downhill.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/14/2003 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 92 Points
Consumed at Decos Restaurant (San Diego). Bottle brought from the personal cellar of Ken Johnson. The waiter did not properly decant the wine, leaving a large amount of sediment in the decanter (some of which made it into the glass and likely added a bitter component). Deep reddish amber in color. Clean nose, showing moderately intense ripe plum, licorice, blackberries and black tea. Full-bodied on the palate, with massive, still somewhat astringent tannins. Long, slightly astringent finish. Needs more time to develop its full potential.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2002 - Burgundy Al wrote: 89 Points
Tasting. Good concentration and intensity, reasonable balance. Still well structured, this should hold well for decades going forward.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/1999 - NickBurwood wrote: 93 Points
A fine port then as the the post Millenium dinner drink - and based on more recent samplings still as fine a wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/26/1999 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
Lovely complexity on the nose, fruit, coffee, cocoa, floral topnotes; characteristic Warre palate, relatively dry and elegant, good weight, lovely length. Drink 2000 - 2020.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment