1983 Smith Woodhouse Vintage Port
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Tasting notes
This was served blind after a lunch of the Royal Household Wine Committee at J&B. (The tradition is that everyone donates at stake of £10 for the Benevolent charity.) A couple of us (luckily) guessed 1983 but no-one got the shipper for the wine is very dark, even taking into account the sediment in my glass. Even darker than most 1983s. It's a bit dry and firm. (Remember how exceptional the 1977 Smith Woodhouse was.) 'Gets me every time,' said our host Hew Blair testily. (JR)
Critic scores
Wine Spectator
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Extremely dark crimson with some development. Quite aggressive, assertive nose with some green hints. Very sweet and dense with quite a bit of sandy tannins. Lots of structure, Best left alone for the moment. (JR)
Very impressive for its brute strength. Very deep, dark ruby, with a concentrated cassis nose, full-bodied, rich, powerful and nd oveoverflowing with fruit flavors and hard tannins. – James Suckling , Wine Spectator 1989