1977 Sandeman

The 1977 Sandeman Vintage Porto has an elegant bouquet with clove, dried dates, fig and hints of furniture polish emerging from the glass. This is nicely focused and unfurls with grace. The palate is well-balanced on the entry with a fine thread of acidity. This is not a heavy-duty 1977 port, but it is nimble, quick on its feet,with a nuanced finish that is slightly attenuated. This is a marked improvement over the 1975 Sandeman, and yet in the context of the declaration, it ought to aspire for greater things. Drink now-2030.

Vigorous rose red colour. More complete fruit and intensity than most. Really quite vigorous and maturing rather than mature. Some firm tannins still in evidence. There is definitely a framework here and perhaps just very slightly less fruit intensity than one would wish for in an ideal world. But it’s a game old wine! Just a little hot nuttiness on the finish – the merest suggestion of an old tawny. (JR)

Relatively simple pale rose red. Licorice, faintly, on the nose. Lots of tannin still but the overall impression is of a wine that is quite unknit. Still very chewy but is there enough fruit there to see it through? Lacks middle. Some spirit evident. (JR)