1977 Vintage Port
A classic Vintage, concentrated, long-lasting and complex. Declared by all the major Port houses.
Drinking Status
Some wines are now just becoming approachable but will repay further ageing. The best wines of this year will keep well for decades.
Tasting Notes
Very well structured and balanced wines, marked by strong tannins, these wines have great elegance and staying power. The best wines have the tannin and structure to age for many years. The nose on the best wines is extremely elegant, with traces of cinnamon giving an attactive tone.
Climatic Conditions
A cold year, and wet as well during the first few months. This weather delayed flowering and it continued to be cold throughout the summer. September however, was blazingly hot, and accelerated the development of the grapes. Despite the unauspicious start, great quality and very healthy grapes were picked.
Vinification
The Vintage began at the end of September under clear skies, and though the sugar readings for the grapes were slightly below the average, it quickly became apparent that outstanding wines were being made.
Winemaker's Comments
"A very hot two weeks (35-36 c daily) with little or no wind has had a dramatic effect on the wines: at Bomfim sugar testing on 1st September gave 10.5 - by 8th it had risen to 11.5 and is now over 12. If the hot weather holds, the prospects for a good quality Vintage are much improved."
12-14 September 1977
"As foreseen graduations were on the low side, few lagares or cubas reaching 13 c, but the colour and flavour of all the early gathered grapes was excellent.....the last grapes coming into Bomfim on 30th October...A feature of the 1977 Vintage was the lack of pressure from the Altos (highlands) to vintage early...In the Douro we have been fortunate and certainly good average wines have been made, and maybe a few outstanding lotes will emerge."
2 November 1977
Michael D Symington