Croft, Vintage Port,

The 1977 Croft Vintage Port has a clear garnet core. The nose is ripe and attractive, but lacking the complexity of the 1977 Taylor's: hints of cherry, brambly red-berried fruit, ginger and honey, though improving with time in glass as more blackberry leaf element begin to appear. The palate is sweet, ripe, very primordial considering the vintage, rounded in texture, supple with a lushness that I was not expecting. This should improve with more time, but I would prefer more grip and persistency towards the finish that I cannot help feeling is rather…ersatz? Tasted in the Factory House in Porto for Taylor's - The Story of a Classic Port House book.