Jancis Robinson
Very very dark. Sweet, spicy, liquorice nose. Very broad start to the palate and then dried fruits on the finish. Lots of firm tannins still. Still relatively embryonic. Heat on the finish. Lovely spice on the finish. Not the most stereotypically feminine Warre style of wine. Powerful finish. Almost brawny with some wild fruit and flower flavours on the nose. Still chewy. 18.5/20
Michael Broadbent "The Great Vintage Wine Book"
Nine notes since April 1987. A touch of coffee on the nose (malt, meat, toffe all reflecting the almost unctuous richness of the vintage, as it is a thickness of colour). A dozen years later, still a fine deep red purple; extraordinary nose, whiff of wet oilskin, great vinosity, prunes, figs; sweet, fairly full-bodied, fleshy, elegant, beautifully balanced. ‘An archetypical Warre’. High marks at a extensive Symington tasting in London in 1994 and, the following year, drinking beautifully high above Lake Toxaway, North Carolina. A still youthfull, classic Warre at a Bar Bank/Christie’s dinner in Vienna 1999. Most recently, in very good vintage company, fairly intense; ‘classic’ nose again; lovely flavour and texture. Very dry, fragrant finish. With Graham, my top ‘85. ****(*)
For the Love of Port
Very extracted dark burgundy color. Each time I get to try this particular Warre's VP, I see more to enjoy. Here the nose was really demonstrative with a black cherry, tea and gentle kiss of mint that was tantalizing playing off of the tea scent. Smooth and chewy with brash blackcurrant and fig flavors, this shows incredible youth for a Port approaching 25 years old. Still some tannins to reckon with, this appears headed for some solid drinking around 40 years of age, with bottles of this quality. 93 Points
