Smith Woodhouse 1983 (375ML)

93 WS /16.5 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. - Wine Spectator

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. - Jancis Robinson