WTN: Warre’s the Wild Things Are

[David M. Bueker]

• 1977 Warre Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (1/23/2026)
  Port is a conundrum. I love drinking it but almost never open it. Typically it’s a bottle or two during winter months, usually a tawny, and then wait 10 months before starting again the next winter. In the spirit of no time like the present, I stood up this bottle a couple of weeks in advance, and opened it several hours ahead. Careful decanting led to a very clean wine, and after about four hours I poured a glass. The first word that came to mind when I tasted it was “stately.” It’s a well put together wine. Three piece suit, pocket square, perfect knot in the tie, all those things are wrapped up in a glass of wine that still shows fruit, still has personality. Despite the pale color there’s significant depth, even a sense of darkness on the palate. No nutty tones here, despite being nearly fifty the edges have not browned, and the aromas remain fresh. There’s a little gray at the temples, but it’s merely an accent.

Thanks for the review. 1975 had been widely declared even though it was a so-so vintage because after the 1974 revolution there was serious talk of nationalizing the Port houses and 1975 was seen as a "last hurrah" of independent ownership. The nationalization never materialized and when 1977, a decidedly great year, came along it was declared, too, even though the major Port houses rarely declare two vintages that close together.

It's good to hear that the vintage is living up to its expectations.

-Paul W.

Thanks for that note - I still have a few bottles of that vintage and had been wondering how it was doing. It was/is the best vintage of that house until 1994, I think.

[Jenise]

Thanks for that note - I still have a few bottles of that vintage and had been wondering how it was doing. It was/is the best vintage of that house until 1994, I think.

Doesn't that almost go for any house in 1977?

[David M. Bueker]

Thanks for that note - I still have a few bottles of that vintage and had been wondering how it was doing. It was/is the best vintage of that house until 1994, I think.

Doesn't that almost go for any house in 1977?

1992 is shockingly good from those who declared.

1992 is shockingly good from those who declared.

Very true - I have a half dozen 1992s though I haven't been into them in any major way yet. For some reason I bought some Ports that you don't see as often - Vesuvio, Warres Cavadinha, Churcill;s Agua Alta, Dow Bomfim etc., based on tasting of barrel samples (hard wines to assess that way at that age).