Simon Field | Brick color, browning a little, albeit with an almost watery rim; there is a touch of volatility here, dried fruit aromatics with a backdrop of the rose garden at the end of the season. The wine is gently nuanced, approachable now, all the gusto and bravura of the vintage having seeped into something approaching wisdom. Attractive but evolved fruit characteristics mean that this is à point now but maybe not for much longer, the spirit holding sway with a menacing grip. Given its age, the intimations of maturity are, all things considered, far from dishonorable, and yet one often expects even more from this category. Not immortality, for sure, but not far off! | 90

Andrew Jefford | Dark black-red in hue, but much clearer and more translucent than wines [Ramos Pinto 1982] and [Ferreira 1982], with some oxblood red at the rim. Forceful but just a little spirity on the nose, with as much tea leaf and mountain herb as fresh fruit. An attractive nose, but the wine is just in a different evolutionary zone from its two 1982 peers, and further down the tracks. On the palate, this is very charming, very sweet, very comely, and very accessible, but it still delivers on the Vintage promise of something rich and exciting with the serious flavors (if no longer textures) of its early- life tannins. A super Vintage Port to drink right now. I feel I can’t really give it the same score as its two vintage peers since they are both “younger” and have more in reserve, but this is so delicious that in not doing so I wonder after all if I’m not making a mistake. | 91

Richard Mayson | Mid-deep grading to broad tawny rim; high- toned on the nose, brings out some light, floral fruit on the nose; fresh, elegant, and well-defined on the palate, if quite lightweight, but backed by firm tannins leading to a long, linear finish. Really enjoyable now, if starting to dry out. | 89