Smith Woodhouse
Smith Woodhouse & C:a
| Founded |
1784 |
| Owner |
Symington |
| Vineyards |
Quinta da Santa Madalena, Quinta Val Coelho |
| Vintage Port Brands |
Smith Woodhouse, Madalena |
Christopher Smith, a prominent figure in the British wine trade and Member of Parliament, who was later to become Lord Mayor of London, opened offices in Oporto in 1784 to ship Port wine from the bar of the Douro. In 1810 Smith's son Newman took over and in 1818 were joined in partnership by the Woodhouse brothers, already well established as importers of wine from other regions, and the firm became known by its present name. Smith Woodhouse built a strong clientele for more than a century, but after World War II, in common with other firms, business became increasingly difficult. In 1960 W. & J. Graham bought Smith Woodhouse and then in 1970 the Symington family acquired the firm.
Smith Woodhouse owns Madalena Vineyard, which lies along the riverbed of the ‘Torto’, one of the tributaries of the Douro, famous for its top rated production. In fact the Rio Torto is acknowledged as having the highest concentration of top quality vineyards in the Douro.
| Smith Woodhouse Vintages: | 1865, 1870, 1872, 1873, 1875, 1878, 1880, 1881, 1884, 1887, 1890, 1896, 1897, 1900, 1904, 1908, 1912, 1917, 1920, 1924, 1927, 1935, 1945, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1955, 1960, 1963, 1966, 1970, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2016 |
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| Madalena Vintages: | 1988, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2005 |
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Vintage Port tasting notes:
| House | Smith Woodhouse | Vintage | 1963 |
| Colour | Mature yellow in colour. | Number of tastings | 3 |
| Bouquet | Lovely burned sugar, coffee, toffee and cacao in the nose. | Score range | 17.00 - 17.50 |
| Taste | Full-bodied. Mature and on top. Sweet. Toffee and pharmacy in taste. Complex and wonderful port with a lovely and very very long finish. | Average score | 17.25 |
| Last tasted | 21st November 2013 | Point this date | 17.50 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% Great Tasting in Malmö.
This bottle belongs to Gerda and Ole Vesterdal Private Collection.
In 2005 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings.
In 2013 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Smith Woodhouse | Vintage | 1966 |
| Colour | Dark but with a yellow mature colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Cacao and burned sugar in the nose. | Score range | 15.25 - 15.25 |
| Taste | Quite full-bodied. Mature and on top. Not as complex as expected. Burned sugar in flavour and a nice quite long finish. | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 21st September 2006 | Point this date | 15.25 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% Great Tasting in Malmö.
This bottle belongs to Gerda and Ole Vesterdal Private Collection.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Smith Woodhouse | Vintage | 1970 |
| Colour | Yellow mature in colour. | Number of tastings | 4 |
| Bouquet | Cacao, coffee, toffee, cinnamon and old grocery shop in the quite complex bouquet. | Score range | 15.00 - 16.75 |
| Taste | Medium bodied. Mature and on top. Sultan raisin, cinnamon and liquorice in taste. Elegant, balanced and quite complex with an attractive and quite long finish. | Average score | 16.13 |
| Last tasted | 1st May 2015 | Point this date | 16.75 |
| Comment | At home with the family
In 2008 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Smith Woodhouse | Vintage | 1975 |
| Colour | Pale red and quite strange colour for a vintage. | Number of tastings | 2 |
| Bouquet | Roses, spring flower and old hospital in the nose. | Score range | 15.50 - 16.25 |
| Taste | Medium body. Mature and on top. Easy to like. Roses and flowers in taste. Rather complex with a nice finish. | Average score | 15.88 |
| Last tasted | 24th November 2016 | Point this date | 16.25 |
| Comment | At the Danish Port Wine Club est. 1981 tasting in Copenhagen, Denmark.
In 2006 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Smith Woodhouse | Vintage | 1977 |
| Colour | Still rather dark but mature yellow in colour. | Number of tastings | 12 |
| Bouquet | Lovely nose with cream candy, sweet liquorice, herbs, crème caramel, coffee, some cacao and a hint of mint in the nose. | Score range | 16.40 - 17.50 |
| Taste | Full-bodied. Quite mature but still with some very soft tannin. Will maybe still develop and be a little better. Balanced and quite elegant. Toffee and cacao in taste with a long and generous finish. | Average score | 16.78 |
| Last tasted | 27th March 2018 | Point this date | 16.75 |
| Comment | At home in our Private Wine Club.
In 2010 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Smith Woodhouse | Vintage | 1980 |
| Colour | Still quite dark but yellow mature in colour. | Number of tastings | 12 |
| Bouquet | Cacao, dark chocolate, candy, toffee, fudge and old grocery shop in the nose. | Score range | 16.00 - 17.00 |
| Taste | Quite full-bodied. Quite mature almost peaking. Sweet and balanced. Dark chocolate, candy and cacao in taste. Elegant and complex with an attractive and very long finish. A lovely port indeed. Just enjoy it! | Average score | 16.67 |
| Last tasted | 5th November 2018 | Point this date | 16.75 |
| Comment | At the Port Wine Festival in Copenhagen, Denmark.
In 2014 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Smith Woodhouse | Vintage | 1983 |
| Colour | Still very dark but yellow mature in colour. | Number of tastings | 5 |
| Bouquet | Toffee, dark chocolate, fudge, cacao, roasted coffee beans and old grocery shop in the nose. | Score range | 16.25 - 17.00 |
| Taste | Full-bodied. Quite mature and almost peaking. Toffee and dark chocolate in taste. Balanced and very elegant. Wonderful complexity and flavours. Elegant, long attractive finish. A great port now and will be probably better. | Average score | 16.45 |
| Last tasted | 18th March 2017 | Point this date | 17.00 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% Great Tasting in Malmö.
In 2017 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Smith Woodhouse | Vintage | 1985 |
| Colour | Still quite dark but mature yellow in colour. | Number of tastings | 22 |
| Bouquet | Cacao, old grocery shop, cinnamon, toffee, Christmas spiciness, candy and ginger bread in the nose. | Score range | 15.50 - 16.75 |
| Taste | Full-bodied. Mature and almost peaking but still with some soft and elegant tannin. Will probably be better. Gingerbread, cinnamon and a lot of other things in flavour. Complex and balanced with an attractive and rather long finish. Very easy to drink and like. Lovely port indeed! | Average score | 16.16 |
| Last tasted | 3rd March 2018 | Point this date | 16.75 |
| Comment | At the Port Wine Fair in Roskilde, Denmark.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Smith Woodhouse | Vintage | 1991 |
| Colour | Yellow, mature amber in colour. | Number of tastings | 3 |
| Bouquet | Butterscotch, cacao, some sweet liquorice but also old vat and boots in the nose. Not quite fresh! | Score range | 15.00 - 16.40 |
| Taste | Full-bodied. Quite mature but still some very soft tannin and will probably be better. Balanced and quite complex. Not so sweet and with a nice finish. | Average score | 16.70 |
| Last tasted | 24th November 2016 | Point this date | 15.00 |
| Comment | At the Danish Port Wine Club est. 1981 tasting in Copenhagen, Denmark.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Smith Woodhouse | Vintage | 1992 |
| Colour | Still quite dark but yellow, mature quite beautiful in colour. | Number of tastings | 3 |
| Bouquet | Toffee, butterscotch, some herbs, liquorice, crème caramel, plums, cacao and coffee in the nose. | Score range | 16.25 - 16.50 |
| Taste | Almost full-bodied. Quite mature but still some soft tannin. Will be better. Complex and balanced port. Sweet. Lovely, long and rather attractive finish. | Average score | 16.38 |
| Last tasted | 8th November 2018 | Point this date | 16.25 |
| Comment | At the Wine Society 18% Great Tasting in Malmö.
In 2018 this vintage took part in a Great Tasting in the Wine Society 18%. For points and ranking see Great Tastings. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Smith Woodhouse | Vintage | 1994 |
| Colour | Still quite dark ruby with a hint of yellowness in the rim. | Number of tastings | 3 |
| Bouquet | Very nice with black berries, dark berries, some spiciness, cacao and some coffee in the nose. | Score range | 16.50 - 17.00 |
| Taste | Full-bodied. Still a bit immature with delicate tannins and easy to swallow, like and enjoy. Dark berry, cacao, some roasted coffee and spiciness in taste. Complex with a very promising and lovely finish. Will be great indeed. | Average score | 16.80 |
| Last tasted | 11th February 2019 | Point this date | 16.90 |
| Comment | In the Wine society 18% tasting in Malmö.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Smith Woodhouse | Vintage | 1997 |
| Colour | Black in colour with a yellow rim. | Number of tastings | 3 |
| Bouquet | Dark cherry, mulberry and dark berry in the nose. | Score range | 15.90 - 16.25 |
| Taste | Full-bodied. Rather mature but still tannic. Mulberry in flavour. Complex and balanced. Long very promising finish. Will be much better. | Average score | 16.08 |
| Last tasted | 21st December 2013 | Point this date | 16.25 |
| Comment | At a Christmas trip to London, UK with the family,
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Smith Woodhouse | Vintage | 2000 |
| Colour | Still quite dark ruby but with a yellow edge in colour. | Number of tastings | 5 |
| Bouquet | Mature bouquet of sweet liquorice, toffee, some cacao, dark chocolate and butterscotch. | Score range | 16.25 - 16.50 |
| Taste | Quite full-bodied. Quite mature and not as tannic as expected but will be better. Cacao, sweet liquorice and dark chocolate in flavour. Balanced and quite complex. Easy to drink and enjoy with an attractive and quite long finish. | Average score | 16.42 |
| Last tasted | 5th November 2018 | Point this date | 16.25 |
| Comment | At the Port Wine Festival in Copenhagen, Denmark.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Smith Woodhouse | Vintage | 2003 |
| Colour | Still quite dark but with a yellow mature edge in colour. | Number of tastings | 4 |
| Bouquet | Butterscotch, fudge, cacao and toffee in the nose and maybe some dried fruit. | Score range | 16.25 - 16.50 |
| Taste | Almost full-bodies. Quite mature but still with soft, very delicate tannin and will be better. Cacao and sweetmeats in taste. Balanced and complex port with a long and attractive finish. | Average score | 16.35 |
| Last tasted | 5th November 2018 | Point this date | 16.25 |
| Comment | At the Port Wine Festival in Copenhagen, Denmark.
| Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Smith Woodhouse | Vintage | 2007 |
| Colour | Black in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Juicy and dark berry in the nose. | | |
| Taste | Quite full-bodied. Immature and tannic. Mulberry in flavour. Sweet. Hard to swallow. Long promising finish. | | |
| Last tasted | 27th June 2009 | Rating this date | Very Good/ Impressive |
| Comment | At the Danish Port Wine Club est. 1981 trip to Douro, Portugal.
Port so young we evaluate only as : Good – Very good- Impressive – Very Impressive | Tasters | SAI |
| House | Smith Woodhouse | Vintage | 2016 |
| Colour | Dark ruby almost black in colour. | Number of tastings | 4 |
| Bouquet | Mulberry, blackberry, blue berry but also ginger bread and Christmas spiciness in the nose. | | |
| Taste | Medium body. Immature with lots of elegant tannins. Balanced and very tasty with mulberry, black berry, ginger bread and Christmas spiciness in the mouth with a long, exciting and promising finish. Will be wonderful to follow. | | |
| Last tasted | 2nd March 2019 | Rating this date | Very Impressive |
| Comment | Tasted at a Port Wine Fair in Roskilde, Denmark.
Port so young we evaluate only as : Good – Very good- Impressive – Very Impressive | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |