It’s not often you get to review a 22 year-old wine at time of release. But Bullers in Rutherglen have recently re-released their 1978 Vintage Port for just $39 a bottle, which equates to just under $1.80 per year. Since Bullers admit they didn’t do much in the way of record-keeping back in 1978, they actually have little to say about it, apart from submitting a very impressive wine show career which includes five trophies. Your $1.80 per year buys you a very spirity, relatively youthful and spirited vintage port simply packed with the earthy, tarry, fruitcake and rancio flavours you’d expect from such a beast. There’s dirt and leather aplenty, plus a concentrated, thick palate still able to flex its muscles to good effect. Great expression of Rutherglen vintage port. A little too alcoholic for my taste, but wonderful if you like the style. It rates at 18.2 and will probably go on drinking well for as long as the cork can keep it all together, ie about another twenty or more years!
