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Structure
Drinking window
Latest scored vintage 2017: best 2037 to 2067.
vintage20 yrs50 yrs52 yrs
Critic scores
| Critic | Vintage | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Wine Spectator reviewed 2018 | 2016 | 98/100 |
| Wine Advocate reviewed 2019 | 2017 | 97/100 |
Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.
In the glass
Aroma: plum, cassis, violet, peppery spice
Palate: black fruit, cocoa, silky tannin, dry finish
The driest of the classic Vintage Ports, built around Quinta do Bomfim and Senhora da Ribeira fruit, with a firm structure and a notably dry, savoury finish.
What it pairs with
-
Roast beef
Find roast beef on TableJourney →
The dry finish handles rare red meat. -
Stilton
Drier style cut by salty blue cheese. -
Dark chocolate
Liquorice and cocoa.
How to serve Dow's Vintage Port
Allow 65 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 60 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 14-16°C. Cellar temperature (14-16°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a Port glass or small Bordeaux glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Roast beef, Stilton, Dark chocolate. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Dow's, owned by the Symingtons since the early 20th century, built its house style on a drier Vintage Port from Quinta do Bomfim and Senhora da Ribeira.
- 1798: House origins as Silva and Cosens
- 1896: Quinta do Bomfim becomes the heart of the Vintage
Facts
- Producer
- Dow's Port · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, Sousao
- Classification
- DOC Porto
- Oak
- Foot-trodden in lagares, aged in vat then bottle-matured
- ABV
- 20.0%
- Price
- EUR 90 to 170 at release
- Drinking window
- 20 to 50 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1798
Frequently asked about Dow's Vintage Port
What does Dow's Vintage Port taste like?
On the nose, plum, cassis, violet, peppery spice. On the palate, black fruit, cocoa, silky tannin, dry finish. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, medium acidity with a long finish. The driest of the classic Vintage Ports, built around Quinta do Bomfim and Senhora da Ribeira fruit, with a firm structure and a notably dry, savoury finish.
When should I drink Dow's Vintage Port?
Drink 20 to 50 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Dow's Vintage Port?
Roast beef is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Stilton and Dark chocolate. The dry finish handles rare red meat.
What grapes are in Dow's Vintage Port?
The blend is Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, Sousao. The wine is classified as DOC Porto.
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