Tasting Notes: Dow’s Port

Random Notes from a recent wine maker’s tasting:

Dow’s Bomfin - 2005: This Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Aragonez (Tempranillo) and Tinta Barroca was the only red table wine on hand. I found the nose to be quite interesting with some nice dark cherry and plum, as well as a touch of spice. The fruits in the wine were ripe and overall very good, but the wine fell apart into the finish and left me wondering where all the fruits went from the nose! I think that a little more of the Touriga Nacional could have went a long way in gving this wine a good structure and more tannins. My rating: 84 pts

Dow’s 2001 Late-Bottled Vintage: Nose of ripe fruits, spice and burnt oak. Well put together on the palette with a long, dry finish. Would benefit from more structure, but quite good. My rating: 86 pts

Dow’s 10 Year Tawny Porto: - Soft reddish yellow color. Hazelnut and vanilla on the nose, as well as grapefruit and anise. Sublte notes of hazelnut and citrus on the palette, but lacking any serious presence. A delicate, medium dry finish. My rating: 86 pts

Dow’s 20 Year Tawny Porto: - Beautiful amber color with reddish hue. Bouquet of nuts, vanilla, spice, and burnt wood chips. On the palette the wine is alive. Rolling flavors throughout the palette consisting of nuts, citrus, vanilla, and nutmeg. Much better structure and overall integration than the 10 year. Very good. My rating: 91 pts

Dow’s 2003 Vintage Porto: - Spicy nose that needs time to breathe to reveal black cherry and blackberry fruits. A lot of great flavors in this wine with solid fruits that I feel could evolve into something special. Keep this one in the cellar for a while. Drink 2020-2040. My rating: 90 pts

Dow’s 1985 Vintage Porto: Good color for the age. Rich nose of chocolate, black fruits, and a touch of spice. Very elegant across the palette with exceptional balance and focus. Long, lasting finish that is a touch dry but complex and very pleasing. Ready to drink now. My rating: 93 pts