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1994 Dow’s Vintage Port
£79.00
“This was my pick of the vintage when it was first declared in 1996, and nearly 30 years later I feel fully justified in recommending it once again. Retaining its deep colour, opening up to reveal ripe, exotic aromas of gum cistus, eucalypt and mint, so very expressive of the Douro. Ripe, quite powerful and still tight-knit with lovely rich, minty fruit, broad yet firm tannins rising to a fresh, gripping, opulent finish (especially for Dow in its customary drier style). Now glorious to drink – it should last a lifetime.”
99 Points, Richard Mayson, Decanter (tasted Nov 2023)
In 1877 James R. Dow merged his port company with Silva & Cosens (established 1798) to form Dow’s & Co. Although the smaller of the two firms, the Dow’s name was kept due to its excellent reputation as a port shipper with particularly fine Vintage Ports. Multiple generations of the Symington family have managed the principal Dow vineyards of Quinta do Bomfim and Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira, producing many outstanding ports in the properties’ wineries. A loyal cohort of Douro farmers have also sold their grapes to the Symington family for use in Dow’s Ports, with strong relationships going back through the decades, which are reaffirmed at each year’s vintage. Dow’s continues to enjoy an unmatched reputation for Vintage Port.