Dow's - Late Bottled Vintage Port 2018 (750ml)

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Price: $35.99

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12+ Price: $30.99 /btl

Producer	Dow's
Country	Portugal
Region	Douro
Varietal	Touriga Nacional Blend
Vintage	2018
Sku	129538
Size	750ml
ABV	20.00%

Dow's Description

For over two centuries the name of Dow’s
has been closely linked with the finest Ports
from the vineyards of the Upper Douro Valley.
Since 1912, when Andrew James Symington
became a partner in Dow’s, five generations of
Symington winemakers have lived and worked
at their vineyards of Quinta do Bomfim and
Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira from where
they have produced many memorable wines,
including the Dow’s 2007 Vintage Port, rated
100-points in Wine Spectator magazine and
the Dow’s 2011 Vintage Port: ‘Wine of The
Year’ in the same magazine’s Top 100 Wines
of the World (2014).
WINE DESCRIPTION SHEET
THE WINE
This 2018 Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) shares the same provenance with Dow’s legendary
Vintage Ports, namely the Quinta do Bomfim and Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira
vineyards, which have been owned by Dow’s since the late 19th century. Five generations
of Symington family winemakers have tended these vineyards, deriving from them
Dow’s distinctive wine profile, characterised by intense, structured wines with fresh
black fruit flavours, peppery tannins and a hallmark drier style. The grapes from both
properties were trodden in the on-site modern lagares, which equip the Quinta do
Bomfim and Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira wineries.
YEAR AND HARVEST OVERVIEW
Although 2018 started off very dry, with the soils parched by the previous year’s rainfall
deficit, the spring heralded abundant rain with the months between March and June
all recording above-average precipitation. Soil water reserves were amply replenished,
a good position to be in for the vines’ growing and ripening cycles. The wet, cool
spring and generally unsettled atmospheric conditions continued into the summer
and resulted in a diminishing of the crop size. Inevitably, the growth cycle of the vine
was delayed by a few weeks, but a hot and dry August put maturations back on track.
Climatic conditions in early September favoured an even and complete ripening of the
berries with good levels of acidity that are reflected in the wines’ balance. Yields were
very low, but that favoured the high quality that the wines from 2018 reveal.
Charles Symington, Douro, October 2018
WINEMAKERS
Charles Symington and Pedro Sousa.
TASTING NOTE
Bright, exuberant aromas of blackberry
and blueberry are pierced by a shaft of
mint which gives the wine an incredible,
scintillating freshness. The substantial
mouthfeel carries ample black forest fruit
and fleshy, black plum flavours punctuated
by peppery tannins and fine acidity, all
combining to underscore the wine’s fine
structure and balance. The long aftertaste
suggests tobacco and tea, wrapped in
Dow’s trademark dry finish.
Symington tasting room, Spring 2023
PROVENANCE · GRAPE VARIETIES
Dow’s Quinta do Bomfim and Quinta
da Senhora da Ribeira vineyards · Douro
Valley · Portugal.
Grape varieties: Touriga Franca, Touriga
Nacional, Sousão, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Roriz.
STORAGE AND SERVING
This port is bottled ready to drink and will
not benefit from further ageing. No need
to decant and once open, it will remain
fresh for 6-8 weeks. An excellent wine to
enjoy on its own, with dark chocolate
desserts or cheeses such as Cheddar or
Manchego.
WINE SPECIFICATION
Alcohol: 20% (v/v 20°C)
Total Acidity: 4.8g/L (tartaric acid)
Baumé: 3.5°
pH: 3.55
Total sugars: 98g
Allergy advice: Contains sulphites
Compatible with vegetarian
and vegan diets
LATE BOTTLED VINTAGE PORT
2018