Dow's 2000
Vintage Port
In the 25 Vintage Ports 'declared' by Dow's in the 20th Century, it is remarkable how often rainfall at the end of August or early September played a key role in producing some of their finest Vintage Ports.
Description
Picking started on 25th September at both Bomfim and Senhora de Ribeira, rather later than usual. Quinta do Bomfim used its modern fermenters, while at Ribeira, only the traditional lagares were used to make all the wine from this Quinta.
In 2000, the yields were incredibly low; Bomfim obtained an average of just 830g per vine while Ribeira only produced 385g per vine. These yields are amongst the lowest of any of the great vineyards in the world. Vintaging weather was perfect throughout, with hot days and cool nights, the grapes came into the wineries at an ideal 20ºC.
Dow's decision to declare the 2000 Vintage was not difficult. The wine speaks for itself; it is remarkably concentrated, with a rich velvety structure backed by ripe tannins. Dow's Vintage Port is always rich and sweet, but it is a little drier than the other leading houses. This characteristic is paramount to its ageing potential and is one of the primary reasons for the great reputation that Dow's has earned over the last century.
Our Expert's Recommendation
"This young wine should be allowed to age in its own bottle for at least 15 to 20 years from the time it is bottled to achieve its optimum maturity. For those who prefer to drink their Vintage Port young, 4 to 5 years are sufficient."
Press Comments
“This firmly-structured, classic, tightly-knit, restrained port exhibits brilliant purity as well as impressive intensity”.
“The colour is black-purple and the aromas are rich, dark, blackberry. Tannins are high, but silky. Flavours are dark and intense, with meaty flavours and blackberry and plum fruit. This is classic vintage port, dense and powerful”.
“An opaque blue/purple colour (typical of this vintage’s top offerings) is followed by a strikingly provocative aromatic display (flowers, liquorice, blackberries, and cassis). This firmly-structured, classic, tightly-knit, restrained port exhibits brilliant purity as well as impressive intensity. While not the most dramatic or flamboyant, it is a beautiful, classically structured port that will age gracefully”.
"Very promising extractive depth: fully opaque and widow-black. Vivid youthful fruits, still with lots of the smashed vegetable sap of infant Vintage Port. Not orchestral yet, though; give it time. Dense, taut, tight, closely woven – this is enormously impressive, with layer upon layer of dense, youthful, pounding fruit backed by ample though accessible tannins and the kind of surging peppery exuberance that one loves to see in infant Vintage Port. This bodes exceptionally well…"
“Bold papal colouring, riper summer fruits and forest flowers. A delicious and hedonistic ambassador of a sunny vintage, as of yet untaxed in the rigours of maturity. Nonetheless, a wine of considerable merit, charm and potential, structurally more than capable of a lengthy and fascinating evolution”.
“Very grapey, with black licorice and blackberry character. Full-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and an exquisite finish. Refined and well-made."
“Very dense, closed and withdrawn, characteristically dry yet rich, ripe and well structured with tannins exploding on the finish.”
"Fullish Colour. Good nose. Plenty of depth. Elegant, slightly austere fruit, but complex with it. Medium-full body. Rich. Good grip. Plenty of vigour here. Clean and classy. Harmonious and fresh. Long. Fine plus."
“Deep purple, dense, complex, peppery nose, quite full bodied, with an impressive balance of fruit concentration and fine tannin, very sweet, especially for Dow, beautifully sustained across the palate, great finesse, real class and excellent length. A superb Dow.”
Additional Information
For more information about Dow's, please visit
http://www.dows-port.com/
Click here to download the wine specification sheet.