Dow's 2004
Quinta da Sra. Ribeira
Single Quinta Vintage Port
Just 500 cases of the very finest wines from Senhora da Ribeira were selected for bottling in 2004.
Description
The 2004 vintage produced wines of very good quality, and surpassed all expectations with some of the highest Baumés experienced since 1995. The wines made in 2004 will be remembered principally for their power, structure and tremendous colour.
The vintage at Senhora da Ribeira began on the 20th of September and ended on the 6th October. Yields were as usual very low, with only 0.96 Kg per vine, and this no doubt contributed to the excellent complexity and concentration of the lots produced. Baumés on the estate were high and averaged 13.5º allowing for longer fermentations and consequently producing wines with tremendous depth of colour and tannic structure.
In 2004 the replanting of the "Vinha Grande" vineyard was completed; 7.9 hectares including 23,000 vines of Touriga Nacional and 3,000 vines of Touriga Franca.
Our Expert's Recommendation
"This young Single Quinta wine should be allowed to age in its own bottle for at least 10 years from the time it is bottled to achieve its optimum maturity. For those who prefer to drink their Port young, 4 to 5 years are sufficient."
Press Comments
...this Symington property has produced a rich, sweet 2004, with a soft tannic structure, layered with a lightly spirit edge. It's a big mouthful of ripe fruit...
Concentração absoluta de cor com uma linha violeta no perímetro do copo...poético e harmonioso, mineral e muito, muito exigente.
"Preto na cor, muito concentrado, só notas vegetais, todo ele muito químico. Grande estrutura na boca, cheio e robusto, a precisar de tempo para se mostrar. Está muitíssimo promissor. Prove-se agora uma garrafa para (re)ver o estilo e o resto deverá ser guardado na cave."
…”Destaque, acima de todos, para um Porto Vintage da Symington que alcançou o patamar excelso dos 19 pontos. Trata-se do terceiro vinho na história desta revista a conseguir tão elevada pontuação: Dow’s Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira Vintage 2004.”
"Very dark – blackish crimson. Just 500 cases of this were produced. Spicy fruit with a bit of oak still obvious. Very dry and punchy – lovely structure. As though this had liquorice ribbons wound round its core of fruit. Great lift, and very dry on the finish. For the moment, much more structure than fruit. Lovely vibrancy. This should develop very well."
2004 Dow’s Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira Vintage Port – Like Quinta do Bomfim, this is one of the properties that provide excellent grapes for the classic Dow Vintage Port. The Symington’s sold Senhora da Ribeira three decades ago and were fortunate to be able to buy it back about 9 years ago. It is situated across from Vesuvio, practically next door to a restaurant we dined at that memorable evening! Looking at this inky monster it is hard to discern between a purple and/or black coloration, nonetheless, it is fully opaque. Lush fresh cut flowers, spice and boysenberry compote provide a scintillating nose. The fruit is tart and dry with an early-picked blackberry quality that is refined in its approach and full-bodied in the mouth with some spirit that is not yet integrated. The finish is exceptionally smooth and its round tannins are laced with chocolate, while impressive in terms of its overall length, I would drink this in its prime at around 12-18 years of age. 500 cases produced. 90-92 points
Additional Information
For more information about Dow's, please visit
http://www.dows-port.com/
Click here to download the Quinta profile.
Click here to download the wine specification sheet.