Dow's Vintage Port 2024 (75cl)

The description below is the retailer’s own wording.

Typical deep, brooding aromas of blackcurrant and blackberry, with hints of bitter chocolate, black pepper and powdered schist. Concentrated on the palate, with a compact, tight-knit structure which gradually reveals sumptuous blackcurrant, plum and licorice flavors, held in balance by a bolt of acidity and peppery tannins with Dow's trademark drier finish. The powerful, taut frame, with a cast iron backbone is an unmistakeable feature of the great line of Dow's Vintage Port thoroughbreds stretching back more than two centuries. The verve and purity of fruit, accentuated by the fine acidity are quite remarkable. Precise, with a pretty, grainy texture and incisive character. Medium- to full-bodied, long and dimensional. The grainy texture turns saline. Very stimulating to taste. A blend of 38% touriga franca, 34% old vines, 17% touriga nacional and 11% sousao. Drink or hold. The 2024 Vintage Port follows the previous declaration of 2017. It was produced with grapes from Quinta do Bomfim in the Cima Corgo and Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira in the Douro Superior.

The Blend

is 40% Touriga Franca, 35% Touriga Nacional, 15% field blend (vinhas velhas) and 10% Alicante Bouschet. It fermented in lagar and matured in oak casks. It's linear and structured, with some graphite, lots of resinous rockrose, hints of chocolate (classic Dow's) and is slightly dry and peppery, with a textbook note of violets. Dow's are typically brooding, not up front and quite long. It has a lot of grip. It comes in at 20% alcohol, with a pH of 3.65 and 99 grams of sugar, which makes this one of their driest vintages, with Cockburn's, making it long and vinous. I think this is great wine. Range: 94-97