Dows Vintage Port 2000

Dow's Vintage Port, 2000, Portugal

Dow's Vintage Ports are drawn from the companies' finest vineyards; Quinta do Bomfim and Quinta de Senhora da Ribeira. These wines are aged in seasoned oak casks for 18 months and are bottled without any filtration or fining whatsoever.

Producer Tasting Note:

The first of the 21st century, the 2000 viticultural year was a challenging one, but delivered a very small but excellent crop. After two decades ageing in bottle, the 2000 Vintage Port is really singing with lovely aromas of plums and cassis. Cherry and fig come to fore on a marvellously complex palate, finishing with Dow’s hallmark dryness.

Critics' Tasting Notes:

"I under-estimated this Dow when it was first released. It has a deeper in colour than the Fonseca, the Dow 2000 has a lifted nose with fruitcake, damson, black plum, a touch of nail varnish and apricots. The more that you inhale its perfume the more complex it seems. The palate is full-bodied, quite spicy on the entry but very austere in the middle. Firm tannins, robust, a touch of dryness towards the earthy finish. Nice persistency on the finish, those peppery motes flittering about the mouth." Drink 2020-2050+

95+/100 points, Neal Martin, WINE ADVOCATE, July 2009

"Deep garnet, ochre reflections and a broad and bright rim. Hints of cookie, dried fruit, raisins, blueberries and candied orange zest. Present tannins, fine praline notes, delicate hints of After Eight, enormous minerality and dark chocolate on the finish. A versatile port, maturing well with further long ageing potential."

96/100 points, FALSTAFF (Austria), February 2016