Enjoyed the '91 Dow in a warm resort setting in Indonesia. Bottle was well kept (perfect cork, min ullage) delicious albeit on the lighter side (fine for the climate); christmas pudding character though not particularly long. Nice colour from the other writeups seems past its zenith so should be drunk sooner than later.
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It was a so nice to have a well made, mature Port that was not still black in colour and had a clear definition of sweet fruit but well balanced. Mid weight and not dramatically complex but really charming.
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Dark reddish garnet in color with ever so slight clearing at the edges. Full, forward & fragrant nose of ripe fruit aromas of dark currants, blackberries & dried figs with overtones of floral notes of violets, spices & earthy/dusty notes, orange peel, minerals, cocoa, toffee, licorice, cedar & a touch of vanilla in the background. Full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, ripe fruit flavors of blueberries, cherries & dried figs with spice notes, toffee, anise, minerals & a hint of vanilla. Long lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting & extended airing (90 min.+) but even at 32 years of age, it should develop further with additional aging. Fill was at mid neck; cork crumbled upon opening.
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Annual Caroling & Chili Party (R&D's): Light color with notes of cherry, white currant, plum, licorice and cedar. Dark plummy fruit on the palate with a lingering finish. Very nice. (R&D)
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4th Saturday Brown Bagger (M&R's): Standard bottle, popped and poured. White currant, plum and cherry notes with warm spice undertones. Currant and berry fruit, just a touch hot. Could have used a decant. Still on the young side. (R&D)
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Nickolls and Perks 30th Anniversary tasting of Symington's Vintage Ports (Zoom): There are much more definite hints of youth in the appearance than the Warre's 1991: much redder. This feels much less sweet on the nose (compared to the preceding 1991 Vesuvio, Cockburn's and Warre's), and much more winey. There are loads of elegant red and black fruit, honeysuckle, almonds and an herbes de Provence lift. Nice and elegant on the palate. Until you get to the finish, in the mouth this almost feels more like a rich red wine, and is a bit amarone-like. Very elegant, and much less sweet than the first three. There's a touch of the woodiness that you get from a licorice stick (rather than the woodiness of oak). This is really lovely to drink, but it's hard to shake the feeling that drinking it now is maybe not infanticide, but definitely filicide.
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BWC X1 Dinner - Hawksmoor: Just a small pour for me as the end of a long Monday evening. I know very little about port but this seemed ready to drink, the fruit balanced by some acidity, went very well with the cheese...
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Tasting pretty mature out of 375ml, the fruit is fresh and not cooked and the alcohol doesn't feel unnecessary. Syrupy texture without being leaden, and some nice exotic spiciness. I'm not a big fan of Vintage Port but I enjoyed a whole glass of this.
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Winter has arrived in NYC, which means that it's time for vintage port. This needed some time to find its footing, on day one rather light, more walnut, dry fig and dark chocolate than fruit, somewhat dilute around the sides. But by the third night, this came into focus and the blue/black fruit that I expect from Dow emerged, like black currant, along with fruit sweetness that took three days to come through. A good port, but lacking in depth and power.
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Drank over 4 days, showed best on day 2 and this is a day 2 score. As others have described, pale translucent ruby in color. Most notable for me were the flavors of candied raspberries. Very enjoyable but would like to have more complexity and intensity in a port.
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Pale, translucent, pink cherry-red. Powerful nose of slightly burnt Christmas pudding fruit, some chocolate, candied orange peel, mace spice. Smooth medium-rich body, the candied peel becomes more evident at the edge, black fruits (mulberry, prune, very ripe plum, dried fig), alcohol very evident. Great length. I could have been talked into an extra point or so.
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Deep red center, red rim with clear signs of age. Sweet cherry, throat sweets, cookies, rubbed herbs, some rubber. Smooth, raisins and brandied cherries, balsam, great nutty and cherry finish. Ready now.
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This is an above average showing in general and enjoyable over a little less than a week's time. It had the elements of cocoa and sweet black cherry, but not so much nuance as I hope for from Dow. It was nice with Stilton, but it needed that to stand up to it or just be sipped on it's own. These are always good value buys, and only suffer in comparison to their own better older vintages. Maybe this will get closer to those in time.
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Dinner with friends (Grange, Krug, Caymus ++) (Robert's): In some ways Dow probably could have done a bit better for the vintage. Yet, this bottle has been very consistent (just had one a few weeks ago as a matter of fact). From a 375. A delightful way to end a great meal. Iced tea/ruby in color. The nose has some milk chocolate covered raisins. A bit of alcohol. The palate matches with some heat on the finish. Worked well with some creme brulee. A few sips goes a long way as it is slightly sweet. In this format seems perfect mature and close to peak but no real rush.
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I was looking for something to drink and I came across this port tucked away in a corner of my wine basement. The cork disintegrated upon opening, but it didn't keep me from enjoying this wine. This wine is all dark fruits, milk chocolate, and a slight licorice note. There is a slight tinge of warmth due to alcohol, but is in keeping with a vintage port. I don't drink much port these days, but found it a nice treat.
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Some Top Shelf Burgs (My home): This was pop and pour from a 375 at the end of the evening. Probably should have been given some air but hey. Purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, raisins and milk chocolate. Those flavors carry thru to the palate. Slightly sweet. Rich body and texture. Smooth with little heat. Nice finish. A nice end of the evening.
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Brick red to tawny in color. Past its prime with minimal fruit showing (molasses and spice). Still enjoyable but a bit disappointing after holding it for 23 years. Showed a good deal of sediment, as was expected.
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Appearance: Bright and clear, it has light ruby color, with fading garnet rims and legs. Nose: Clean, with pronounced intensity aromas of red fruit of redcurrant, raspberry and plum, dried fruit of raisin, oak notes of cedar, pungent spice of licorice, maturity notes of molasses. The wine is fully developed. Palate: Medium-sweet with high acidity, medium (+) tannin of ripe and velvety texture, the wine has high alcohol, full body and pronounced intensity flavors of red fruit of redcurrant and plum, dried fruit of raisin, maturity notes of molasses, sweet spice of nutmeg. The wine has a long finish. Conclusion: Good quality Vintage Port with an intense nose though a bit simple on the aromas, the wine has a nice balanced sweetness, with good acidity to maintain freshness. The flavors are intense and the length is long, but overall it is lacking the complexity one would expect. It is ready to drink now and not meant for further ageing.
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Unfortunately not able to aerate it long enough, but still lovely. Silken texture, some heat on the nose and palate, dark berry and dried fruit all complemented smoked cheeses.
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tres bon porto nez de tabac et raisins de corinthe en bouche ,costaud avec une acidité tranchante ,en bouche du fruits un peu café avec une finale longue de caramel au beurre.
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Tuesday Night Double Blind $40+ (Bin 75): From 375 mL; see through pale crimson, lots of sediment, rose rim; raisin, fig, red fruit, plum, ripe, aged, alcohol; vanilla, guava pastry (2 descriptors that are new for me in my limited Vintage Port tasting experience), sappy, high alcohol, slight nutty, figgy, good balance between alcohol sweetness and fruit; tasty though a little hard to navigate the chunks of sediment in my glass.
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Deep red center, red with with some signs of age. Licorice and cherries, sweet red fruits (loganberries, redcurrants, raspberries), has that Dow dryness, creamy with a touch of alcohol, a bit of flint on the finish. Smooth, sweet, mature, kirsch, plums, raspberries, unobtrusive tannin or acid, great finish of lighter red fruits and green herbs. Excellent port, drinking very well now, probably not going to improve but will last for another 5 to 10 years.
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Flickinger Tasting at The Casino (Chicago, IL): The nose was one with a lot of dried dates and figs, which carried through onto the palate. On the other hand, there wasn't much else of interest. This wine seemed almost artificially sweetened; the sugar a bit disjoint from the rest of the stuff. A bit of a burn from the spirit on the finish too.
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By far the worst Dow I ever tasted. Cork crumbled and fell into the bottle. Decanted with a strainer. Very acidic without the fruit. Lean and lacking in concentration. It did smooth out after about two hours in the decanter but it was only going to get a little more enjoyable. Over the hill. Pass on it.
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Cellared for 20 years, and through 11 house moves. It held on. Was tough to decant without some sediment and the cork was a challenge to remove, but the wine was as soft, fruit full and silky. Everything you look for in a vintage port and seemed to be ready to drink but not past it's prime.
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Garnet and clear and nearly translucent in color. The aromas are cherry, candied red fruit, caramel, sweet cappuccino, and strawberry jam. The tastes are coffee, cherry syrup, sweet spices, strawberry jam, sweet red licorice, and brown sugar. The tannins are integrated and the finish is long, sweet, and delicious with nice acidity.
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Just a bit past its prime in the half bottle but still holding up very well. Nice and smooth, with minty aromatics; light-to-medium bodied, medium tannins, a medium+ finish, and seamless integration of the 20% alcohol.
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Maybe the victim of less than ideal storage at some stage, this bottle a pale red/brown with a little acetone and dish-cloth on the nose but not enough to be overtly faulty. Maybe a little old. Quite dry. Unexciting.
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I'm so picky with Bordeaux. But not with vintage port - it's much easier to satisfy me (especially after a bottle of old La Mission). So this did the trick with some Stilton. Spice, dark fruit, a nice spectrum of bottle aged aromas. This will never be profound port, but there's no doubt that it scratches the itch. Mature now.
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Bottled 1993; 20 pabv; $37.50/750 ml, Cost Plus Wine Warehouse, Detroit, MI. Imported by Premium Port Wines, Inc., Sausalito, CA 94965. Double-decanted and tasted after 24 hours open.
Reasonably intact cork; heavy dark crusting. Full tears; beautiful transparent ruby color.
Baked sour cherry, pipe tobacco, almond oil, with overtones of cocoa and spearmint; somewhat deeper and more complex and more vibrant than most vintages I've tasted.
Sweet for type; delightfully juicy and smooth on entry, with some pepper and milk chocolate notes, with good grip; and just enough heat to let you know what you're drinking. A small amount of gentle, ripe tannins; good length. Fine example of Dow and this wonderful vintage. Not a monster, with more finesse than most of this producer's ports. Drink now through 2019.
Matched beautifully with Red Hawk Washed Rind Cheese from Cowgirl Creamery, Point St. Reyes, California.
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The first sample was from a just-opened bottle according to the sommelier. Steve8 immediately declared it corked. I found it pleasant enough, with notes of figs, cherry cordial, and caramel, and not too hot or rough on the palate. The second sample was from the bottom of a bottle that had been open for a while. Steve8 thought that one was not corked. I think the difference was simply the insufficiently-aerated new bottle versus the well-aerated old bottle. But I detect cork taint in less than 3% of all wines I taste, so maybe I am not especially bothered by TCA.
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Dark ruby, translucent, rim heading for brick. Cherry, cough medicine and spice on the nose. Lovely plum, brown sugar and spice to taste, luscious feel. Length is largely spirit. Good, but at peak now.
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From 375. On the downside, it seems. Lighter color. The heat never quite subsides on this. I got it on the nose and it seemed to always be there. That aside, this has a lighter Port profile. Milk chocolate with some red fruit. Lacks that complexity I look for in a Port.
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from 375. popped and poured. color ruby with garnet edges. on opening, got strong alcohol. with an hour, mostly figs and tobacco and still some alcohol. on the palate after an alcoholic entry, this engages midway with fruit and a mouth-coating long smooth finish. very nice at this juncture. probably life ahead.
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À South Beach. Un vin à la fois droit, puissant et soyeux. Assez ouvert pour être très agréable même si c'est un jeunot. Un très beau Vintage, long et plein, qui me fait redécouvrir les joies du Port.
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Clear, ruby red. Rim paler but no hint of brick yet Sediment well fixed in the bottle. Spirit nose, hint of cherry cough mixture. Smooth and coating on the tongue, with great lingering taste. Not too sweet, lovely (cherry?) fruit. Also plum and spice (and tobacco?). Lovely. Way to go yet.
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A Providence, Rhode Island Offline (Blue Grotto, Cigar Master's): The 1991 Dow’s, Vintage Port was a beast on the nose with vibrant black cherry, chocolate and boysenberry. The palate was rich and silky with cherry fruit, cinnamon and black strap molasses with some tangy acidity showing through. The finish was fresh yet layered with cherry and dark chocolate.
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Very good easy drinking vintage Port. Appears to be in the heart of its drinking window. Air time didn't substantially improve its depth and complexity...it was just as good shortly after opening as it was hours later.
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A couple Pinots, A bunch of Spatlese, and QdC and a Port walked into a tasting: Another somewhat disappointing showing perhaps due to the wine being at a less than optimal place. Ruby in color. The nose is pleasant with raisins, raspberries and milk chocolate. The palate is harsh and shows heat. The wine had been decanted for around 12 hours. It was good, but not as good as I had hoped. There is some left, so I will be curious how it shows on day 2.
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A light ruby color in the glass and giving off aromas of Black cherry, undergrowth, pip smoke and walnut with noticeable heat. On the palate it's rich and sumptuous but not overly sweet with cherry cough syrup, sage, and cedar box. Long, long finish.
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I disagree totally with Bobby on this one. The nose had hints of madeira and the taste was breaking up. It did come together somewhat after an overnight breathing but not particularly good port by any measure.
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This wine was decanted for a full 12 hours before consumption. Nice ruby color all the way to the brim. Nice nose of raspberries, raisins and sweetened cherries. Wonderful full bodied Porto, still very young and needs another five years minimum. Still a fair amount of heat on the palate, but integrated with raspberries and cherries.
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Much better than a year ago. 5 hour decant- I am finding more and more decant for a port really helps; especially if it is not really old. But, they also need a few hours also.
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Served at the end of an OL of a Thomas vertical with cheese and dessert. Decanted and open for about 3 hours. It seemed very young still. the first of 7 bottles.
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From 375. Light ruby color, slight bricking with a rather muted nose. After two days the nose becomes more expressive with cherry and leather. Flavors have improved also with cherry, raspberry tobacco and brown sugar. Good acidity and mild finsih lasting 20 seconds. This certainly will improve for several more years.
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Opened this yesterday at noon, decanted off the sediment and rebottled, as I was taking it to a friend's (and fellow port lover's) house.
The first proper tasting was 2 1/2 hours after decanting. The color had darkened considerably in that short time. When first decanted it looked like a cheap ruby in color. It was now much darker with only very slight fading at the edge. To me this has that typical Dow's grape/eucalyptis/medicinal smell with some plum in the background. The palate is quite smooth with noticable tannins still protruding. The fruit is starting to show a bit more than at the time of decanting. A bit disjointed at the moment and not very integrated yet (should change with a bit more decanting time). The finish is medium in length with just a touch of non-integrated alcohol (this too should integrate with more time). Interesting, this is not as dry as other Dow's I have had.
Using Tom's score...6-7
Second tasting at 5 hours later. No noticable change.
22 hours later. I didn't get back to this until now, due to an unplanned interuption.
A bit darker in color, not much, just a little. The nose is about the same with only the slight bit of alcohol present earlier is gone. Tannis have inegrated very nicely and have smoothed out. Very nice hints of plum, grape, and a slight touch of mint and pepper. The finish has gotten a bit longer. This has integrated much better than the earlier tastings. I'd give it a 7-7 1/2 now.
If I had to predict, I would say this has about 4-5 more years on the up swing. But I don't think it will hold all that much longer. I think in 10-13 years this will start it's decline. Although very good now and in the near future, I don't think has the backbone to make it another 15+ years.
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First bottle of case purchased at auction last year for a steal. Consumed over 4 days. After being open a couple of hours, this started showing quite nicely. Spicy fruit (mostly red), with hints of licorice and tea and other complexities I couldn't nail down. Definite heat on the nose is a little distracting, but similar to most VP's at this age from my experience. Should improve with more age.
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4/14/2024 - jeffdon88 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Enjoyed the '91 Dow in a warm resort setting in Indonesia. Bottle was well kept (perfect cork, min ullage) delicious albeit on the lighter side (fine for the climate); christmas pudding character though not particularly long. Nice colour from the other writeups seems past its zenith so should be drunk sooner than later.
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3/30/2024 - Loathesome Likes this wine: 93 Points
It was a so nice to have a well made, mature Port that was not still black in colour and had a clear definition of sweet fruit but well balanced. Mid weight and not dramatically complex but really charming.
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12/27/2023 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark reddish garnet in color with ever so slight clearing at the edges. Full, forward & fragrant nose of ripe fruit aromas of dark currants, blackberries & dried figs with overtones of floral notes of violets, spices & earthy/dusty notes, orange peel, minerals, cocoa, toffee, licorice, cedar & a touch of vanilla in the background. Full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, ripe fruit flavors of blueberries, cherries & dried figs with spice notes, toffee, anise, minerals & a hint of vanilla. Long lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting & extended airing (90 min.+) but even at 32 years of age, it should develop further with additional aging. Fill was at mid neck; cork crumbled upon opening.
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12/25/2023 - Minimog411 wrote: 92 Points
Been with me for 30 years.so nice. Smooth and in a perfect spot.
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12/9/2023 - AllRed wrote: 89 Points
Annual Caroling & Chili Party (R&D's): Light color with notes of cherry, white currant, plum, licorice and cedar. Dark plummy fruit on the palate with a lingering finish. Very nice. (R&D)
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11/28/2023 - Jamieson12o wrote:
"An evening of Port with the Symingtons" at BBR (BBR): Pretty transparent; not a lot going on on the midpalate. Dies a little bit; I'd drink up if I had any in my cellar.
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12/26/2022 - foyfrcs Likes this wine: 91 Points
I’m not a regular port drinker, but this is excellent.
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12/13/2022 - mryev Likes this wine: 91 Points
It needed a breath - it really shined on day 1 and 2 after opening the bottle.
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8/18/2022 - edwine__ wrote: 90 Points
Quite a distinguish nose of Almond, black fruit, chocolate and spices. Palate is balance and smooth. Well pair with the coffee Soufflé.
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3/26/2022 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
4th Saturday Brown Bagger (M&R's): Standard bottle, popped and poured. White currant, plum and cherry notes with warm spice undertones. Currant and berry fruit, just a touch hot. Could have used a decant. Still on the young side. (R&D)
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1/15/2022 - Chiefwino59 wrote: 80 Points
Didn't hold up as well as I expected. Fruit dropped out, austere
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11/25/2021 - andrewstevenson.com wrote: 97 Points
Nickolls and Perks 30th Anniversary tasting of Symington's Vintage Ports (Zoom): There are much more definite hints of youth in the appearance than the Warre's 1991: much redder.
This feels much less sweet on the nose (compared to the preceding 1991 Vesuvio, Cockburn's and Warre's), and much more winey. There are loads of elegant red and black fruit, honeysuckle, almonds and an herbes de Provence lift.
Nice and elegant on the palate. Until you get to the finish, in the mouth this almost feels more like a rich red wine, and is a bit amarone-like. Very elegant, and much less sweet than the first three. There's a touch of the woodiness that you get from a licorice stick (rather than the woodiness of oak).
This is really lovely to drink, but it's hard to shake the feeling that drinking it now is maybe not infanticide, but definitely filicide.
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9/21/2021 - lozatron Likes this wine:
BWC X1 Dinner - Hawksmoor: Just a small pour for me as the end of a long Monday evening. I know very little about port but this seemed ready to drink, the fruit balanced by some acidity, went very well with the cheese...
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9/14/2021 - chcook Likes this wine:
From 375. Just had a sip but I think this has reached full maturity - At least in this format
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8/16/2021 - andtheodor wrote: 92 Points
Tasting pretty mature out of 375ml, the fruit is fresh and not cooked and the alcohol doesn't feel unnecessary. Syrupy texture without being leaden, and some nice exotic spiciness. I'm not a big fan of Vintage Port but I enjoyed a whole glass of this.
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11/14/2019 - Pknut wrote:
Winter has arrived in NYC, which means that it's time for vintage port. This needed some time to find its footing, on day one rather light, more walnut, dry fig and dark chocolate than fruit, somewhat dilute around the sides. But by the third night, this came into focus and the blue/black fruit that I expect from Dow emerged, like black currant, along with fruit sweetness that took three days to come through. A good port, but lacking in depth and power.
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3/30/2019 - rbfleming wrote: 93 Points
Citrus, figs, chocolate, and beautifully balanced. What a gem.
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2/28/2019 - Decanting Queen wrote: 90 Points
Drank over 4 days, showed best on day 2 and this is a day 2 score. As others have described, pale translucent ruby in color. Most notable for me were the flavors of candied raspberries. Very enjoyable but would like to have more complexity and intensity in a port.
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12/24/2018 - Chimer Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very pale but lovely perfume and soft texture, delicious current drinking
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11/23/2018 - derekjohn Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pale, translucent, pink cherry-red. Powerful nose of slightly burnt Christmas pudding fruit, some chocolate, candied orange peel, mace spice. Smooth medium-rich body, the candied peel becomes more evident at the edge, black fruits (mulberry, prune, very ripe plum, dried fig), alcohol very evident. Great length. I could have been talked into an extra point or so.
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4/27/2018 - pdadams66 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Deep red center, red rim with clear signs of age.
Sweet cherry, throat sweets, cookies, rubbed herbs, some rubber.
Smooth, raisins and brandied cherries, balsam, great nutty and cherry finish.
Ready now.
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4/4/2018 - portman63 wrote: 89 Points
This is an above average showing in general and enjoyable over a little less than a week's time. It had the elements of cocoa and sweet black cherry, but not so much nuance as I hope for from Dow. It was nice with Stilton, but it needed that to stand up to it or just be sipped on it's own. These are always good value buys, and only suffer in comparison to their own better older vintages. Maybe this will get closer to those in time.
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3/25/2018 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 91 Points
Dinner with friends (Grange, Krug, Caymus ++) (Robert's): In some ways Dow probably could have done a bit better for the vintage. Yet, this bottle has been very consistent (just had one a few weeks ago as a matter of fact). From a 375. A delightful way to end a great meal. Iced tea/ruby in color. The nose has some milk chocolate covered raisins. A bit of alcohol. The palate matches with some heat on the finish. Worked well with some creme brulee. A few sips goes a long way as it is slightly sweet. In this format seems perfect mature and close to peak but no real rush.
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3/24/2018 - Saxman1984 wrote:
I was looking for something to drink and I came across this port tucked away in a corner of my wine basement. The cork disintegrated upon opening, but it didn't keep me from enjoying this wine. This wine is all dark fruits, milk chocolate, and a slight licorice note. There is a slight tinge of warmth due to alcohol, but is in keeping with a vintage port. I don't drink much port these days, but found it a nice treat.
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3/10/2018 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 92 Points
Some Top Shelf Burgs (My home): This was pop and pour from a 375 at the end of the evening. Probably should have been given some air but hey. Purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, raisins and milk chocolate. Those flavors carry thru to the palate. Slightly sweet. Rich body and texture. Smooth with little heat. Nice finish. A nice end of the evening.
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4/16/2017 - mnh Likes this wine: 95 Points
Excellent ruby port. Long way to go.
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4/8/2017 - Achromat Likes this wine: 87 Points
Brick red to tawny in color. Past its prime with minimal fruit showing (molasses and spice). Still enjoyable but a bit disappointing after holding it for 23 years. Showed a good deal of sediment, as was expected.
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2/16/2017 - peterchoy wrote: 90 Points
Appearance: Bright and clear, it has light ruby color, with fading garnet rims and legs.
Nose: Clean, with pronounced intensity aromas of red fruit of redcurrant, raspberry and plum, dried fruit of raisin, oak notes of cedar, pungent spice of licorice, maturity notes of molasses. The wine is fully developed.
Palate: Medium-sweet with high acidity, medium (+) tannin of ripe and velvety texture, the wine has high alcohol, full body and pronounced intensity flavors of red fruit of redcurrant and plum, dried fruit of raisin, maturity notes of molasses, sweet spice of nutmeg. The wine has a long finish.
Conclusion: Good quality Vintage Port with an intense nose though a bit simple on the aromas, the wine has a nice balanced sweetness, with good acidity to maintain freshness. The flavors are intense and the length is long, but overall it is lacking the complexity one would expect. It is ready to drink now and not meant for further ageing.
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1/9/2017 - pdadams66 wrote: 87 Points
Not a great bottle - a little past it. Not sure if this is bottle variation or variable provenance.
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1/1/2017 - VinnieVeritas Likes this wine: 92 Points
Unfortunately not able to aerate it long enough, but still lovely. Silken texture, some heat on the nose and palate, dark berry and dried fruit all complemented smoked cheeses.
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12/6/2016 - pwillen1 wrote:
earthy and took 5 hours to open up.
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10/30/2016 - Neecies wrote:
All red fruit, fresh raspberries and figs but dried fruit too. Soft and easy on the palate, made me fall in love with port all over again.
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10/30/2016 - David J Cooper wrote: 93 Points
Medium dark red. Elegant red fruit, spirits, figs and dried cherries. Delicious dark fruit flavours and a nice elegant soft sweet finish.
Very elegant and ready to drink. Much softer then a 94 last month.
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4/15/2016 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 90 Points
Smooth and elegant, but a tad simple. This port will not get any better so might as well open them up.
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4/21/2015 - bsouligny Likes this wine: 91 Points
tres bon porto nez de tabac et raisins de corinthe en bouche ,costaud avec une acidité tranchante ,en bouche du fruits un peu café avec une finale longue de caramel au beurre.
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4/12/2015 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
Second Sunday Group: 2003 vs 2005 Bordeaux 2nd Labels (R&D's): Notes of raspberry liqueur, currants and raisin. Currants, plum and cherry on the palate. Decent finish.
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3/17/2015 - Rezy13 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tuesday Night Double Blind $40+ (Bin 75): From 375 mL; see through pale crimson, lots of sediment, rose rim; raisin, fig, red fruit, plum, ripe, aged, alcohol; vanilla, guava pastry (2 descriptors that are new for me in my limited Vintage Port tasting experience), sappy, high alcohol, slight nutty, figgy, good balance between alcohol sweetness and fruit; tasty though a little hard to navigate the chunks of sediment in my glass.
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2/22/2015 - rupertg Likes this wine: 92 Points
None left to write up ! Full of fruit, smooth and delicious. Drinking well.
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2/15/2015 - pdadams66 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Deep red center, red with with some signs of age.
Licorice and cherries, sweet red fruits (loganberries, redcurrants, raspberries), has that Dow dryness, creamy with a touch of alcohol, a bit of flint on the finish.
Smooth, sweet, mature, kirsch, plums, raspberries, unobtrusive tannin or acid, great finish of lighter red fruits and green herbs.
Excellent port, drinking very well now, probably not going to improve but will last for another 5 to 10 years.
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1/17/2015 - Bruce 1er Likes this wine: 92 Points
Flickinger tasting. Classic port in style and flavor elements. Beautiful now, probably at peak.
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1/15/2015 - acyso wrote: 85 Points
Flickinger Tasting at The Casino (Chicago, IL): The nose was one with a lot of dried dates and figs, which carried through onto the palate. On the other hand, there wasn't much else of interest. This wine seemed almost artificially sweetened; the sugar a bit disjoint from the rest of the stuff. A bit of a burn from the spirit on the finish too.
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12/24/2014 - Ispendtoomuchmoneyonwine Does not like this wine: 85 Points
By far the worst Dow I ever tasted. Cork crumbled and fell into the bottle. Decanted with a strainer. Very acidic without the fruit. Lean and lacking in concentration. It did smooth out after about two hours in the decanter but it was only going to get a little more enjoyable. Over the hill. Pass on it.
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12/23/2014 - Jstainton Likes this wine: 90 Points
Cellared for 20 years, and through 11 house moves. It held on. Was tough to decant without some sediment and the cork was a challenge to remove, but the wine was as soft, fruit full and silky. Everything you look for in a vintage port and seemed to be ready to drink but not past it's prime.
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12/10/2014 - hackey37 wrote: 93 Points
Garnet and clear and nearly translucent in color. The aromas are cherry, candied red fruit, caramel, sweet cappuccino, and strawberry jam. The tastes are coffee, cherry syrup, sweet spices, strawberry jam, sweet red licorice, and brown sugar. The tannins are integrated and the finish is long, sweet, and delicious with nice acidity.
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9/13/2014 - joraesque wrote: 91 Points
Just a bit past its prime in the half bottle but still holding up very well. Nice and smooth, with minty aromatics; light-to-medium bodied, medium tannins, a medium+ finish, and seamless integration of the 20% alcohol.
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8/29/2014 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 92 Points
A couple tablespoons of sediment. Smooth, elegant, bright red candied fruits with some herbs underneath. A long finish and a pleasure - at peak.
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4/3/2014 - djarcara Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium body. A dry style. Christmas spice, cedar and rich dark fruit. Ready to drink.
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3/16/2014 - rwpalmer wrote: 84 Points
Maybe the victim of less than ideal storage at some stage, this bottle a pale red/brown with a little acetone and dish-cloth on the nose but not enough to be overtly faulty. Maybe a little old. Quite dry. Unexciting.
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11/28/2013 - Spl232 wrote: 87 Points
A little thinner than I expected or hoped, but still paired very well with the pumpkin pie and bourbon-whipped cream.
More of an elegant port with light notes and a touch of heat. Would have liked more richness and full mouthfeel.
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8/23/2013 - andtheodor wrote: 92 Points
From half bottle; perfectly mature, nicer after a few hours of air. Fresh berry character with good spice. About as enjoyable as port gets for me.
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6/24/2013 - englishman's claret wrote: 91 Points
I'm so picky with Bordeaux. But not with vintage port - it's much easier to satisfy me (especially after a bottle of old La Mission). So this did the trick with some Stilton. Spice, dark fruit, a nice spectrum of bottle aged aromas. This will never be profound port, but there's no doubt that it scratches the itch. Mature now.
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1/30/2013 - olalar wrote: 90 Points
Much better on second day after opening. The fruit was super smooth, with great finesse and perfect balance. The wine lacked some complexity.
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12/8/2012 - rupertg wrote: 92 Points
Ruby red, clear, heavy sediment. Smooth and sweet, spiced damsons. Delicious.
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6/10/2012 - sweetstuff wrote: 93 Points
Bottled 1993; 20 pabv; $37.50/750 ml, Cost Plus Wine Warehouse, Detroit, MI. Imported by Premium Port Wines, Inc., Sausalito, CA 94965. Double-decanted and tasted after 24 hours open.
Reasonably intact cork; heavy dark crusting. Full tears; beautiful transparent ruby color.
Baked sour cherry, pipe tobacco, almond oil, with overtones of cocoa and spearmint; somewhat deeper and more complex and more vibrant than most vintages I've tasted.
Sweet for type; delightfully juicy and smooth on entry, with some pepper and milk chocolate notes, with good grip; and just enough heat to let you know what you're drinking. A small amount of gentle, ripe tannins; good length. Fine example of Dow and this wonderful vintage. Not a monster, with more finesse than most of this producer's ports. Drink now through 2019.
Matched beautifully with Red Hawk Washed Rind Cheese from Cowgirl Creamery, Point St. Reyes, California.
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4/27/2012 - Javachip wrote: 91 Points
The first sample was from a just-opened bottle according to the sommelier. Steve8 immediately declared it corked. I found it pleasant enough, with notes of figs, cherry cordial, and caramel, and not too hot or rough on the palate. The second sample was from the bottom of a bottle that had been open for a while. Steve8 thought that one was not corked. I think the difference was simply the insufficiently-aerated new bottle versus the well-aerated old bottle. But I detect cork taint in less than 3% of all wines I taste, so maybe I am not especially bothered by TCA.
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11/24/2011 - sacredgrnd wrote:
Wow
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10/9/2011 - rupertg wrote: 88 Points
Dark ruby, translucent, rim heading for brick. Cherry, cough medicine and spice on the nose. Lovely plum, brown sugar and spice to taste, luscious feel. Length is largely spirit. Good, but at peak now.
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10/2/2011 - rwpalmer wrote: flawed
Palate distinctly unclean. Not enjoyable.
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9/29/2011 - jrobs7777 wrote: 86 Points
From 375. On the downside, it seems. Lighter color. The heat never quite subsides on this. I got it on the nose and it seemed to always be there. That aside, this has a lighter Port profile. Milk chocolate with some red fruit. Lacks that complexity I look for in a Port.
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7/14/2011 - rupertg wrote: 89 Points
Clear ruby, well settled sediment. Brown sugar and spice, good fruit in the mouth but alcohol burn lingers. Five years to go?
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7/9/2011 - chcook wrote: 91 Points
from 375. popped and poured. color ruby with garnet edges. on opening, got strong alcohol. with an hour, mostly figs and tobacco and still some alcohol. on the palate after an alcoholic entry, this engages midway with fruit and a mouth-coating long smooth finish. very nice at this juncture. probably life ahead.
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4/9/2011 - d'Artagnan wrote: 92 Points
À South Beach. Un vin à la fois droit, puissant et soyeux. Assez ouvert pour être très agréable même si c'est un jeunot. Un très beau Vintage, long et plein, qui me fait redécouvrir les joies du Port.
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3/19/2011 - mdefreitas wrote:
Dow Vintage Port Vertical (Harry's Steak House, NYC): Decanted for one hour. A wine that might be off? Acetone and a bit metallic. A bit harsh. Judgement deferred.
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1/3/2011 - rupertg wrote: 90 Points
Clear, ruby red. Rim paler but no hint of brick yet Sediment well fixed in the bottle. Spirit nose, hint of cherry cough mixture. Smooth and coating on the tongue, with great lingering taste. Not too sweet, lovely (cherry?) fruit. Also plum and spice (and tobacco?). Lovely. Way to go yet.
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12/29/2010 - bhardie wrote: flawed
Seemed very oxidized, maybe saw some excessive heat somewhere along the way.
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5/31/2010 - loriannkru wrote: 80 Points
Totally not worth the expense or the cellaring space. Hot and alcoholy. Nothing special.
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5/1/2010 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 92 Points
A Providence, Rhode Island Offline (Blue Grotto, Cigar Master's): The 1991 Dow’s, Vintage Port was a beast on the nose with vibrant black cherry, chocolate and boysenberry. The palate was rich and silky with cherry fruit, cinnamon and black strap molasses with some tangy acidity showing through. The finish was fresh yet layered with cherry and dark chocolate.
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4/25/2010 - Al-Vino wrote: 90 Points
Very good easy drinking vintage Port. Appears to be in the heart of its drinking window. Air time didn't substantially improve its depth and complexity...it was just as good shortly after opening as it was hours later.
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3/4/2010 - Loren Sonkin Likes this wine: 90 Points
A couple Pinots, A bunch of Spatlese, and QdC and a Port walked into a tasting: Another somewhat disappointing showing perhaps due to the wine being at a less than optimal place. Ruby in color. The nose is pleasant with raisins, raspberries and milk chocolate. The palate is harsh and shows heat. The wine had been decanted for around 12 hours. It was good, but not as good as I had hoped. There is some left, so I will be curious how it shows on day 2.
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11/14/2009 - Eric Guido wrote: 89 Points
A light ruby color in the glass and giving off aromas of Black cherry, undergrowth, pip smoke and walnut with noticeable heat. On the palate it's rich and sumptuous but not overly sweet with cherry cough syrup, sage, and cedar box. Long, long finish.
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7/15/2009 - johnwine wrote: 87 Points
I disagree totally with Bobby on this one. The nose had hints of madeira and the taste was breaking up. It did come together somewhat after an overnight breathing but not particularly good port by any measure.
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5/30/2009 - KeyMaster wrote: 92 Points
Souper de célébration du doctorat de Caroline (Maison): Très bon.
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9/10/2008 - AllRed wrote: 87 Points
Flickinger Wines customer Appreciation Tasting (The Racquet Club, Chicago): Ruby color. Red fruit notes followed by an aroma that I can only describe as something like a tropical rum drink. Candied red fruit dominates the palate, finishing with a medicinal quality.
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8/6/2008 - tyvoodoo wrote: 88 Points
This wine was decanted for a full 12 hours before consumption. Nice ruby color all the way to the brim. Nice nose of raspberries, raisins and sweetened cherries. Wonderful full bodied Porto, still very young and needs another five years minimum. Still a fair amount of heat on the palate, but integrated with raspberries and cherries.
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3/15/2008 - spartacus111 wrote: 91 Points
+14 hours decanting. This is a nice one. Cherry and a lot of acidity. Lingering finish. I'd give this another five years.
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3/15/2008 - dougie wrote: 91 Points
Much better than a year ago. 5 hour decant- I am finding more and more decant for a port really helps; especially if it is not really old. But, they also need a few hours also.
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5/11/2007 - dougie wrote: 90 Points
Nice licorice, black cherry and smoke. A bit hot though. Decanted 3 hours. Wait several years for next one.
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2/25/2007 - T G F wrote: 92 Points
Served at the end of an OL of a Thomas vertical with cheese and dessert. Decanted and open for about 3 hours. It seemed very young still. the first of 7 bottles.
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12/27/2006 - bhardie wrote: 87 Points
From 375. Light ruby color, slight bricking with a rather muted nose. After two days the nose becomes more expressive with cherry and leather. Flavors have improved also with cherry, raspberry tobacco and brown sugar. Good acidity and mild finsih lasting 20 seconds. This certainly will improve for several more years.
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9/13/2006 - cofidis2 wrote:
Opened this yesterday at noon, decanted off the sediment and rebottled, as I was taking it to a friend's (and fellow port lover's) house.
The first proper tasting was 2 1/2 hours after decanting.
The color had darkened considerably in that short time. When first decanted it looked like a cheap ruby in color. It was now much darker with only very slight fading at the edge. To me this has that typical Dow's grape/eucalyptis/medicinal smell with some plum in the background. The palate is quite smooth with noticable tannins still protruding. The fruit is starting to show a bit more than at the time of decanting. A bit disjointed at the moment and not very integrated yet (should change with a bit more decanting time). The finish is medium in length with just a touch of non-integrated alcohol (this too should integrate with more time). Interesting, this is not as dry as other Dow's I have had.
Using Tom's score...6-7
Second tasting at 5 hours later.
No noticable change.
22 hours later.
I didn't get back to this until now, due to an unplanned interuption.
A bit darker in color, not much, just a little. The nose is about the same with only the slight bit of alcohol present earlier is gone. Tannis have inegrated very nicely and have smoothed out. Very nice hints of plum, grape, and a slight touch of mint and pepper. The finish has gotten a bit longer. This has integrated much better than the earlier tastings.
I'd give it a 7-7 1/2 now.
If I had to predict, I would say this has about 4-5 more years on the up swing. But I don't think it will hold all that much longer. I think in 10-13 years this will start it's decline. Although very good now and in the near future, I don't think has the backbone to make it another 15+ years.
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1/19/2006 - Wineosseur wrote: 92 Points
First bottle of case purchased at auction last year for a steal. Consumed over 4 days. After being open a couple of hours, this started showing quite nicely. Spicy fruit (mostly red), with hints of licorice and tea and other complexities I couldn't nail down. Definite heat on the nose is a little distracting, but similar to most VP's at this age from my experience. Should improve with more age.
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12/3/2003 - mnh wrote:
Very good, round, integrated. Not a blockbuster
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11/12/2003 - Burgundy Al wrote: 88 Points
Cherry and plum aromas, good but not intense. Fruit starts nicely on palate, moderate sweetness, just not very deep and slightly simple on finish.
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5/5/2002 - mnh wrote:
mellowing,rounder.
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8/29/2001 - mnh wrote:
coming along nicely
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4/1/1999 - mnh wrote:
young, powerful, but starting to mellow slightly
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