Deep dark reddish-purple in color with little signs of aging. Full, forward & fragrant nose of ripe fruit aromas of dark cherries, blackberries, raisins & dried figs with overtones of floral, spice & earthy notes, minerals, dark cocoa, coffee & cedar in the background. Full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, jammy, ripe fruit flavors of blackberries, dark cherries, dried figs & raisins with spices, dark cocoa, minerals & a hint of vanilla. Long lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting & extended airing but should develop further with additional aging.
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Decanted 48 hours. Tasted blind alongside '16 & '17 Cockburn VP, '16 & '17 Taylor's VP, and '17 Dow's VP. Each one could probably be a point higher because the palate got blasted. Both Dow's had brighter fruit than the rest at the moment, alongside the 2016 Taylor's. The 2016 Dow's had a slightly thinner mouth-feel and shorter finish than the 2017, but that's probably splitting hairs. So good and can't wait to have more on its own.
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Decanted 48 hours. Tasted blind alongside '16 & '17 Cockburn VP, '16 & '17 Taylor's VP, and '17 Dow's VP. Each one could probably be a point higher because the palate got blasted. Both Dow's had brighter fruit than the rest at the moment, alongside the 2016 Taylor's. The 2016 Dow's had a slightly thinner mouth-feel and shorter finish than the 2017, but that's probably splitting hairs. So good and can't wait to have more on its own.
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I have not had a vintage port this young before. It has a very heady black and dark cherry nose, floral. The palate is more astringent than I am used to but most likely due to its youth. There is definitely plenty of room for this to improve over the next several decades. I don’t think I will open the next bottle for 15 years
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From a half, tasted over two days, alongside the 2017.
This needed several hours to unwind...and release its energy...which it has to burn. Purple and black fruited, framed by distinctive obsidian and granite minerality. The wine also features coal, smoke, and umami elements, which drape a core of delightfully flavorful fruit.
Not the equal of the 2011 vintage, but not too far off. High-pitched energy its hallmark. A thoroughbred, born and aching to run. It outpaced the 2017 in terms of mineral appeal and probable (mid-term) longevity. It should improve over the next 10 to 12 years...perhaps a little longer. Drink by 2035 or so.
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darkest purple red color, from the start a rich and comforting nose of plums and cherries, on the palate substantial but silky tannins and a wealth of ripe and luxurious plum, blackberry and red cherry fruit, chocolate notes, all so great in their depth and elegant in their delivery as to almost completely cover the alcohol, long fine fragrant finish, over the course of 3 days notes of dried violets added to the fresh and vibrant fruit which remained lively and full, on the third day the fruit seemed to take on even further depth with a strong sweet cherry note underlying the existing vast pool of dark fruits, this is drinking magnificently now- even by Dow standards- but has much potential, I do not have enough experience with Port to know if it tends to shut down for a period of time as do many other ageworthy reds- but if ever I have had a Port that could drink well its entire life, this may be the one.
***(**), 2030++
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Second Sunday Group: 2009 Bordeaux (R&D's): From 375ml courtesy of L. Cassis, chocolate and cherry liqueur notes. Adds a violet note with air. Cassis and plum liqueur; long finish. Impressive.
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tasted over 3 days, decanted for 12 hours, very good, I liked this one a bit more than the also tasted Taylor 2016 VP, could be 99 in a quarter of a century!
97-98+
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Deep, deep port. Inky purple in color. Plums, blackberry, spice, dark cocoa and liquefied violets. Obviously young and primary but surprisingly drinkable and enjoyable, given how refined the tannins are and how well buffered they are by the copious amount of fruit. One for the ages.
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The nose was intense with notes of blackberry, plum, fig, sweet tobacco, dusty spices and hints of orange citrus. On the palate, I found velvety textures with remarkable balance, showing vibrant notes of plum and blackberry with zesty sweet spices and building purple inner floral tones. The finish was long and fresh with echos of violet flowers, plum and sweet medicinal spice.
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dark ripe fruit of blackberry and cherry, leather notes, dry flowers, quite lively with dry grippy tannins. Tart fruit and spice fill the mouth, this is one for the cellar, would not touch this for 15 years. Do not drink young
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2016 Dow’s Vintage Port Bold violets, chocolate, soft textured dark fruits, spices came on the back end along with a big wave of tannins and acidity. This showed a bit off-dry with a wonderfully long finish. 93-95 Points
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11/19/2023 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 95 Points
Deep dark reddish-purple in color with little signs of aging. Full, forward & fragrant nose of ripe fruit aromas of dark cherries, blackberries, raisins & dried figs with overtones of floral, spice & earthy notes, minerals, dark cocoa, coffee & cedar in the background. Full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, jammy, ripe fruit flavors of blackberries, dark cherries, dried figs & raisins with spices, dark cocoa, minerals & a hint of vanilla. Long lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting & extended airing but should develop further with additional aging.
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10/24/2021 - ShaneTierney Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted 48 hours. Tasted blind alongside '16 & '17 Cockburn VP, '16 & '17 Taylor's VP, and '17 Dow's VP. Each one could probably be a point higher because the palate got blasted.
Both Dow's had brighter fruit than the rest at the moment, alongside the 2016 Taylor's. The 2016 Dow's had a slightly thinner mouth-feel and shorter finish than the 2017, but that's probably splitting hairs.
So good and can't wait to have more on its own.
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10/23/2021 - ShaneTierney Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted 48 hours. Tasted blind alongside '16 & '17 Cockburn VP, '16 & '17 Taylor's VP, and '17 Dow's VP. Each one could probably be a point higher because the palate got blasted.
Both Dow's had brighter fruit than the rest at the moment, alongside the 2016 Taylor's. The 2016 Dow's had a slightly thinner mouth-feel and shorter finish than the 2017, but that's probably splitting hairs.
So good and can't wait to have more on its own.
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9/5/2021 - Hiker4life70 Likes this wine: 90 Points
I have not had a vintage port this young before. It has a very heady black and dark cherry nose, floral. The palate is more astringent than I am used to but most likely due to its youth. There is definitely plenty of room for this to improve over the next several decades. I don’t think I will open the next bottle for 15 years
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4/14/2021 - Jimaronson wrote: 95 Points
Great port. Smooth and full of fruit.
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9/9/2020 - Motz wrote: 97 Points
From a half, tasted over two days, alongside the 2017.
This needed several hours to unwind...and release its energy...which it has to burn. Purple and black fruited, framed by distinctive obsidian and granite minerality. The wine also features coal, smoke, and umami elements, which drape a core of delightfully flavorful fruit.
Not the equal of the 2011 vintage, but not too far off. High-pitched energy its hallmark. A thoroughbred, born and aching to run. It outpaced the 2017 in terms of mineral appeal and probable (mid-term) longevity. It should improve over the next 10 to 12 years...perhaps a little longer. Drink by 2035 or so.
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11/11/2019 - peternelson wrote: 93 Points
Gorgeous stunner. Can't go wrong with this and holding it for a while...forever? Southern Tasting
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9/15/2019 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:
From a full bottle- enjoyed over a 3 day period
darkest purple red color, from the start a rich and comforting nose of plums and cherries, on the palate substantial but silky tannins and a wealth of ripe and luxurious plum, blackberry and red cherry fruit, chocolate notes, all so great in their depth and elegant in their delivery as to almost completely cover the alcohol, long fine fragrant finish, over the course of 3 days notes of dried violets added to the fresh and vibrant fruit which remained lively and full, on the third day the fruit seemed to take on even further depth with a strong sweet cherry note underlying the existing vast pool of dark fruits, this is drinking magnificently now- even by Dow standards- but has much potential, I do not have enough experience with Port to know if it tends to shut down for a period of time as do many other ageworthy reds- but if ever I have had a Port that could drink well its entire life, this may be the one.
***(**), 2030++
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7/29/2019 - sonodoc Likes this wine: 97 Points
Delicious! Sweet cherry, plum and other fruit flavors.
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3/10/2019 - AllRed wrote: 95 Points
Second Sunday Group: 2009 Bordeaux (R&D's): From 375ml courtesy of L. Cassis, chocolate and cherry liqueur notes. Adds a violet note with air. Cassis and plum liqueur; long finish. Impressive.
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2/15/2019 - berlinhotel Likes this wine: 97 Points
tasted over 3 days, decanted for 12 hours, very good, I liked this one a bit more than the also tasted Taylor 2016 VP, could be 99 in a quarter of a century!
97-98+
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1/14/2019 - mdefreitas wrote: 95 Points
Deep, deep port. Inky purple in color. Plums, blackberry, spice, dark cocoa and liquefied violets. Obviously young and primary but surprisingly drinkable and enjoyable, given how refined the tannins are and how well buffered they are by the copious amount of fruit. One for the ages.
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1/11/2019 - dpolivy wrote:
Vindredi (2016 Ports + California Cabernet) (Bellevue, WA): My notes are limited, but this was quite nice on both the nose and palate. Nicely balanced with a lengthy, balanced and structured finish.
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11/30/2018 - berlinhotel Likes this wine: 97 Points
Kurzprobe WorldofPort Portweinmesse Leverkusen:
Mein Favorit des Tages, 96-97+
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10/15/2018 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 94 Points
The nose was intense with notes of blackberry, plum, fig, sweet tobacco, dusty spices and hints of orange citrus. On the palate, I found velvety textures with remarkable balance, showing vibrant notes of plum and blackberry with zesty sweet spices and building purple inner floral tones. The finish was long and fresh with echos of violet flowers, plum and sweet medicinal spice.
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9/13/2018 - Alexander Smith wrote: 91 Points
dark ripe fruit of blackberry and cherry, leather notes, dry flowers, quite lively with dry grippy tannins. Tart fruit and spice fill the mouth, this is one for the cellar, would not touch this for 15 years. Do not drink young
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6/5/2018 - FransS wrote: 95 Points
2016 Vintage Port - the Symington Family Estates (Restaurant Entrepot Amsterdam): Very deep colour, black core, ripe cherries, very elegant, also positively severe. In the taste the cherries are perfectly integrated; a super balance and aftertaste; in future more points? 5,480 cases made.
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5/11/2018 - cofidis2 Likes this wine: 95 Points
2016 Dow’s Vintage Port
Bold violets, chocolate, soft textured dark fruits, spices came on the back end along with a big wave of tannins and acidity. This showed a bit off-dry with a wonderfully long finish.
93-95 Points
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