Dow’s Quinta do Bomfim Vintage Port (1986) in Wooden Box

FULL TASTING NOTE AND WINE MAKING –

When young Quinta do Bomfim wines are austere, complex and concentrated with very fine peppery tannins. Over the centuries, the winemakers at Bomfim have evolved a style that suits this particular vineyard; fermentations are a little longer, resulting in a drier Port Wine that has become the hallmark of Dow’s. The grapes are normally extremely ripe at the time of picking giving spice and pepper to balance the black chocolate flavours as found in all Bomfim Ports. Abundant fruit flavours with hints of maple, raisins and ripe blackberries give elegance and poise to this wine. The very high percentage of Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional planted on the estate result in the powerful aromas of mint and violets on the finest Ports from Bomfim.

In the good years when Dow’s does not declare a Vintage, the best Ports of Quinta do Bomfim are carefully selected and bottled as Dow’s Quinta do Bomfim Vintage Port. These wines are exceptionally good. They will tend to mature a little earlier than the very rare declared years, but can be every bit as good as some other Vintage Ports.

THE PRODUCER –

Since 1798, the name Dow’s has been associated with the finest Ports from the Douro Valley. Dow’s Ports are made at two of the most famous Quintas in the Douro: Quinta do Bomfim and Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira, together with the privately family-owned quintas of Santinho, Fonte Branca and Cerdeira.

The winery at Senhora da Ribeira has been extensively restored and the grapes continue to be trodden by foot in the original stone lagares. Three innovative robotic lagares have now been installed at the winery, and Vintage Port is made there in non-declared years and released en primeur.

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