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Wine Description
The Story
Dow’s Vintage Ports are only produced in years of exceptional quality and represent only a very small part of the total company’s production in that year. On average only two or three times every ten years are the weather conditions sufficiently good to allow for the making of Dow’s Vintage Port.
Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, Dow’s Vintage Ports have been landmark wines in virtually every great year, consistently setting the standards amongst all Port houses. Vintage Ports such as the remarkable Dow 1896, the 1927, 1945, 1955, 1963, 1966, 1970, 1980 and the Dow 1994 are all legends in the history of this great wine. These Ports are still magnificent today, even when 50 or over 100 years old. Few wines can claim this quality and this pedigree.
Dow's Vintage Ports are drawn from the companies' finest vineyards; Quinta do Bomfim and Quinta de Senhora da Ribeira. Each property contributes to the Dow’s unique and distinctive style. When young, Dow’s Vintage Ports are purple-black, austere, complex and intensely concentrated, full-bodied and balanced with very fine peppery tannins.
Over the centuries, the Dow winemakers have evolved a style that suits the house’s key vineyards; fermentations are a little longer, resulting in a drier Port Wine that has become the hallmark of Dow’s. Abundant fruit flavours with hints of ripe blackberries, give elegance and poise to Dow’s. The nose is deep and powerful with strong overtones of violets when young, these mature into fine cinnamon and rose-tea aromas with age. The very high percentage of Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional planted on the vineyards result in the powerful structure and aging potential of Dow’s Vintage Ports
Dow’s Ports avoid an over-rich style and requires a very high degree of skill in wine making and great experience in selecting the finest wines of each year and each vineyard. These wines are aged in seasoned oak casks for some 18 months and are bottled without any filtration or fining whatsoever. Dow Vintage Ports can be enjoyed when vibrant and young or they can be allowed to age for many years in bottle into a soft and delicate wine of velvet-like elegance.
In the 1920’s, the celebrated Oxford Professor George Saintsbury underlined Dow’s outstanding reputation when he wrote in his famous ‘Notes on a Cellarbook’ (first published in 1920), “There is no shipper’s wine that I have found better than the best of Dow’s 1878 and 1890 especially.” James Suckling, one of today’s leading authorities on Vintage Port was equally impressed by another legendary wine - the Dow’s 1896 - “The ancient {1896} Port still had an amazing ruby colour with a garnet edge, and it smelled of raisins, black pepper and berries. It was full-bodied, with masses of fruit intertwined with layers of velvety tannins. It was superb.” In 1998, when this wine was 102 years old, he awarded this Port an exceptional 98 points.
Vintage 2000
The 2000 vintage in Portugal, particularly in the Douro Valley, which is known for its production of Port wines, is considered a very good to excellent vintage. This vintage is often highly regarded for both Port wines and table wines produced in various regions of Portugal. Here are some key characteristics of the Portugal wine vintage 2000:
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Quality: The 2000 vintage is generally regarded as producing high-quality wines. Both Port and table wines from this vintage are often well-balanced and have good structure.
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Port Wines: In the Douro Valley, where Port wines are produced, the vintage 2000 is considered outstanding. The conditions during the growing season were favorable, resulting in grapes with excellent ripeness and concentration.
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Aging Potential: Wines from the 2000 vintage in Portugal, particularly top-quality Ports and red table wines, are known for their aging potential. They can continue to develop and improve with extended cellaring.
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Varietal Characteristics: The vintage expressed the characteristics of traditional Portuguese grape varieties, such as Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, and Tinta Roriz, with rich fruit flavors and complexity.
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Longevity: Many of the wines from the 2000 vintage are still drinking well today and are considered excellent choices for those seeking mature Portuguese wines.
It's important to note that the quality and characteristics of wines can vary depending on the specific region, producer, and grape varieties used. While 2000 was generally a successful vintage in Portugal, individual wine selections and labels may have their unique qualities and aging potential. As always, for specific wines or producers, it's advisable to consult wine experts, reviews, and recommendations to make informed choices.