Dows 2017 Vintage Port

Description

Dows 2017 Vintage Port presented in 75cl bottles.

Dow’s Port is one of the most famous names in the Port trade and is owned and managed by the fourth generation of the Symington family. The family, whose experience dates back over 100 years, supervises all the vineyards, winemaking and ageing of this wine. Dows acquired Quinta Senhora da Ribeira and Quinta do Bomfim in 1890 and 1896 respectively which made it one of the first Port firms to invest in their own premium vineyards. The Dows Port style is always full-bodied, a little drier and has a more peppery / spicy notes than some other Port houses due to the fact they allow their wines to ferment a little longer than most.

2017 Vintage

The 2017 Port Vintage is of exceptional quality. So much so that The Symington Family have declared the first back to back vintage declaration in the family’s 137 year history. The vintage was characterised by intense heat with record low levels of rainfall. Flowering and bud burst developed under good conditions and the high daytime temperatures and cool nights in August and September allowed for a gradual and even ripening. Harvest was exceptionally early, with some producers harvesting at the beginning of August. The harvest was around 20 to 30% down on a normal harvest, basically due to water stress. So, 2017 produced a smaller quantity of excellent fruit. Conditions were similar to 1945, an extremely highly regarded vintage.  Expect powerful, intense and complex wines with great aromas and freshness.

Dows 2017 Vintage Port

Charles Symington commented after selecting the final blend: “This is one of the finest Dow’s Vintage Ports I have blended. I believe this wine more than deserves its place alongside our recent Dow’s Vintages of 2016, 2011 and 2007. In my opinion it has the potential to rank alongside the Dow’s all-time greats.”

Provenance and variety make-up
• Quinta do Bomfim: 43%
• Quinta Da Senhora da Ribeira: 38%
• Quinta do Cabeço: 12%
• Quinta da Cerdeira: 7%
• Touriga Nacional: 42%
• Touriga Franca: 38%
• Sousão: 9%
• Old mixed vines (field blend): 8%
• Alicante Bouschet: 3%

Wine Specification
• Alcohol by volume – 20% v/v (20°C)
• Total acidity – 4.24 (g/l)
• Baumé – 3.40
• Bottled during May 2019 with no filtration
• Winemakers: Charles Symington, Pedro Sousa (Bomfim)
and Ricardo Carvalho (Senhora da Ribeira).

Only 5,250 nine litre cases were bottled.