1985 Dow Vintage Port

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 5:59 am

From a part case bought some time ago.

Decanted 1.30 - did not decant very cleanly - I may have stopped a little late, so slight cloudiness in the decanter will probably settle out. Magenta colour - typically Dow.

First sip - no bottle stink, light bouquet. Youthful - lacks the usual sharp edges at this stage - very drinkable.

Comes over as respectable but not a blockbuster - probably needs a few more years. See how it evolves...

More anon

Tom

Tom Archer · Post by **Tom Archer** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 8:50 am

+ 3 hrs - a small glass

Quite an elegant purplish ruby with pink edge.

Bouquet weak, spiritous. On the palate it lacks integration, otherwise dry like Dow should be. Bit raw, youthful - needs more time in the dark.

Not terribly impressed at this stage - hope it improves.

Tom

Tom Archer · Post by **Tom Archer** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 4:26 pm

+ 10 hrs

Well, this has had one hell of a transformation. A 'wow' moment..

Modest but elegant bouquet. Little bit of fire on the palate still, but SO much better integrated - finish better too.

Still a tad youthful - probably needs another five years to peak. A little bit of a lightweight though - probably not one for the ultra long haul...

I was contemplating having to score this on the lower deck, but it is now claiming a more elevated position - will score tomorrow.

Does highlight the importance of decanting times...

Tom

Post by **Andy Velebil** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 4:37 pm

Tom good notes and interesting. You have the same impression as I did with the Dows 1991. A bit lightweight, still needs a few years, but not one for the long haul. Was Dows having some trouble during the mid '80s to early 90's? Or just a fluke?

I've had the '86 Quinta do Bofim several times and it showed better than the '91 VP and from what you've described, better than the '85.

Tom Archer · Post by **Tom Archer** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 12:25 pm

A day on and the wine is little changed - comes over as being a little more youthful perhaps.

To rate it then.

For immediate gratification this is clearly better than median - as I would expect from a top name in a generally declared year. But it's lightness, youth, and a rather lacklustre finish keep it out of the top quartile - just.

So my first score is a 7

Where's it going? I feel sure it will be better in five years time, but doubt that it will have a long plateau. For someone with a case, it might be a good ploy to drink one bottle a year from now on.

So further to go, but not a lot - overall score 7-8

Tom