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1983 Dow Vintage Port

Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 12:36 pm
by Al B.
Decanted 12 hours ago.

Lovely red colour, opaque in the centre with just a hint of bricking. Strong aromas of blackcurrants with undertones of sweet oranges. Dry entry into the mouth (I finally see why Dow has a reputation for drier ports!), almost biscuity. Swirling it around the mouth brings huge amounts of blackcurrant fruit and a stiff leather backbone. The tannins are there, but beautifully integrated into the fruit giving a lovely structure with the acidity really getting the saliva glands to kick in. Amazingly, the closest I can get in my taste memory to this wine is the Croft '45!

Sadly, the aftertaste lets this wine down. The length is decent but the flavours are just so subdued that with the slightest distraction you forget them and take another mouthful.

A lovely wine on the nose or in the mouth, but disappears too easily after swallowing to be a great wine. However, I think this will get better. 90/100 or 7-8 on the Tom scale.

Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 1:18 pm
by Richard Henderson
I have good expereinces every time. I show 9 bottles left in inventory. Cellartracker gives thsi a 92.5 with a drinking "widnow" of 2005-2020.
At 23 it is a youngster. It will get better in 5-10 years.