ThePortForum.com

Hello
my name is George, i'm 27 and i live in Greece. Its a pleasure to be part of this great forum. Had been watching the site for quite some time but now i finally registered. I discovered port drinking about 2 years ago and it was a really great experience. Although i enjoy a nice bottle of port from time to time, i don't have the necessary knowledge to fully appreciate the value of old and vintage ports. I'm saying that because i found in my father's bar a Dows Vintage Port 1972 and i would really like to know its value, both in money and and in taste. I searched the web but i didn't find anything really helpful except that is a rare port and the price from one retailer.
I would honestly appreciate any help

Kind Regards
George

Welcome to TPF George. I've never had Dow 1972 and can't find a Tasting Note here for it either. If it's anything like Dow 1970 then it will be wonderful but that's a big hope. Apparently, Dow was one of only a few shippers and a note on http://www.thevintageportsite.com says that it should be light, fragrant and ready to drink. I doubt that it's worth vast amounts of money and much more vaulable as something to drink.

Where in Greece are you btw?

Cheers,

Alex

George,

Welcome to the site, I'm glad you decided to join.

The Dow 1972 is a rare port, but is rare because not much was made and what was made, was drunk quite early in its life. 1972 was a year not declared by many shippers as a full vintage, but there are a fair number of single quinta wines. The reputation of the wine is that it is a light and early maturing wine and will be quite tired and tawny by now. The bottle will not be valuable and usually sells at auction in the UK for around £15-25.

If the bottle were mine, I would open it and share it with family and friends - especially if you have a family member of friend who was born or married in 1972.

Alex B

1972 (and 1973) was also a year marred by the Arguadente scandal and much of what was made was later destroyed. I remember being told a story of Port being dumped down the streets of Gaia and people running into the streets to collect what they could to drink.