2018 Dow Senhora da Ribeira
Posted: 04:15 Tue 07 Jul 2020
2018 Dow’s Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira Vintage Port (Cask Sample)
Similar to the Vesuvio this marked the first year that Sousao was co-fermented with another grape, Alicante Bouschet. The aromas of this Port were less brash than the Vesuvio and more of a flowery perfume. Given that soft nose I was not prepared for what would come next. In the mouth this just exploded with chocolate, plums, eucalyptus, dense chewy tannins, black stone fruit and lots of acidity. There was no slowing this down on the very long finish, it just kept going and going. It was noticeably drier than the Vesuvio. By day three the minerality starting peeking out and the finish tightened up. This is a beast of Port and should last many decades in the cellar as a testament that even in harsh conditions fantastic Vintage Port can me made.
95-96 Points
Similar to the Vesuvio this marked the first year that Sousao was co-fermented with another grape, Alicante Bouschet. The aromas of this Port were less brash than the Vesuvio and more of a flowery perfume. Given that soft nose I was not prepared for what would come next. In the mouth this just exploded with chocolate, plums, eucalyptus, dense chewy tannins, black stone fruit and lots of acidity. There was no slowing this down on the very long finish, it just kept going and going. It was noticeably drier than the Vesuvio. By day three the minerality starting peeking out and the finish tightened up. This is a beast of Port and should last many decades in the cellar as a testament that even in harsh conditions fantastic Vintage Port can me made.
95-96 Points