2011 Dow's Vintage Port [WS99][WA96-98][V97+][W&S97][JS96][WE96]

Producer: Dow's   
Region: Douro, Portugal  
Blend: Red Blend 
Year: 2011 

Wine Spectator, 99 Points 

"Powerful, refined and luscious, with a surplus of dark plum, kirsch and cassis flavors that are unctuous and long. Shows plenty of grip, presenting a long, full finish, filled with Asian spice and raspberry tart accents. Rich and chocolaty. One for the ages. *Highly Recommended*" 

Wine Advocate, 96-98 Points 

"The 2011 Dow Vintage Port was made from no less than 44 separate ferments from finest fruit sourced from Quinta do Bomfim (35% of the blend), Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira (42%) and the Santinho (14%) and Cerdeira (6%) estates. Just six of the best lots were used in the final blend, which consists of 40% Touriga Franca, 36% Touriga Naçional, 10% Sousão and 14% of old vine plantings. It has a beautiful, quite extravagant bouquet with copious black and red fruit, Indian spice, and hints of menthol and orange rind that unfold wonderfully in the glass. The palate is a sumptuous affair, one that is beautifully balanced with velvety smooth, plump tannins, copious black fruit with a harmonious, white pepper-tinged finish that is a decadent delight. This is one of the finest of the declarations of 2011 Vintage Ports, a sublime expression of the vintage you would be foolish not to buy. This is Dow at its best." 

Vinous, 97+ Points 

"Deep, saturated dark ruby. Penetrating aromas of black cherry, violet, lavender, licorice, dark tobacco and minerals. Then plush and elegant in the mouth, with outstanding depth and a hint of youthful bitterness to the superconcentrated flavors of black raspberry and spices. The wine's perfectly integrated acidity and floral lift give the finish great hang time. With 48 hours in the recorked bottle, this beauty showed its powerful underlying medicinal reserve without losing its freshness. Should be a wonderful follow-up to the splendid 2007 Dow--and very long-lived. Snap this one up and grow old gracefully with it." 

Wine & Spirits, 97 Points 

"Dow’s Vintage is often remote on release, a kernel of impacted flavor. This vintage is more like a perfect sphere. All the elements are there, from plump, superripe fruit to polished schist tannins, suspended in a round, complete integration that refuses to break apart. Smoky, bright, luscious and bold, it’s a wine that’s easy to imagine being still fresh and complex at 50 years old, and it’s not a reach to believe it will live well to 80 or 100. This is a blend of Cima Corgo fruit from Bomfim and Douro Superior power from Senhora da Ribeira." 

James Suckling, 96 Points 

"Wow. What a sexy nose with aromas of crushed berries, wet earth and pebbles. Full body, medium sweet with an intense and powerful finish. A vintage Port that leaves an impression. 5,000 cases produced of this mechanically trodden wine. Try in 2023." 

Wine Enthusiast, 96 Points 

"A powerfully dense wine, solidly based on dry tannins and rich black fruit. Structure, fruit and acidity all come together in a wine that shows immense potential as well as a softer side now. *Cellar Selection*" 

Alcohol: 20% 

*Discounts do not apply to items like this one in the Fine & Rare category. Price and availability in store may vary.