For The Love Of Port

1966 Dow Vintage Port
6-hour decant

Color: Dark red. Brilliantly clear in the glass. Very pretty.
Nose: Dusty, a little bit like cardboard. Some hidden sweetness, but not much in the way of fruit.
Palate: Bold, good tannins, and good acidity. Some heat. Dry for a Port. Nice fruits - not quite fully mature, but getting close.
Finish: Heat and a slight edge. Late grape stem. Good length. Overall, though, the finish detracts from this Port.

Score: 92 points. This was served blind. I guessed a 1966 as it was darker and less mature than the other Port served at the same time (a 1966 Smith Woodhouse), but couldn't put my finger on a producer because there wasn't anything particularly notable on the nose or in the palate. Right before the reveal, I said something to the effect of "well I did note that it was dry, so I suppose that means I should guess it's a Dow."

Wow. Not quite fully mature? Possibly the understatement of the month. This was the best showing of any 1966 Dow I've had in recent years, in every sense. It was still, way in its prime drinking window and a brilliant ruby color with no signs of age whatsoever in the color, it easily could have been a 1977 or early 1980s bottling from the color alone. The other two Port nerds at the table had such a profoundly different take on this bottle, that I'll just leave it at that.

Kudos to Glenn for putting the pieces together from comments and coming up with the exact producer and vintage, something that is not easy to do!

It would have been interesting to try this again the next night, as that slight edge I noticed on the finish is something that I find usually goes away with a longer decant. It can be a delicate balance, though, because I've also noticed that sometimes the fruits on the palate are going flat by the time the edge on the finish smooths out.

I know the rest of you really loved this bottle, and when it comes to the quality of the Port I'm sure you guys were right, but I was distracted by the finish on the Dow and really enjoyed the palate of the Smith Woodhouse. Since my scores are based in the moment and not a prediction of where the Port will peak, I had to go with the SW on this particular night.

Roy Hersh wrote:Wow. Not quite fully mature?

Remember - if it doesn't resemble 40 year old Tawny Port, then it's not mature!

David Spriggs ... the voice of reason!

David Spriggs wrote:

Roy Hersh wrote:Wow. Not quite fully mature?

Remember - if it doesn't resemble 40 year old Tawny Port, then it's not mature!

good one Dave