Dow 2020 Vale do Bomfim DOC Douro Red

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$15.00USD

Dow has a long history with Port wines, but over the last few decades they have been making great strides with still red and white wines. They have consistently produced quality still wines that I have reviewed for several vintages. Their “everyday” red and white wines from Vale do Bomfim - line priced at a mere $15 - are terrific quality for the price. This red, a blend of traditional Port grapes not made into a sweet wine, includes Touriga Nacional (40%), Tina Roriz (30%) and smaller amounts of Tinta Franca and Tinta Barroca.

NV Poças Porto 20 Years Old Tawny, Portugal, Wine Review

Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

My first time trying this producer.  Very pale ruby in color, clear and bright.  An interesting nose of cranberries with Kirsch.  Viscous texture.  Light tannins.  On the palate, a bit more nutty than the nose.  Good acidity.  Sweet not cloying.  Flavors of craisins with slight Snickers Bar.  Nice finish.  A nice way to end a meal.  Perhaps serve with some nutty or chocolate pastry.

1997 Quinta do Noval Porto Vintage, Portugal, Douro, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1997
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$350.00USD

Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has raising, black raspberries, milk chocolate and char.  Full bodied.  Viscous texture.  On the palate, black raspberries, black cherries, kirsch, milk chocolate and raisins.  Deep and complex.  At or near peak but probably another ten to fifteen years left.  Great with Blue Cheese, this would also work with a chocolate dessert.  

1997 Romariz Porto Vintage, Portugal Douro, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1997
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$150.00USD

Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has milk chocolate covered raisins.  Full bodied.  Viscous.  On the palate, slightly sweet with milk chocolate covered raisins.  Tasty.  Some depth.  Some heat on the finish.  This is at or just past peak.  Drink up.  Nice on its own and worked well with Blue Cheese.  

1994 Graham Porto Vintage, Portugal, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1994
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$110.00USD

Graham's is one of the top Port houses and 1994 was an excellent vintage for them.  Inky purple in color with some ruby swirls, opaque and bright.  The nose has chocolate covered raisins with black raspberries and slight dusty notes.  Full bodied.  On the palate, black raspberries, milk chocolate, raisins and alcohol notes.  Long finish with some alcohol showing.  This is in a great place but not showing a lot of age.  Complex.  This should easily go another ten to  twenty years.  Great on its own, this will work well with chocolate desserts.

NV Graham's 10 Year Old Tawny Porto, Portugal, Wine Review

Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

A very nice ten year Tawny Port.  Ten years is the average age of the wine which is a blend of 50% Touriga Nacional, 25% Touriga Franca, and 25% Tinta Barroca.  Iced tea in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with a nutty quality along with slight chocolate and a bit of Crème brûlée.  Full bodied.  Viscous.  On the palate, this is sweet, not cloying with some alcohol showing (20% abv).  It is complex and deep.  Long finish.  This is nice on its own and will work well with a less sweet dessert.  Something nutty would be ideal, but even a Pecan Roll would work.  So would a Snickers ba

1994 Graham Porto Vintage, Portugal, Douro, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1994
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$120.00USD

Stood the bottle up for a couple of weeks.  Decanted for sediment and immediately served.  Purple/black in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with chocolate covered raisins, slight raspberries and a hint of gravel.  Full bodied.  Lightly sweet.  Complex and deep.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Chocolate, raspberries and slight cherries.  Some heat on the long finish.  This is great on its own or would be nice with a chocolate dessert.  Drink over the next decade or so.  

2016 Dow's Late Bottled Vintage Port, Portugal, Oporto, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, slight chocolate and a bit of spice.  Medium bodied.  Slightly sweet.  Good acidity.  On the palate, black raspberry and slight blueberry fruit.  Long finish.  Tasty.  This is drinking well on its own and would work nicely with a chocolate dessert.  Drink over the next ten years.  

2016 Quinta do Crasto Touriga Nacional Douro, Portugal, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$65.00USD

This is 100% Touriga Nacional.  Purple in color, slight ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is off a bit with some volatile acidity and a little funk.  Also some chocolate and slight cherry notes.  Medium bodied.  Soft texture.  On the palate, this has cherry fruit.  Easy drinking.  Not much depth.  Clipped finish.  This bottle has no obvious flaws other than perhaps some VA on the nose, and its nice, but should be better.  Not sure if this is a proper bottle.  Worth checking in on.  

2009 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage

Vintage: 
2009
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$80.00USD

Still very young but drinking well.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has dark chocolate, cherries, dried cherries and slight sandalwood.  Full bodied.  Viscous.  Slightly sweet.  Deep.  Light tannins.  On the palate, dark chocolate covered cherries.  Slight warming on the finish.  This drink well for another twenty years or more.  Nice on its own or would be great with a chocolate dessert.  

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