1963 Dow
Posted: 00:59 Tue 25 Dec 2018
One of a very good Irish-bottled lot shared with Justin and Alex. I think the second I’ve opnened.
Decanted 2½ hours
At decant this had prominent alcohol, but then so did I.
Drunk after pigeon, pheasant, roast spuds, roast parsnips, roast leeks, braised carrots, sprouts with walnuts and honey, juliennes of celery and potato and cranberry and orange stuffing, and various alcohols (pl.).
By the time of the first glass, this was outstandingly smooth. Light amber / chestnut, with pink notes.
N: Toffee, a little floral, almond, some kirsch cherry, a little acidity from the (now integrated) alcohol. A subtle aniseed or liquorice note.
M: Almonds and spice, a hint of vanilla, and the same satisfyingly full flavours suggested in the nose (toffee, sweet cherry), with that trademark Dow banana chew aspect as well. Held up well, drinking over 4 or 5 hours and only really growing in the process. Only later on it took a sharpness again as the alcohol predominated once more: old apples, I was informed. If so, toffee apples. The tannins soft throughout. Really very good still, and beautifully balanced. A port that is holding its own, thanks to being bottled in the chillier climes of a former empire that believed it would last forever (or still believes it May); one to drink whilst reading Lucretius.
Decanted 2½ hours
At decant this had prominent alcohol, but then so did I.
Drunk after pigeon, pheasant, roast spuds, roast parsnips, roast leeks, braised carrots, sprouts with walnuts and honey, juliennes of celery and potato and cranberry and orange stuffing, and various alcohols (pl.).
By the time of the first glass, this was outstandingly smooth. Light amber / chestnut, with pink notes.
N: Toffee, a little floral, almond, some kirsch cherry, a little acidity from the (now integrated) alcohol. A subtle aniseed or liquorice note.
M: Almonds and spice, a hint of vanilla, and the same satisfyingly full flavours suggested in the nose (toffee, sweet cherry), with that trademark Dow banana chew aspect as well. Held up well, drinking over 4 or 5 hours and only really growing in the process. Only later on it took a sharpness again as the alcohol predominated once more: old apples, I was informed. If so, toffee apples. The tannins soft throughout. Really very good still, and beautifully balanced. A port that is holding its own, thanks to being bottled in the chillier climes of a former empire that believed it would last forever (or still believes it May); one to drink whilst reading Lucretius.
