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Part of a vertical of Dow, and two bottles of Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira, on Tuesday 7th September 2010, at The Crusting Pipe. Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• Placemats;
• Dow 1958;
• Dow 1963;
• Dow 1966;
• Dow 1970;
• Dow 1972;
• Dow 1977;
• Dow 1980;
• Dow 1983;
• Dow 1985;
• Dow 1991;
• Sandeman 1982 (a late addition, replacing a Dow 1994, a Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira 2006, and a Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira 2008);
• Planning and arrangements.

From memory (left the tasting notes at the table again): The sweetest and most easy drinking of them all. A third place for the night.

A touch sweeter than the ’85 (and the Dow style in general). My favourite of the young bottles.

Mid red with some bricking on the rim. Quite light in the centre (60% opacity). Some gentle sweet redcurrant on the nose, also showing a bit of heat. Slightly lighter bodied than some of the older wines at this tasting, full of fruit, but fairly straight-forward. Very enjoyable on the palate, but little depth or complexity. The tannins are almost fully integrated. The immediate aftertaste is a little hollow, but the finish is long and lingering, and full of Turkish Delight and dark chocolate. A lovely port, dinking at its peak and one to consume over the next 10-20 years. 86/100. Drunk 7 September 2010.