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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.

Deep red in colour, 90% opacity at the centre. Sweet on the nose, with some herbaceous overtones. Sharp and slightly acrid impact, with a watery texture. Decent aeration yielded some soft and stewed red fruit flavours. A fairly simple palate at present, but giving the impression of the wine still being closed and only just starting to pull together. Lots of dry tannins and almost hidden acidity; a very promising structure. A sweet aftertaste, full of plums and with a long, sweet finish. A very interesting wine and one which I feel has considerable promise. 88/100. Drunk 7 September 2010 after 13 hours of decanting / double decanting.

From memory (left the tasting notes at the table again): Odd, because it smelt a bit stewed. Very intriguing, though. All the components seem to be there to turn it into something very good.