1998 Dow quinta do Bomfim

[RAYC]

On Thursday 27th October 2011, at The Crusting Pipe, StevieCage and RonnieRoots held a tasting with AHB, jdaw1 and RAYC.

Links:
Review of the evening as a whole
1985 Graham (bottle 1)
1985 Graham (bottle 2)
1985 Fonseca
1983 Offley Boa Vista
1977 Niepoort
1970 Gould Campbell
1998 Dow quinta do Bomfim
Planning and arrangements

[RAYC]

No notes, but i was pleasantly suprised by this and dug out one of my 750ml bottles from Big Yellow for drinking over Xmas as a result of the tasting. Really nice fruitiness to this easy-drinking VP, tannins more integrated at this stage than i would have thought, a bit like a really really good lbv. This isn't one to blow you away, but perfectly good and a smart buy from Tesco when the 25%-off deals are running. *** (87)

[RAYC]

I think Ronnie brought this one - if it was another bottle from same stock as this half bottle, i'd say the extra year in the cellar has been rather good for it.

[AHB]

From half botle. 99% opaque; deep red with a solid rim. Full of blackcurrants on the nose, with a streak of lemon grass. Silky texture on entry, with restrained fruit but green tannins take a rough grip. Not a great balance, very dry and with fruit that is reluctant to dominate - although it does eventually. There is a nice floral element to the aftertaste but the finish is dry and a bit green. Good length. 1 hour decant. Drunk 27 October 2011. 82/100.

[RonnieRoots]

It was indeed from the same stock, but I must say I rather agree with AHB's notes. I found it overly green again, something that I noticed with a lot of 98's. I'm quite happy this was my last bottle, and I don't see myself buying anymore of this.