1994 Dow

[RAYC]

Tasted 7 July 2011 at TCP as part of the AbV II tasting

Links:

Review of the evening as a whole

San Leonardo 10yr Tawny (bottled 2010)
Barão de Vilar 20 yr Tawny (bottled 2010)
Fonseca 30 yr Tawny (bottled 1982)
1934 Dalva House Reserve (colheita, bottled 1973)
1986 Warre Colheita (bottled 2007)
Buller's Fine Old Malmsey (NV, Aus Rutherglen)
1969 Domaine Mas Mouriane Maury
1994 Dow VP

Planning and Arrangements
Placemats

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Decanted @ 8.00 am

An unfair curve-ball perhaps, universally believed to be an 04/05 lbv or even a ruby reserve, comments after the big reveal included: "worringly soft"; "very sweet for Dow"; "concerning paleness to rim"; "rather more evolved than i would like at this stage"; "doesn't fill me with confidence".

Having the [advantage]/[disadvantage] of not tasting it blind, I must admit i saw a bit more to this than the others - whilst accessible (and yes, more sweet than i would associate with Dow), I found it quite luscious with plenty of dark brambly fruit, a touch of liquourice, and a reasonable bit of mouth tingle before a smooth, long finish.

Tasted last, so perhaps so much colheita/tawny was not a good palate-primer. Or perhaps it really was no better than a filtered lbv. Interestingly though, it was still the first bottle to be finished!

[DRT]

I thought this to be very light and, I think, guessed it to be an LBV or Ruby Reserve.

[WS1]

Hmmm, I only remeber this was one ofthe wines of the night I did notfinish my glass. It was just bland and not as vibrant as it should have been. Guess it was a bad bt.