1975 Dow

[uncle tom]

One of the very few bottles to get through eBay without being deleted by the puritanical eBay police..

Cost me £13 + plus a modest detour from my travels to collect it (along with a Malv '79 that Derek relieved me of)

Slightly sticky neck, although good level.

This is a wine that has not impressed me in the past, but is sometimes ranked among the vintage's winners - so worthy of a re-visit.

Decanted at midday - came cleanly off it's sediment, but a very pale wine for it's age. First sip revealed a floral note, but also an aroma that is better suited to a hospital than a bottle of wine..

Five hours on and the odd smell has gone - as has everything else - it is now almost odourless.

On the palate the tannins are a bit obtrusive, and there is a hint of the earthiness that seems to be a hallmark of the year.

So far, this is a long way from impressing me...

Tom

[uncle tom]

Eleven hours on and the wine has darkened quite dramatically - I don't think this is entirely down to the transition from natural to artificial light.

Stranger is the appearance of a bouquet - not stellar, but the backbone aroma of a good wine.

It does make me wonder if the concept of layers in the decanter carries some weight - did I first pour off a light pale topping to the wine, and am now indulging the darker richer body of wine in the decanter below?

I'm not really sure..

Tom

[uncle tom]

29 hours on and the wine has developed a little further - noticeably darker now with a distinct orange hue

To score:

Last night I was contemplating giving this is a measly 1 for immediate gratification, but I now think the wine can just about scrape a 2 - the upper end of the bottom quartile.

Where's it going?

- Down, but probably not very rapidly - it still has some integrity..

Score 2-1

- not one of the vintage's winners!

Tom