1980 Dow

[jdaw1]

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.

[angeleyes]

From memory (left the tasting notes at the table again): The most youthful looking, dark red and opaque. Rich in fruit but seemed to be disjointed somehow. Nevertheless, very good and I wouldn't refuse if offered it.

[benread]

This was my wine of the night. I like my port thick and chewy like this, with lots of fruit and leaving you feeling like your teeth must be purple at the first swig! I also agree with many that it is very likely to have some upside to it over many years to come. Sounds like a good reason to get some!

[JacobH]

Fabulous wine; incredibly dark for its age and will only get better...

[AHB]

Ptch black and opaque. Much darker than any other port in the Dow offline. Closed on the nose, showing nothing more than some faint blackcurrants. Ripe, sweet fruit on the palate. Full of deep, dark fruit; immensely impressive, with the dark tannins still prominent. Promising much for the future. The development of flavour on the palate and the complexity of this wine is a joy. A cheek drying aftertaste with dark bitter cherries dominating a long, long finish. Still a stunning and huge wine that will be a legend in another couple of generations. 92/100. Drunk 7 September 2010.