NV Dow’s Icon Reserve

[jdaw1]

Links:

• Review of evening as a whole;
• 1970 Martinez;
• 1980 Graham;
• 1982 Croft;
• 1990 Warre Cavadinha;
• 1991 Fonseca Guimaraens;
• 1991 Quinta do Noval;
• 1991 Quinta de Roriz;
• 1991 Smith Woodhouse;
• 2003 Colmaça;
• 2003 Vale Dona Maria;
• 2005 Osborne LBV;
• NV Dow’s Icon Reserve;
• Planning and arrangements;
• Placemats.

[AHB]

From a bottle estimated to be between 5 and 10 years old. No sediment on decanting. Closed on the nose, with swirling releasing only a little blackcurrant. Dry on entry, but with plenty of fruit which shows soft tannins; big and mouthfilling flavours. A dry bite on the aftertaste, which opens to a dry blackcurrant finish of good duration. A very impressive reserve ruby that generated guesses when served blind of Quarles Harris 2007, Vesuvio 2000, Warre 1997, Quevedo 2008 and Warre 2007! 86/100. Decanted for 3 hours.

[JacobH]

Ten-or-so years old. Deeply coloured in the middle. Lightening towards the edge. Still slightly grapy on the noes. A bit spirity, though good dense flavours in the mouth. Very rounded. Fabulous for what it is.