1997 Dow

[Alex Bridgeman]

Dow 1997 by the glass from the St James 1857 Bar @ £22 for a 75ml pour. This was the first glass extracted from a bottle using a Coravin. A rich, deep red beginning to show the brick tones of maturity. Opaque centre with a wide rim. Gentle bramble nose, slightly baked but only to the extent to make the nose interesting. Rather delicious smelling. Poised palate, nicely defined and quite precise. Lovely sweet fruit showing some secondary tones; ripe and fragrant without being sweet. Very gentle tannins and great acidity. Initially very hot aftertaste but 30 minutes in the glass allowed this to settle to be nothing more than a lovely warming peppercorn and redcurrant jelly aftertaste and long, long finish. A delicious Port — I must get mine out of storage fairly soon. 91/100. Drunk 11-Nov-2021. Pop and Pour.