2000 Dow

[Alex Bridgeman]

Brick red with a narrow rim. Lots of fruit on the nose, sweet and jammy - like the blackberry juice from a crumble which caramelises on the edge of the pie dish. Soft initial impact with big tannins and stewed fruit; the tannins getting bigger on the mid-palate. Surprisingly restrained although more mature than the Ramos Pinto or Fonseca tried alongside it with the fruit being a little dirty. Sweet jellied fruit with a dry finish. A Port which is a little advanced and stewed although still pleasant. Perhaps stored badly, somewhere too warm. 88/100. Drunk 17-Mar-20. Decanted 25 hours.

[DaveRL]

Disappointing. I bought it retail some 4 or 5 years ago from N.D. John, and it has been kept in our cellar since then. I had expected better.