20 Year Old Tawny, Dow
Wine Variety: A blend of the traditional port grape varieties.
Wine Region: The Douro river rises in western Spain (where it is known as the Duero) then cleaves through the granite mountains of northern Portugal before travelling west to the sea by Porto. One of the oldest classified vineyard regions, the Douro was, for many years, solely responsible for the fortified port wines. It is only relatively recently that still red wines - and more recently yet, still dry white wines - have been produced here. Granite and schist dominate the soils, but altitude on the high slopes can, to some extent, mitigate the torridity of the Portuguese summers.
Wine Producer: Dow's was founded by the Dow family over two centuries ago and passed through the hands of the Silva family to the Symingtons, under whose auspices it remains. Dow's own estates - Quinta do Bomfim and Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira - lie in the upper Douro Valley. Dow tend to ferment their vintage wines a little longer than others, ergo the style for which they are known is drier.
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Style:
Medium Sweet |
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Grape Variety:
not specified |
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Producer:
Dow |
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Serving Temperature:
16°C
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Alcohol Content:
19%
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Country:
Portugal |
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Appellation:
not specified
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Drink By:
2025 |
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Bottle Size:
75cl
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Region:
Douro |
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Colour:
Fortified |
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Food:
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Tasting Notes:
"Mid-deep tawny brown. Dried blackberry, dark chocolate and clove. Certainly still plenty of dark fruit here, for all the wood influence. Fresh and brisk acidity balances the sweetness, with dried black fruit, chocolate and cinnamon carrying through the mid palate. Long, with just a touch of alcohol. Characterful." Tim Jackson MW
#3wordtastingnote: dark, nuts, unctuous
The Daily Drinker
Bowes Wine Limited
P.O. Box 2272, Melksham, Wiltshire, SN12 6ZG
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e: victoria@thedailydrinker.co.uk