Description and Reviews:
1977 Dow’s – Vintage Port (Douro, Portugal)
A heralded vintage from a house famed for drier, more structured Ports—now in magnificent, mature form. Deep garnet shading to tawny at the rim. The nose is complex and classical: black cherry liqueur and plum compote, fig and date, orange peel, cacao and espresso, with violets, cedar, mint/eucalyptus and warm spice.
Silken yet authoritative on the palate. Sweet dark fruit and kirsch glide over lively acidity; the once-firm Dow’s tannins are now velvety and seamless. Layers of walnut, dark chocolate, licorice and clove lead to a long, tapering finish of cocoa and candied citrus.
Producer note: Dow’s is known for a slightly drier house style with superb grip in youth and outstanding longevity—’77 is a benchmark.
Serve: Lightly cool 14–16 °C. Decant 1–2 hours to remove crust and open aromatics.
Food pairing: Stilton/blue cheeses, walnut tart, dark chocolate desserts, roasted nuts.
Drink window: Glorious now; will hold a graceful plateau for years if well cellared.
