Dow's : Senhora da Ribeira 2018

A balanced and complex Vintage Port that fully expresses wild red fruits

The estate
Established in Porto, in northwestern Portugal for over 200 years, the name of Dow's House is associated with prestigious Port wines. In 1798, Bruno Da Silva, a Portuguese merchant from Porto, settled in London to market wines imported from his native country. By marrying an Englishwoman, Bruno Da Silva quickly integrated into London society and developed his fine wine trade. He even became the only merchant with the right to transport his goods with his own armed protection. He then partnered with James Ramsay Dow in 1877 and Dow's established itself as the brand name of the historic Port house. In 1961, the entire property came under the control of the Symington family.

The vineyard
This port comes from the Senhora da Ribeira vineyard, located 24 km upstream from Quinta do Bomfim, in the isolated region of the Douro Superior. The vineyard occupies a magnificent position on the north bank, overlooking the Douro, directly across from another famous vineyard owned by Symington: Quinta do Vesuvio. There, the old vines have a very low yield, producing on average less than one kilo of grapes each, which gives intense and concentrated musts, ideal for classic Vintage Ports. Touriga nacional represents nearly a third of the vineyard which benefits from the maximum "A" rating.

The vintage
The very hot climate during summer in this Duriense vineyard produces very complex and concentrated wines. However, yields are very low which gives the Senhora da Ribeira 2018 a rare character.

Winemaking
Senhora da Ribeira 2018 is produced in one of the most advanced specialized wineries in the Douro, combining the best traditional winemaking practices, which have evolved over centuries, and the latest cutting-edge automated systems. At the heart of the estate, three granite lagares for foot treading are complemented by three robotic lagares, designed by the Symington family and installed in the quinta's cellar in 2001.

Blend
Port Blend.

Characteristics and tasting notes for Dow's Senhora da Ribeira 2018

Tasting


Senhora da Ribeira 2018 embodies the very essence of Vintage Port, with powerful wild red fruit flavors, leading to rich dark chocolate notes. All balanced by complex, attractive and peppery tannins.