NV Dow's - Porto Trademark Finest Reserve Port

Dow's was founded in 1798 by the Portuguese merchant Bruno da Silva, and the Dow name entered the picture only later, when partner James Dow joined the firm. Andrew Symington became a partner in 1912, and today the house remains fully owned and run by the fourth generation of the Symington family, now the largest vineyard owners in the Douro Valley. Dow's has long been known for a drier, more structured style than many of its peers, a signature that carries through its entire range.

Trademark Finest Reserve draws primarily on fruit from Dow's own Quinta do Bomfim and Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira estates, supplemented by a small number of neighboring vineyards selected by the house's tasters. The wine is fermented for a relatively short period before fortification with grape spirit halts the process, locking in natural sweetness and building the wine's structure. After a light fining, but no filtration, it is bottled ready to drink, with no need for further aging or decanting before serving.

The color is a rich, opaque ruby, and the nose shows concentrated notes of blackcurrant, blackberry, and licorice, with a touch of fresh cut wood. On the palate it is full bodied and well balanced, framed by moderate tannins and finishing with a characteristic Dow's dryness beneath the sweetness. It pairs beautifully with blue cheese or a rich chocolate dessert.