Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/751131
1 3 6 T H E W I N E V O Y A G E R DOW'S Premium Port Since 1798, the DOW name has been synonymous with the finest Port as well as the handling of varietals sourced from vineyards of Portugal's Upper Douro Valley. The proud traditions carry on with Dow's Vintage Port 2011 and Late Bottled Vintage Port. In 2014, Dow's Vintage Port 2011 achieved a monumental 99/100 point score from Wine Spectator. This rare and prized expression of Port is a flavorful, balanced, and slightly dry variation achieved with a proprietary blend of grapes (40% Touriga Franca, imparting silky fruit flavors; 36% Touriga Nacional, offering power and structure; and 10% Sousão for its deep color) and one of the best growing seasons in recent memory. Charles Symington, whose family has steered Dow since 1882, worked painstakingly with his team to achieve the best result from this exceptional vintage. After the six best of 44 fermentation lots were cho- sen, the maceration and fermentation processes were conducted in shallow lagares (open granite basins) with proprietary machines achieving the effects of traditional foot-trodding. After that, juice was drained into stainless steel tanks to ferment for two to three days before being allowed to age for 18 months in large oak casks prior to the blending and bottling of the final product. Of the 5,000 cases produced, 2,000 were shipped to the United States, and we have it as an exclusive offering. Dow's Late Bottled Vintage Port, meanwhile, is crafted from the best of years, passing over average vintages. The 2011 Late Bottle Vintage is fashioned from 100% estate grown fruit from the same vineyards by winemaking team that produced the internationally acclaimed Dow's 2011 Vintage Port. This rare and prized expression of Port is a flavorful, balanced, and slightly dry variation achieved with a proprietary blend of grapes