2013 Dow's Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira

The 2013 Quinta de Senhora da Ribeira Vintage Port comes in with 100 grams per liter of residual sugar and was bottled in May 2015. It is a blend of 35% Touriga Nacional, 40% Touriga Franca, 15% Sousão and 10% Old Vines field blend. Showing very good concentration for the year and beautiful structure, this lovely Single Quinta Port is full in the mouth and very powerful in its youth. The beautiful fruit underneath announces its presence with some intensity--it tastes great, too. Palate coating and inky black, this should exceed expectations over the next couple of decades. After being opened for some five days, it sealed the deal. It became far more expressive, crisper and transparent. It also became remarkably delicious. It showed not a hint of fading or oxidation. It should age well. On the other side of the coin, you can approach it in several years with some decanting, but giving it about ten to 12 years from vintage date would be far better. Time will tell the whole story, but this seems pretty terrific right now and it still seems to have some upside potential as well. Notes: Part of Dow from 1890-1953 and reacquired in 1998, this Quinta is on the Douro's North Bank. There were 900 cases produced, plus some large format bottles.