Information
Title
Dow's Quinta do Bomfim Vintage Port
Vintage
2023
The Year
Abundant rainfall during the first half of the winter reversed the severe drought of 2022, replenishing soil water levels satisfactorily. Although February to April was an exceptionally dry and mild period, generous late spring rainfall in May and June sustained the vines over the ripening cycle. While much of Europe was blasted by extreme heatwaves during the summer, July temperatures in Portugal were close to normal and in the Douro fractionally below average. Although there was virtually no rainfall in the Douro during July and August, reasonable soil moisture, combined with comparatively moderate temperatures, favoured good levels of acidity, balanced maturations, and good phenolic development. Perfectly timed rain in early September provided a great start to the vintage, and we picked under fine conditions during the first half of the month. From mid-September, excessive rainfall affected later ripening grapes, but many of our finest vineyard parcels had been picked before the rain, enabling us to produce some very fine wines.
The Quinta
One of the finest Douro estates, Quinta do Bomfim is at the heart of Dow’s, providing the main structure for its legendary Vintage Ports since 1896. The estate is situated in the Upper Douro Valley with schist slopes arranged in vineyard terraces, which have yielded Dow’s most memorable wines for over a century. Quinta do Bomfim is ideally located in an area of transition between temperate and Mediterranean climates. Predominantly south-facing with ample solar exposure, the estate delivers complete and balanced grape ripening, which results in well-structured, intense and complex wines. All the Bomfim wines are produced at the property’s specialist on-site winery where small batches of grapes are trodden and fermented in modern lagares.
Brand
Dow's Port
Trademark
Bomfim
Type
Port
Category
Vintage
Family
Quintas
Winemaking
Winemaker
Charles Symington, Pedro Sousa
Grape Varieties
Touriga Nacional (48); Touriga Franca (27%); Alicante Bouschet (14%); old, mixed vines (7%); Sousão (4%).
Alcohol
20 %
Acidity
4.20 g/l (tartaric acid)
Baume
3.40 °
Year of Bottling
2025
pH
3.70
Tasting Notes
Tasting notes
Deep, brooding blackcurrant aromas with some dark chocolate, cocoa and secondary red berry scents – raspberry and strawberry. Big hearted and full-bodied on the palate with typical Dow grainy, peppery tannins and a shaft of acidity providing great definition to the overall balance.
Consumption
Storage
Store the bottle horizontally, ideally in a cool, dark place with a constant temperature.
Decant
Yes
Serving temperature
16°C
Longevity after Opening
2-3 days.
Food Pairings
Chocolate desserts and blue cheeses.
Allergens
Sulphites
Vegetarian
Yes
Vegan
Yes
@Dows_Port