Dow's launches 2018 LBV with striking new design

Dow's has released a bold new design for its 2018 LBV, featuring illustrations inspired by stories passed down by three generations of the Symington family – port producers for over 140 years and owners of Dow’s.

Since 1912, successive generations of the Symington family have grown up and worked at Dow’s two principal estates: Quinta do Bomfim in the Upper Douro Valley and Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira in the Douro Superior. The 2018 LBV’s new design features eye-catching illustrations inspired by the stories told by the 3rd, 4th, and 5th generations of the family about these estates. The illustrations will change with each successive vintage, revealing more snippets of stories past.

The 2018 LBV’s label features the iconic ‘Lady of the River’ chapel from Senhora da Ribeira, known as a haven for sailors before they would venture out into the then-treacherous Douro waters; the railway track that runs alongside the Bomfim estate that was introduced in 1887, bringing huge excitement and investment to the region; cane plants, which were traditionally used to make the baskets in which grapes would be carried; and orange trees, which still provide much-needed shade during scorching Douro summers.

This strong visual storytelling continues to the accompanying giftbox – prominently featuring a black kite, a common sight in the Douro. As part of the Symington family’s ongoing effort to cut carbon emissions, the bottle itself is now 18% lighter than its predecessor.

Sharing the same provenance as its lauded Vintage Port, Dow’s LBV is made from the best-performing vineyard plots at Quinta do Bomfim and Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira. The wine has bright, exuberant aromas of blackberry and blueberry, pierced by a shaft of mint – giving the wine an incredible, scintillating freshness. On the palate, it is full-bodied with sumptuous flavours of black forest fruit and black plum. 2018 was a rollercoaster year with a significant amount of rain in the spring, followed by heatwaves in the summer, resulting in a low yield of excellent quality grapes.

Rupert Symington, CEO Symington Family Estates said, “Dow’s LBV has always been a true second wine of Dow’s, a brand that is renowned for its high-scoring Vintage Ports, and this new presentation now better reflects the heritage and provenance associated with the name. 2018 was a challenging year with low yields that resulted in high-quality wines, with a distinctive profile, characterised by their intensity, structure and hallmark drier style. We’re pleased to be launching this elegant new approach to a classic Dow’s LBV.”