Dow's Crusted 2012 Port

€ 29.50

The Crusted Port complements the Vintage and Late Bottled Vintage style. Traditionally, Crusted Port is selected from wines of Vintage quality, from two or three harvests, undergoes no fining or filtration prior to bottling and is released three years after bottling.

Crusted Port is a very British creation, astrongly associated with the British Port houses and often originally bottled from cask in the United Kingdom. Since bulk exports were suspended in 1996 this work is now restricted to the cellars in Portugal. The wine is a blend from several vintages, each matured in cask for at least two years, before blending and bottling without filtration. The wine is often then aged in bottle for three years before release, which allows the term ‘bottle matured’ to appear on the label. The only date of significance is the bottling date, from which something of the likely vintages involved can be inferred (probably erroneously, but we .

The style is name for the sediment (or ‘crust’) that it throws, and it usually requires decanting, although the crust in this wine is fairly light. Its role as a subsititute for the region’s grandest wine has led to it being described as the ‘poor man’s vintage Port’ which seems to me, on tasting this richly characterful and substantial wine, to be damning it with faint praise. The WineDoctor

Nice ruby color with a reddish rim. On the nose it’s full of jammy opulent fruit with aromas of dark fruits such as plums and figs and with peppery/spicy notes. The palate is concentrated, luscious and full bodied. Excellent texture and balance leading to a long drier finish. As with Vintage Port the wine should be stored lying down and will require decanting prior to serving. Stand the bottle upright a few hours before opening so as to allow the deposit to settle prior to decanting.

Food-Pairing

A delicious digestive excellent with chocolate desserts, especially dark chocolate. Cheddar, Gouda and Brie cheese. Spicy dishes with red meat, game, lamb, veal, and pepper steak

Grapes: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Sousao & others

Dow’s Crusted Port is a blend of particularly full bodied Ports of very high quality from recent vintages (normally from the two or three harvests immediately preceding the bottling date). These Ports are matured in cask for some 12 to 18 months before being bottled without any fining or filtration. Dow’s Crusted Port is then aged for a further three years in bottle in the Dow’s cellars prior to being released for sale. This prolonged bottle-ageing gives this Port a superb style and character with the distinctive Dow’s dry finish.

Alcoholcontent

20%

Store & Serve

Serve at cellar temperature at 12 - 15ºC.

Keep horizontal, at a constant temperature away from intense direct light. Given the fact that this wine still ripes on the bottle, sediment can be formed over time, which means that the wine has to be decanted for consumption. Open 2 hours before decanting. After decanting, the wine will quickly reach its peak and will be consumed best during the day.

Decant before serving. Can be kept for up to 2 days after opening.