Sign In

2011 Dow's

Not Currently In Auction

Latest Sale Price

October 29, 2023 - $145

Estimate

RATINGS

99Wine Spectator

Powerful, refined and luscious, with a surplus of dark plum, kirsch and cassis flavors that are unctuous and long. Shows plenty of grip, presenting a long, full finish, filled with Asian spice and raspberry tart accents.

97Stephen Tanzer

...aromas of black cherry, violet, lavender, licorice, dark tobacco and minerals. Then plush & elegant in the mouth, with outstanding depth and a hint of youthful bitterness to the superconcentrated flavors of black raspberry and spices.

96-98The Wine Advocate

...made from no less than 44 separate ferments from finest fruit... a decadent delight. This is one of the finest of 2011 Vintage Ports, a sublime expression of the vintage you would be foolish not to buy. This is Dow at its best.

19Jancis Robinson

Very dark purple. Massive and great combination of ripe fruit and very fine tannins. So chewy but wonderfully concentrated. Refined and dry and with lots of fine, dry tannins.

REGION

Portugal

Portugal is best known for its two legendary fortified wines, Port and Madeira, but it also produces significant amounts of red and white table wine. In most years it ranks around the 10th or 11th largest wine producer in the world. In 2013, for instance, Portugal was the 11th largest producer just after Germany. Wine has always been produced in Portugal and in fact the country was the first to organize an appellation system, which it did in 1756, nearly 200 years before the French set up their appellations. The highest quality wines are labeled D.O.C. for Denominaçào de Origem Controlada. Many of the most innovative winemakers today, however, are avoiding the appellation system, which they deem too stifling for modern winemaking practices. The Douro Valley is the nation’s most important wine producing region, and it is the capital of Port production. The Portuguese island of Madeira, located 400 miles west of Morocco, is the nation’s other famous wine region, having produced Madeira for export for more than 400 years. Many red and white wine grapes grow in Portugal, though the best known is Touriga Nacional, the red grape used for Port and, increasingly, high quality table wines. Touriga Nacional produces dark, tannic, fruity wines.

VINTAGE