Dow's Late Bottled Vintage Port 2018

Dow's Late Bottled Vintage Port 2018 is a 750ml, 20% ABV Late Bottled Vintage Port from Portugal's Douro Valley, produced by Symington Family Estates. This expression ranked #26 on Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2024 and received up to 93 points from the same publication — a significant achievement for an LBV-category Port.

Quick Facts: ABV: 20%  |  Origin: Douro Valley, Portugal  |  Vintage: 2018  |  Producer: Dow's (Symington Family Estates)

Production & Heritage

Dow's is one of the oldest and most storied Port houses, now managed by Symington Family Estates, who have tended the vineyards for five generations. The 2018 LBV is sourced from two prestigious estates — Quinta do Bomfim and Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira — and made from a field blend of Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Sousão, Tinta Barroca, and Tinta Roriz. Grapes are trodden in modern lagares at each estate's on-site winery, then aged four to six years in seasoned oak vats before bottling. This extended oak maturation gives Dow's LBV its characteristically structured, ready-to-drink style without requiring further cellaring.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Bright, exuberant blackberry and blueberry lead the nose, followed by a piercing shaft of mint that lends striking freshness. Deeper layers of dark plum and subtle ganache emerge as the wine opens.

Taste: The entry is plush and substantial, coating the palate with black forest fruit and fleshy black plum. Mid-palate, peppery tannins assert themselves alongside fine acidity, giving the wine structure and tension rather than simple sweetness. A singed alder quality adds complexity through the peak.

Finish: The aftertaste is long and layered, revealing tobacco and tea notes wrapped in Dow's hallmark drier finish. The tannins resolve cleanly, leaving a fresh, almost savory impression that distinguishes this from sweeter LBV competitors.

How to Drink Dow's LBV 2018

Serve slightly below room temperature — around 16–18°C (61–64°F) — in a small tulip-shaped glass to concentrate the aromatics. This LBV drinks well immediately without decanting, though 20–30 minutes of air can further open the fruit.

• Port Tonic: A measure of Dow's LBV over ice topped with quality tonic water works exceptionally well thanks to the wine's inherent dryness and mint-edged freshness.
• Portonic Spritz: Combined with sparkling water and an orange twist, the blackberry and plum notes create a refreshing long drink suited to warmer weather.
• Classic Cheese Course: Not a cocktail, but the most traditional pairing — Dow's drier profile cuts through rich Stilton or aged Cheddar better than most LBVs.

Best For

• Gifting a wine enthusiast who appreciates Port but wants a drier, more structured style
• After-dinner sipping alongside a cheese board with blue and aged hard cheeses
• Introducing someone to quality Port without requiring decanting or years of cellaring
• Celebrating a milestone — its Wine Spectator Top 100 placement makes it a conversation starter

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Dow's LBV 2018 taste like? Dow's LBV 2018 delivers concentrated black plum, blackberry, and dark forest fruit with peppery tannins and fine acidity, finishing with tobacco and tea notes wrapped in a signature dry style that sets it apart from many sweeter Ports.

How does Dow's LBV compare to Graham's LBV? Both are produced by Symington Family Estates, but Dow's is consistently noted for greater power and structure, while Graham's tends toward a more graceful, rounder profile. In direct comparison, at least one Wine Spectator reviewer expressed a minor preference for the Dow's for its intensity.

Is Dow's LBV 2018 good for sipping neat? Yes — the four-to-six-year oak aging means it is fully ready to drink upon release, and its balance of fruit concentration, tannic structure, and trademark dry finish makes it one of the more rewarding LBVs to enjoy neat at slightly cool room temperature.

Where is Dow's LBV 2018 made? Dow's LBV 2018 is produced in Portugal's Douro Valley from grapes grown at Quinta do Bomfim and Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira, two estate vineyards managed by Symington Family Estates.

What foods pair well with Dow's LBV 2018? Stilton and aged Cheddar complement the dry finish; dark chocolate desserts mirror the ganache-like richness; grilled lamb benefits from the peppery tannins; dried fruit and nut boards echo the Port's dark fruit character; and crème brûlée contrasts the wine's acidity with caramelized sweetness.

What sizes does Dow's LBV 2018 come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format.

Is Dow's LBV 2018 worth the price? Dow's LBV 2018 positions as a premium LBV — priced above basic ruby Ports but well below Vintage or Vintage-dated bottlings — and its Wine Spectator Top 100 recognition and 93-point score place it among the strongest values in the entire Port category.

Why Dow's LBV 2018?

The 2018 vintage earned a place as #26 on Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2024, a rare distinction for any LBV Port. What separates Dow's from the broader LBV field is its trademark dry finish — where many Late Bottled Vintage Ports lean into residual sweetness, this bottling uses its peppery tannins and firm acidity to create a more structured, food-friendly profile. Sourced from two of the Douro's top vineyard sites and made from five classic Portuguese grape varieties trodden in lagares, it reflects a level of production care more commonly associated with far more expensive Vintage Ports. For drinkers seeking a Port with depth, freshness, and genuine complexity at the LBV tier, the 2018 delivers convincingly.