Dow's Vintage Port 2017

Dow's Vintage Port 2017 is a declared vintage vintage port from Portugal's Douro Valley, bottled at 20% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Awarded 98 points by James Suckling, 97 points by Decanter, and 96 points from both Wine Enthusiast and Wine Spectator, this ranks among the most critically acclaimed vintage ports of the decade.

Quick Facts: ABV: 20%  |  Origin: Douro Valley, Portugal  |  Vintage: 2017  |  Producer: Dow's (Symington Family Estates)

Production & Heritage

Dow's is one of the oldest and most respected port houses, now managed by the Symington Family Estates, which has overseen operations since 1912. The 2017 vintage is a field-driven blend of 42% Touriga Nacional, 38% Touriga Franca, 9% Sousão, 8% old mixed vines (a traditional field blend), and 3% Alicante Bouschet — fruit largely sourced from the acclaimed Senhora da Ribeira vineyard. Following traditional port winemaking, fermentations run slightly longer than many rival houses, producing Dow's signature drier style. The wine then aged approximately 18 months in seasoned oak casks before being bottled without filtration or fining, preserving the full weight and character of the vintage.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Intensely floral on the nose, led by wild rockrose and violet that give way to layers of dark berries and a subtle tarry depth. There is a perfumed, enticing quality that distinguishes it from weightier, more closed vintage ports at this age.

Taste: The entry is full-bodied and rich, coating the palate with dense black fruit — blueberry, plum, and bramble — before a mid-palate surge of chai spice, salted licorice, and dark chocolate. Fine-grained tannins provide muscular structure, but juicy acidity keeps everything agile and lifted rather than heavy.

Finish: Long and sappy, with lingering notes of acai, warm spice, and brambly grip that persist well after each sip. The hallmark Dow's dryness emerges here, pulling the sweetness back and leaving a clean, structured close.

How to Drink Dow's 2017

Serve slightly below room temperature — around 16–18°C (60–64°F) — in a tulip-shaped glass to concentrate the floral aromatics. This is a port built for contemplative sipping on its own, though it pairs brilliantly with rich foods. For cocktail applications: a Port Old Fashioned works well, as the wine's inherent dryness prevents the drink from becoming cloying; a Porto Flip (port, brandy, egg yolk) benefits from the tannic backbone and spice; and a Portonic (port and tonic over ice with a citrus twist) makes a surprisingly refreshing long serve that highlights the wine's dark fruit and floral character.

Best For

• Cellaring as a long-term investment — the 2017 vintage has the structure to evolve for decades
• Gifting a serious wine collector or port enthusiast
• Pairing with a holiday cheese course featuring Stilton or aged Gouda
• Marking a milestone occasion such as a birth year or anniversary

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Dow's 2017 taste like? It delivers dense black fruit — plum, blueberry, bramble — layered with salted licorice, chai spice, and dark chocolate, all balanced by juicy acidity and Dow's characteristic drier finish.

How does Dow's 2017 compare to Taylor's 2018 Vintage Port? Both are powerhouse Douro vintage ports, but Dow's tends toward a drier, more floral profile thanks to its deliberately longer fermentation, while Taylor's typically leans richer and sweeter with firmer tannic structure. The 2017 and 2018 vintages were both widely declared across the Douro, making them natural comparisons for collectors.

Is Dow's 2017 good for sipping neat? Absolutely — its combination of rich concentration, fine-grained tannins, and balancing acidity makes it an outstanding neat pour, especially served slightly cool in a proper tasting glass.

Where is Dow's 2017 made? Dow's 2017 Vintage Port is produced in Portugal's Douro Valley, with key fruit sourced from the Senhora da Ribeira vineyard, one of the most prized sites in the region. It is produced under the stewardship of Symington Family Estates.

What foods pair well with Dow's 2017? Stilton or Roquefort blue cheese mirrors the wine's intensity; dark chocolate torte complements its cocoa and spice notes; roasted walnuts echo the tannic structure; slow-braised beef cheeks match its power; and dried fig or date confections align with its concentrated fruit.

What sizes does Dow's 2017 come in? Dow's 2017 Vintage Port is available in the standard 750ml bottle, with some markets also carrying 375ml half-bottles and larger format bottles for collectors.

Is Dow's 2017 worth the price? Positioned as a premium declared vintage port, Dow's 2017 delivers exceptional value within that tier given its near-universal critical acclaim — 98 points from James Suckling, 97 from Decanter, and 96 from both Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast place it among the top-scoring ports of the vintage at its price level.

Why Dow's 2017?

The sheer breadth of critical praise sets this apart: earning 96 points or higher from five major publications is rare for any wine at any price. The 2017 vintage in the Douro was exceptional, and Dow's captured it with a blend that highlights Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca at their most expressive. The house's hallmark longer fermentation yields a drier, more structured port that ages gracefully and stands distinct from sweeter competitors. Bottled unfiltered and unfined, this is a vintage port that faithfully represents both site and season — and one that rewards patience in the cellar.