Dow's Quinta do Bomfim 2010

Dow’s Quinta do Bomfin 2010 is a joy to behold with ripe black fruit dominating but delightfully intermingled with fresh mint and eucalyptus notes that brings an elegance and aromatic intensity to the wine. Blackbery, pepper notes, caramel and liquorice all come through on the palate, which is seductive, ripe and instantly pleasurable.

Dow’s was founded in 1798 by Bruno da Silva and is unusual amongst the pioneering Port houses for setting up in London rather than in the Douro Valley. Bruno married an English lady and assimilated himself into London high society which stood him in good stead during the Napoleonic Wars. As other Port houses sales fell, Bruno was able to get himself a ‘Letter of Marque’ (Royal Assent to equip a merchant ship with guns). This made the perilous journey from Oporto to Bristol a little easy and keep the flow of Port running through the war. The house is famed now for having two of the best Quinta’s in do Bomfin and da Senhora da Ribeira and makes some of Portugal’s finest wines.