Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira
Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira - Dow's Silva e Cosens Lda
| Owner | Symington family |
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This quinta takes its name from the little chapel between the quinta house and the river, and was originally acquired by Dow's in 1890. By the end of the 19th century it was one of a trio of top-quality wine estates. Dow's was a substantial owner of Douro vineyards long before most Port shippers were involved in viticulture or winemaking. The quinta was sold in 1954, when the Port trade was at its lowest point – a time when many Port companies were either closed down or sold. But the link was not entirely lost because the Ribeira grapes were bought and vinified by Dow's, continuing to play a fundamental part in its Vintage Ports for most of the century.
To the family's great delight, the opportunity to buy back Senhora da Ribeira arose in 1998, Dow's Bicentennial year.
| Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira Vintages: | 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015 |
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| House | Quinta Senhora da Ribeira Dow | Vintage | 1998 |
| Colour | Yellow mature in colour.. | Number of tastings | 2 |
| Bouquet | Toffee, fudge, some cacao and spiciness in the nose. | Score range | 16.25 - 16.40 |
| Taste | Quite full bodied. Mature and peaking. Balanced and a little dry with toffee and spiciness in taste. Complex and an attractive finish. Easy to drink, like and enjoy! | Average score | 16.33 |
| Last tasted | 4th March 2017 | Point this date | 16.40 |
| Comment | At the Port Wine Festival in Roskilde, Denmark. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Quinta Senhora da Ribeira Dow | Vintage | 1999 |
| Colour | Black in colour. | Number of tastings | 3 |
| Bouquet | Dark berry and spring flowers but quite closed nose. | Score range | 14.50 - 14.50 |
| Taste | Medium bodied. Fruit in flavour. Still some soft tannin. Nice finish but not as exciting as we have suspected. | Average score | 14.50 |
| Last tasted | 8th November 2011 | Point this date | 14.50 |
| Comment | At the Port Wine Club est. 1981 tasting in Copenhagen. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Quinta Senhora da Ribeira Dow | Vintage | 2001 |
| Colour | Yellow mature in colour. | Number of tastings | 4 |
| Bouquet | Toffee, old grocery shop, cacao and some mint in the nose. | Score range | 15.75 - 16.40 |
| Taste | Medium body. Quite mature but still with some soft tannin and will be better. Mint and toffee in taste. Attractive and long finish. Classic and very enjoyable port | Average score | 16.08 |
| Last tasted | 7th November 2016 | Point this date | 16.40 |
| Comment | At the Port Wine Festival in Copenhagen. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Quinta Senhora da Ribeira Dow | Vintage | 2002 |
| Colour | Blue in colour but with a yellow mature edge. | Number of tastings | 2 |
| Bouquet | Toffee, fudge, butterscotch and ginger in the nose. | Score range | 15.90 - 15.90 |
| Taste | Quite full-bodied. Quite mature but still with some soft tannin and will probably improve. Toffee and fudge in flavour. Balanced but rather dry. Quite long and promising finish. | Average score | 15.90 |
| Last tasted | 4th March 2017 | Point this date | 15.90 |
| Comment | At the Port Wine Festival in Roskilde, Denmark. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Quinta Senhora da Ribeira Dow | Vintage | 2004 |
| Colour | Black in colour. | Number of tastings | 2 |
| Bouquet | Cacao, tropical fruits and dark berry in the nose. | Score range | 14.90 - 14.90 |
| Taste | Medium bodied. Immature and full of tannins. Dark berry and fruit in flavour. Long and promising finish. | Average score | 14.90 |
| Last tasted | 8th November 2011 | Point this date | 14.90 |
| Comment | At the Port Wine Club est. 1981 tasting in Copenhagen. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Quinta Senhora da Ribeira Dow | Vintage | 2006 |
| Colour | Quite dark blue with a yellow edge in colour. | Number of tastings | 2 |
| Bouquet | Tobacco, herbal and gingerbread in the nose. | ||
| Taste | Medium body. Quite mature but still some soft tannin and will be better. Tobacco and gingerbread flavour. Complex and balanced classic port with an attractive finish. | ||
| Last tasted | 7th November 2016 | Rating this date | 16..00 |
| Comment | At the Port Wine Festival in Copenhagen. Port so young we evaluate only as : Good – Very good- Impressive – Very Impressive | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Quinta Senhora da Ribeira Dow | Vintage | 2008 |
| Colour | Dark blue almost black in colour with a purple rim. | Number of tastings | 4 |
| Bouquet | Fruit with both red and dark berries in the nose. | Score range | 15.40 - 15.40 |
| Taste | Quite full-bodied. Immature and lots of tannins. Frit and berry in taste. Long fruity finish. | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 4th November 2013 | Point this date | 15.40 |
| Comment | At the Port Wine Club est. 1981 tasting in Copenhagen. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Quinta Senhora da Ribeira Dow | Vintage | 2009 |
| Colour | Black in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Very juicy indeed and even fruitiness in the nose | ||
| Taste | Full-bodied. Immature and lots of tannins. Juicy and fruity in flavour. Hard to swallow. Long fruity finish. Will be interesting to follow. Very promising port indeed. | ||
| Last tasted | 8th November 2011 | Rating this date | Very Impressive |
| Comment | At the Port Wine Club est. 1981 tasting in Copenhagen. Port so young we evaluate only as : Good – Very good- Impressive – Very Impressive | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Quinta Senhora da Ribeira Dow | Vintage | 2010 |
| Colour | Deep blue in colour | Number of tastings | 2 |
| Bouquet | Toffee, some crème caramel and butterscotch in the nose. | Score range | 15.90 - 15.90 |
| Taste | Quite full-bodied. Immature and lots of tannins. Dark berry and some toffee in flavour. Balanced anyhow but a long tannic and impressive finish. Will be interesting to follow. | Average score | |
| Last tasted | 7th November 2016 | Point this date | 15.90 |
| Comment | At the Port Wine Festival in Copenhagen. | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Quinta Senhora da Ribeira Dow | Vintage | 2012 |
| Colour | Dark blue in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Black cherry, mulberry and fruit in the nose. | ||
| Taste | Medium body. Tannin and hard to appreciate. Dry but balanced. Mulberry in taste. Elegant finish. | ||
| Last tasted | 3rd November 2014 | Rating this date | Very Impressive |
| Comment | At the Port Wine Festival in Copenhagen. Port so young we evaluate only as : Good – Very good- Impressive – Very Impressive | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Quinta Senhora da Ribeira Dow | Vintage | 2013 |
| Colour | Almost black in colour. | Number of tastings | 3 |
| Bouquet | Intense dark berry, blackberry and mulberry in the nose. | ||
| Taste | Medium body. Very tannic and promising. Packed with fruit. Mulberry in taste. Very promising and long finish. | ||
| Last tasted | 22nd April 2016 | Rating this date | Impressive/ Very Impressive |
| Comment | At the Big Fortified Tasting in London Port so young we evaluate only as : Good – Very good- Impressive – Very Impressive | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |
| House | Quinta Senhora da Ribeira Dow | Vintage | 2015 |
| Colour | Dark almost black in colour. | Number of tastings | 1 |
| Bouquet | Mulberry, blackberry and dark berry in the nose. | ||
| Taste | Medium body. Very tannic and very promising. Packed with berry and fruit. Mulberry and blackberry in taste. With a long and exciting finish. | ||
| Last tasted | 6th November 2017 | Rating this date | Impressive |
| Comment | At the Port Wine Festival in Copenhagen. Port so young we evaluate only as : Good – Very good- Impressive – Very Impressive | Tasters | SAI, JB, SS |