Varietals: Quinta do Bomfim (Cima Corgo) and Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira (Douro Superior). Varieties: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Amarela and old, mixed vines (field blend).
99 Points Decanter Magazine
This was my pick of the vintage when it was first declared in 1996, and nearly 30 years later I feel fully justified in recommending it again. Retaining its deep colour, opening up to reveal ripe, exotic aromas of gum cistus, eucalypt and mint, so very expressive of the Douro. Ripe, quite powerful and still tight-knit with lovely rich, minty fruit, broad yet firm, tannins rising to a fresh, gripping, opulent finish (especially for Dow in its customary drier style). Now glorious to drink – it should last a lifetime.
97 Points Wine Spectator
A blackstrap, powerful Port. Black, with intense aromas of raspberries, raisins, flowers and stems. Full-bodied and medium sweet, with a long, rich finish. Tannins pull at your palate. A wine for the future.
96 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The massive 1994 is unquestionably the finest Dow I have tasted since the 1977. This opaque purple-colored wine is not as developed or flamboyant as Fonseca, but it is super-concentrated and multi-layered, with huge masses of fruit and some tannin in the finish. This is a slightly drier style than Fonseca or Graham's, but it appears to be a classic, majestic, enormously constituted 1994 that should age effortlessly for three decades or more. It is one of the stars of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2030.
Winemaker Notes
The good color extraction experienced during this vintage together with the excellent ripe fruit characteristics ensure that this is one of the finest Vintage Ports produced during the last 20 to 30 years. Deep purple colour. On the nose rich and voluptuous fruit aromas of wild berries, roses and violets. On the palate intense fruit flavors and bitter chocolate, full bodied, with plenty of tannins and an excellent fruity aftertaste.
