Dow’s Port Tawny 40 Year NV 750ml

Offers a broad and exotic feel, with argan oil, walnut and hazelnut husk, and dried peach and date flavors all in the mix. There's also incense, green tea and toasted sesame accents through the long finish, which ripples with subtly nervy tension. Drink now. 200 cases made, 50 cases imported.

The NV 40 Year Old Very Old Tawny Porto is a field blend coming in with 127 grams per liter of residual sugar. It was bottled in 2018 with a bar-top cork. While this continues to some extent the "dry, stern and powerful" feel of its siblings, this also has the most richness, the sweetest edge and the most ability to cut that stern aspect. The finish is long and delicious, laced with caramel and milk chocolate. Two days later, that was a lot clearer. It seems relatively young for a 40 until you note the concentration. It's easily the most concentrated of the group. It was also my personal favorite of the group, although I did tend to keep taking another taste of the vivacious 30. It may depend on what style you like—this 40 is about richness and concentration, while the 30 is brighter and livelier. In going from 30 to 40, of course, it's not always a night-and-day difference in terms of maturity. They are both very mature and satisfy that requirement well. They are both well done overall, and both to me seem much more interesting than their younger siblings.

Produced from the two vineyards that also supply Dow's Vintage Ports, this is a surprisingly light, fresh wine considering its age. It is bright-eyed with acidity and perfumed toffee and raisin flavors, a wine that can be drunk now.