quinta_do_vesuvio
 
Quinta do Vesuvio Vintage Port 2017
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This years bottling of the Quinta do Vesuvio 2017 Vintage Port marks the 30th anniversary of Symington Family’s acquisition of this historic property. In the three decades under Symington ownership, substantial investments have been made in the vineyards and Quinta do Vesuvio has built a global reputation as a single-estate producer of fine Vintage Ports and, more recently, fine Douro red wines.

Although 2017 was one of the driest and hottest years ever recorded in the Douro Valley, being on the south bank of the Douro River, Vesuvio’s vineyards were well placed as they face predominantly north and northwest with altitudes reaching up to 1,640 feet above sea level. These cooler aspects served them well in the challenging conditions of 2017.

Despite the heat, which was a constant throughout 2017 in the Douro, Quinta do Vesuvio fared better than most with less pronounced temperature deviations from the norm, especially during the spring. This factor went some way towards mitigating the lack of water. This pattern continued through the summer where temperatures, although high, were fortunately a little below the seasonal average — more so than in many other areas of the Douro.

They began to handpick the grapes at Quinta do Vesuvio on August 28th, the earliest starting vintage ever recorded there. This was not unexpected given the advanced growing and ripening cycle. There were very good signs that the time was right to pick, with good graduations and good phenolic ripeness providing very positive indicators. The excellent quality of the Touriga Nacional, Sousão and Alicante Bouschet entering the Vesuvio winery became evident in the first fermentations in the lagares where the deep colour of the musts and the very fine aromas showed great promise.

Concentration, intensity and impressive structure are the prominent features of the Quinta do Vesuvio 2017 Vintage Port. However, of equal note is the incredible freshness that belies belief in such a hot and dry year, and this shows in the exceptional poise and balance of the wine.

Reviews

Wine Advocate
7/10/2019
Points:
99

Very fresh, it also has luscious fruit, vivid fruit flavor and big power underneath. It coats the palate but its best feature is the delightfully juicy finish. It's delicious, long and kind of spectacular.  The combination of lots of fruit, lots of power and endless flavor to go with the endless finish mean that this is a rather stunning follow-up to recent vintages.

Wine Spectator
10/15/2019
Points:
96

This offers of a lovely mix of raspberry, black currant, plum and fig pâte de fruit notes, which stretch out slowly over a ramrod straight graphite spine.  Bramble, anise and apple wood details are tucked in neatly on the finish, giving this a compact feel for now, but everything is in place for a long, steady maturation in the cellar. Shows a pleasant, dry edge to the finish.

Wine Enthusiast
11/30/2019
Points:
96

CELLAR SELECTION - The structure of this wine is dense in tannins that balance the opulent black fruits. The sweeter style of the wine is balanced by the ripeness of the blackberry fruits freshened by the fine acidity. 

James Suckling
4/25/2019
Points:
95

Finished aromas of crushed berry, graphite and stone. Full body, very sweet with a tangy almost sweet and sour character. Distinct flavors of dried oranges and dark berries. Medium tannin structure. Very ripe yet fresh.

Wine & Spirits
9/29/2019
Points:
94

Sweet and sleek, with a black-mushroom savor, 2017 is a fat and happy vintage for Vesuvio. This is a modern Vintage Porto, with a refinement and ease to its purple-plum-and-bitter-chocolate richness, the alcohol beautifully integrated into the wine.

Decanter
7/9/2019
Points:
94

It’s lifted and aromatic on the nose with a touch of green leaf and ginger and a wild, herbal edge. The palate’s not especially big, and has lovely freshness all the way through with fine-grained, peppery tannins, showing near-perfect purity and leading to a long, linear finish. Should be approachable early but this will also last the course.