The 2018 growing season was a rollercoaster, consisting of a winter drought, a deluge in spring and heatwaves through the final ripening period. There was 2.5 times the average amount of rainfall in March at Quinta do Vesuvio, which meant that the growing cycle started later. As a result, the berries were more vulnerable to the heatwaves during the final ripening period. However, the viticulture & winemaking teams navigated the challenges through meticulous care in the vineyard and careful selection of wines from different parcels in the final blends. The north & northwest facing aspects of the property and the higher altitude vines, shielded the berries from the hot weather through the final ripening period, when temperatures reached 113ºF. The Touriga Franca from the Vale da Teja (approx. 980-1150 feet) was co-fermented with the Alicante Bouschet from the Castelos vineyard (approx. 820-980 feet). This delivered a notably more elegant Quinta do Vesuvio Vintage Port, balanced by the freshness of the Touriga Nacional from the Raposa vineyard at 1150-1310 feet and the Sousão from the higher lying section of Vale da Teja.
Reviews
Expressive, with a wave of pure creamed plum, blackberry and blueberry fruit gliding through atop enticing anise and milk chocolate notes. Velvety, caressing finish makes it hard to see the graphite structure here, but it's there. Suave finish too. Will be hard to lay off this one in its youth, but it's destined for terrific development.
This is a big, ripe young vintage Port with dried fruit, such as figs and prunes, treacle tart and chocolate. Full-bodied and very sweet with lots of round tannins and a long, flavorful finish. This needs five or six years to soften. Just 3% of the Vesuvio production. Try after 2025 and onwards.
Inky black,the signature features here will be the pungent aromatics and the big, ripe fruit. Actually, it is not only big in flavor, it's a little flamboyant. There is a nuance on the finish that makes it seem especially ripe; it will be interesting to see if that folds into the whole in time. The baked plums up front suggest very ripe Touriga Nacional, in particular.
The magnificent Vesuvio estate has produced a densely rich Port. Its tannins and big black fruit are just the starting point for a long journey. It is sumptuous and structured at the same time.
The heat resistance of the Douro’s vines helped them sustain some freshness in their fruit during the heat spikes of 2018, this wine combining plum flavors ranging from vibrant to stewed. The tannins are lush, as rich as chocolate cake, with a gentle vanilla-spice persistence. Though this wine will develop more detail as it ages, it’s a seductive Port to serve young.