2002 Vintage Port
A potentially excellent vintage which was disrupted by rain during the harvest, with notable exceptions from properties that were able to pick grapes early.
Tasting Notes
There are undoubtedly some very good wines made in the first phase of the harvest, after which matters became more difficult, particularly with wines produced from higher lying areas.
Climatic Conditions
The winter of 2001/2002 was relatively dry in the Douro. The records at Quinta do Bomfim show that between November and March, just 11 inches (280 mm) of rain fell. This should be compared to the recorded 12-year average at this vineyard of 16.03 inches (407mm) a reduction was over 30%. Due to the clear winter nights, temperatures dropped to as low as minus 7 degrees C in December at Quinta de Vesuvio (-4 degrees C at Bomfim). These lows contrasted with sunny daytime temperatures, which were well above average.
The large fluctuations of temperature continued through most of the winter and brought about a later than usual bud burst in mid March. In early April, frost was experienced in the high lying areas, which caused some damage and reduced crop size. April is typically a wet month in the Douro but the dry conditions continued and very little rain was experienced.
Flowering took place in mid May under dry but cloudy conditions, leading to reasonable fruit set. With the early frost in the high lying area, the good fruit set and the relatively low rainfall, these factors suggested that an average sized year was in sight.
The summer was mild, which was fortunate because low levels of rainfall continued throughout this period. The vines resisted the dry conditions surprisingly well partly due to sporadic showers, but they particularly benefited from the exceptional amount of rain experienced in the winter of 2000/2001, which had replenished water table levels.
August was unusually mild with an average of 34 degrees centigrade for the month, with only two days at 38 degrees. With this advantage, shippers approached the harvest with confidence. Good rainfalls on 24th and 25th August reinforced this optimism. These heavy showers were heaven-sent; the grapes swelled, the sugar readings rose and the skins softened.
Following the regular maturation studies that we undertake in the vineyards, we fixed the picking dates for the 9th and the 12th September for our eastern-most vineyards. Everything indicated that we were building up to what might be a classic year: low yields, a little hydric stress, grapes in near perfect condition, and mild weather conditions for balanced ripening.
Vinification
The harvest started with the grapes looking exceptional. A little rain fell on the 7th and 8th of September but not sufficient to cause alarm. However on the 15th the weather broke and we endured heavy showers through to the 21st September, after which the weather improved for a week. Here again we had a good opportunity to pick in good conditions and make good wines.
Winemaker's Comments
"The vintage was average to small in size with normal yields coming from the low lying vineyards. Below average yields were seen in the higher areas due to pockets of frost in early April."
Charles Symington
Porto, October 2002