Quinta do Vesuvio 2003
Single Quinta Vintage Port
The 2003 Vintage at Vesuvio continues the unbroken tradition of foot treading in its eight granite 'lagares' that dates back to 1827. An immense wine that continues to place this property amongst the finest of the Douro.
Description
The 2003 Vesuvio is of superb quality, possessing Vesuvio's lovely scented nose of violets, layers of opulent blackcurrant fruit and a powerful, tightly knit structure suggesting great longevity.
The Winter of 2003 was very wet in the Douro and this was to prove of critical importance later in the growing season. The rainfall, which brought mild, moderate conditions only abated in April and was followed by very hot and dry conditions, interrupted only by some very welcome showers in late June and July. Some of the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Portugal were experienced in August, although in the Douro it was not much hotter than normal, maximum daytime temperatures at Vesuvio averaging about 42ºc.
Owing to the accumulated water reserves deep in the schistous soil, ripening took place under ideal conditions and the continuing dry weather in September ensured that the vintage took place in near perfect conditions. Although a little hot at times, the lagares´ingenious cooling mechanism guaranteed that fermentation temperatures were held within the desired limits. The fruit arrived at the winery in excellent condition with text book ripeness, Baumés averaging 13.5º. The principal grape varieties planted at Vesuvio faired magnificently, the heat resistant Touriga Nacional reaching Baumés of around 14º with balanced acidity. The Touriga Franca, a late ripening variety, thrived in the warm dry weather in September, also achieving generous Baumés. The components for a great Vintage were in place.
Our Expert's Recommendation
"This young wine should be allowed to age in its own bottle for at least 15 to 20 years from the time it is bottled to achieve its optimum maturity. For those who prefer to drink their Vintage Port young, 4 to 5 years are sufficient."
Press Comments
"Rich, ripe, plenty of spice aromas. Packed with fruit tannins and attractive balance of sweetness."
"This single-vineyard Port shows complex aromas of crushed berry, pepper and spice- Full-bodied, with medium sweetness and layers of polished tannins. Masses of berry, plum and citrus character".
"Full ruby. Pure, sexy aromas of black fruits, minerals and spice cake. Concentrated, superrich and impressively structured; a sweet, dense, primary wine with terrific depth and breadth. Offers intriguing hints of woodsmoke and pomegranate, and conveys a strong sense of extract. The vibrant finish features compellingly sweet tannins and a whiplash of black cherry and licorice flavor. A great showing already, but this should reward 12 to 15 years of aging."
"Complex aromas of crushed berries, pepper and spices. Full-bodied, with medium sweetness and layers of polished tannins. Masses of berry, plum and citrus character. This single-vineyard Port is always superb."
“High-toned floral scents contrast the plump, juicy middle of this wine, a high percentage of Touriga Franca filling it in. That voluptuous middle is grounded in schist, the tannins gentle but present, their stony character making the wine taste increasingly bold with air. It’s sourced from a vineyard in the arid Douro superior that the Symington family purchased in 1989 and largely replanted in the early 90s”.
"The Symingtons’ show-piece vineyard in the upper Douro continues to make great vintage Port. This 2003 shows the estate’s potential for big, luscious wines that are both powerful and tannic. It is opulent and generous, with the potential for good aging."
“Waxy black and red cherries are found in the aromatic profile of the 2003 Quinta do Vesuvio Vintage Port. Thick, creamy-textured, and exuberant, it offers a medium to full-bodied personality redolent with sweet black cherries and blackberries. A seductively sexy port, it is seamless, feminine, ample, and displays a long, syrupy finish that more than makes up for a slight lack of complexity”.
“Inky black and amongst the very darkest Ports of the vintage. This producer continues to impress me and this way my favourite entry from the Symington stable. It was unquestionably one of the finest VP cask samples I have had. When I first tried this wine in San Francisco. It made a huge impression on my palate. Having the opportunity to evaluate the Vesuvio over three days, I came away with even more respect for this producer. It is easy to describe this wine in one word, extraordinary. Initially the nose was reserved but eventually showed a gorgeous purity of raspberry essence along with some floral notes and spice. The blackberry and primary grape flavours are loaded with intensity, massive and powerful with tannins that attack the mouth early and often. This youngster was nearly a perfect VP when allowed to open up. Grip is that an iron fist, but there is no velvet glove here. Although the 2003 Vesuvio should easily surpass five decades, it also is very enjoyable and approachable now, if given time to breathe properly. This is the real deal, a blockbuster which is one of the two best wines of the vintage, and a must buy!”.
“Brooding, smokey power, and a superlatively silky mouth feel with delicate floral notes and jammy black fruits. A long, smooth finish. Superb”.
“My favourite of all. Slightly amber edge in addition to it dark ruby colour. The nose reminded me of wine from Pauillac, with cassis, cedar intermixed. The equally expressive nose also posses inviting sweet syrup flavours in addition to a brandy-coated raspberries that are all so inviting. The lush, chewy, layers palate come across approachable, yet underneath, you could trace the tannin, which was largely conceal by the overwhelming fruits. Very charming Port”.
“Big and burly. Masses of fruit and tannin. Full blackstrap Port here. Full-bodied, with mouth puckering tannins, yet they are sweet and round. Medium sweet. Long finish. One of the best of the vintage. This single-vineyard Port is always superb”.
Additional Information
For more information about Quinta do Vesuvio, please visit
http://www.quintadovesuvio.com/
Click here to download the Quinta profile.
Click here to download the wine specification sheet.