Has anyone tried Vesuvio from 1997 lately?

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Adam F
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Has anyone tried Vesuvio from 1997 lately?

Post by Adam F »

Just pondering which will be my last bottle of VP to drink before summer forces me to the fridge (I have some fun and pretty good QPR SA Tawny style wines waiting :D ). I have some older Niepoort from the 19080's and some vesuvios from the 1990's this being one I have never tried.
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Tom Archer
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Post by Tom Archer »

You've picked one of few Vesuvio vintages that hasn't been written up here yet (I think!) - Which is a spendid excuse to crack a bottle and tell us all about it!

Tom
Frederick Blais
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Post by Frederick Blais »

I will open one on the 22nd of June. A few friends of mine were really interested after the review I'Ve made on the 98 recently. So I've decided to make a tasting of this Single Vineyard Port. It will not be as extensive wilth all the Vintage as the one that will be held in England later this year but we are looking forward to put 7 bottles between 1994 and 2003.

I'll make a report about the tasting, hopefully it should be very good as this Quinta is always in great vintage.
Living the dream and now working for a Port company
Adam F
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Post by Adam F »

Decanted for about 4 hours, possibly too short but I am an impatient type and get a thrill out of seeing the wine evolve.

Very smooth and integrated. Alcohol doesn't dominate as much as say the 1994. Great length, sweet and lots of fruit. Almost has the wow factor (my wife's response was a resolute 'I like this'). Very much my style of VP (perhaps too sweet for some?).

Thanks Uncle Tom for your insight into the UK auction market!
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Roy Hersh
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Post by Roy Hersh »

Actually, my TN on the '97 Vesuvio appeared a couple of months ago in the FTLOP newsletter, this bottle tasted while at the Symington Family Estates:

1997 Quinta do Vesuvio Vintage Port – “Wow” was my first impression when sniffing and sipping this wine. Impenetrable opacity to this wine’s appearance. An herbal note and straight forward violet aromas punched my proboscis. A massive wine, yet more approachable than expected from the ink in the glass, with ripe, chalky tannins but otherwise a gorgeous mouth feel. Almost syrupy but the acidity prevents the viscous black currant fruit from seeming cloying. With all of this, the best part of this Port is the sensational length and complexity to the aftertaste. If you own a case, open a bottle tomorrow. If you own a single bottle, wait fifteen to twenty years and drink it when it’s more mature. 94+ points (10/26/05)
Ambition driven by passion, rather than money, is as strong an elixir as is Port. http://www.fortheloveofport.com
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