Multi: 1994-2000 Quinta do Vesuvio Vintage Port
Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 3:46 pm
Last Night I've gathered with some friends to do a Vesuvio Port tasting. We had the 94,96,97,98 and 2000. I've decided to put the 94 and 97 first to see what was the quality of the Vesuvio in declared years and then, to put the 96 and 98 to see and compare the quality of non-declared years vs the declared ones. Finally we would end it on the 2000.
Here are the tasting notes!
Vesuvio 97 : Ruby color, no sign of evolution on the rim but clearly the weakest coloration of all the 5 Vesuvio. It has a very nice nose,very charming, the best of the night, very floral, chocolate and spices intermixed with fresh tobaco. On the palate the wine shows nice red fruits, very ripe, good balance with acidity and sugar, tannins are also well tamed and showing nice grain, balanced, long finish on spices and purity of fruits. Not as concentrated as the other Vesuvio we had but it clearly stands for its purity and its balance. It should evolve as a fine and complex port for medium term. 17/20 2015-2025
Vesuvio 94 : Judging by its color, it is still a baby, what a huge saturation of purple black color. Nose is more close than the 97, showing intense flavours of anise, chocolate, fresh herbs and tobacco. Sometimes volatile acidity would show. The day after it was completly gone and some nice florals tone with dark plums dominated. On the palate, the entry is so big, full of packed bold jammy tannins, concentrated velvety texture, then then tannins get enveloped by the fruits giving you silky textre, the low acidity gives you a sweeter wine right now full of fruit. The finish is very very long, full of dark cherries and plums. Very impressive right now! Only the low acidity makes me wounder how long it can hold, but the structure and concentration is really impressive. 18.5/20 2020-2030
Vesuvio 96 : Dark purple color, slightly less intense than the 94 and showing a start of amber/ruby color on the edge. Fine nose of plums, dark cherries, tobacco, chocolate and a minerality that was not found in the other one. Mouth is really lacking the amplitude of the other ones but still very nice concentrated dark fruits, silky tannins well balanced with the fruit and acidity. Very charming and silky structure. Impressive for a 1996 and even if it was behind the other Vesuvio I'm pretty sure it can compete well with other House from declared years. 16.5/20 2010-2020
Vesuvio 98 : Nice concentrated ruby color, superbly floral nose, jammy black and red fruits with spices. Really big and rich mouth, full of pure red and black fruits, silky tannins, long and spicy finish showing its complete backbone of bold tannins. Really impressive for an off-vintage. 18/20 2017-2027
Vesuvio 2000: The darkest color of the flight. Inky black color with purple rim. Nose is full of casis, chocolate and mineral tone, though not very expressive, this wine is probably in its dumb phase. The mouth is dense, much close again on the flavours, pure dark fruits like cassis and blueberries. The structure is really impressive, big and concentrated, tannins are firm but well balanced with the sugar and the bold fruits. Everything is well balanced, long finish on chocolate flavours with firm tannins. 17.5/20+ 2025-2035
My conclusion from these 5 vintages of Vesusio is that it is really showing a nice backbones in declared years and the quality puts it among the top wines of the Vintage. In the non declared years, the wines are really more actractive in their youth because the tannins are much less obvious to feel. Though the 98 is impressive I'm not sure it will be long living as the 94,97,200. The off vintage Vesuvio clearly offers great value for money. The drinking periods are only an indication of maturity. If you own 1-2 bottles of these wines and want to wait before opening them, I'd recommend between these years. But clearly Vesuvio is always good!
Here are the tasting notes!
Vesuvio 97 : Ruby color, no sign of evolution on the rim but clearly the weakest coloration of all the 5 Vesuvio. It has a very nice nose,very charming, the best of the night, very floral, chocolate and spices intermixed with fresh tobaco. On the palate the wine shows nice red fruits, very ripe, good balance with acidity and sugar, tannins are also well tamed and showing nice grain, balanced, long finish on spices and purity of fruits. Not as concentrated as the other Vesuvio we had but it clearly stands for its purity and its balance. It should evolve as a fine and complex port for medium term. 17/20 2015-2025
Vesuvio 94 : Judging by its color, it is still a baby, what a huge saturation of purple black color. Nose is more close than the 97, showing intense flavours of anise, chocolate, fresh herbs and tobacco. Sometimes volatile acidity would show. The day after it was completly gone and some nice florals tone with dark plums dominated. On the palate, the entry is so big, full of packed bold jammy tannins, concentrated velvety texture, then then tannins get enveloped by the fruits giving you silky textre, the low acidity gives you a sweeter wine right now full of fruit. The finish is very very long, full of dark cherries and plums. Very impressive right now! Only the low acidity makes me wounder how long it can hold, but the structure and concentration is really impressive. 18.5/20 2020-2030
Vesuvio 96 : Dark purple color, slightly less intense than the 94 and showing a start of amber/ruby color on the edge. Fine nose of plums, dark cherries, tobacco, chocolate and a minerality that was not found in the other one. Mouth is really lacking the amplitude of the other ones but still very nice concentrated dark fruits, silky tannins well balanced with the fruit and acidity. Very charming and silky structure. Impressive for a 1996 and even if it was behind the other Vesuvio I'm pretty sure it can compete well with other House from declared years. 16.5/20 2010-2020
Vesuvio 98 : Nice concentrated ruby color, superbly floral nose, jammy black and red fruits with spices. Really big and rich mouth, full of pure red and black fruits, silky tannins, long and spicy finish showing its complete backbone of bold tannins. Really impressive for an off-vintage. 18/20 2017-2027
Vesuvio 2000: The darkest color of the flight. Inky black color with purple rim. Nose is full of casis, chocolate and mineral tone, though not very expressive, this wine is probably in its dumb phase. The mouth is dense, much close again on the flavours, pure dark fruits like cassis and blueberries. The structure is really impressive, big and concentrated, tannins are firm but well balanced with the sugar and the bold fruits. Everything is well balanced, long finish on chocolate flavours with firm tannins. 17.5/20+ 2025-2035
My conclusion from these 5 vintages of Vesusio is that it is really showing a nice backbones in declared years and the quality puts it among the top wines of the Vintage. In the non declared years, the wines are really more actractive in their youth because the tannins are much less obvious to feel. Though the 98 is impressive I'm not sure it will be long living as the 94,97,200. The off vintage Vesuvio clearly offers great value for money. The drinking periods are only an indication of maturity. If you own 1-2 bottles of these wines and want to wait before opening them, I'd recommend between these years. But clearly Vesuvio is always good!
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