For The Love Of Port

Yesterday, while at SF's Monaco Hotel enjoying the bicentenary of Blandy's, I had lunch w/ Rupert Symington and a handful of other journalists. To accompany our meal, we enjoyed the 2007 Vesuvio DOC wine which was a chunky, balanced, young wine with gobs of primary fruit and loads of structure too. The 2004 Chryseia that followed was a bit more evolved as would be expected. Still crazy young but more enjoyable at this stage, this might be the finest of all Chryseia bottlings, imo.

I was never a big fan of the Chryseia wines, until last year that is. I had some older ones and was very impressed with how they were aging. Losing some of that new world profile they had when young. Then I had the 2007 a couple times and was very impressed by it and noted that I needed to buy some.

The 2007 Quinta do Vesuvio Douro DOC is a rock star, but needs either a long decant or lots more cellar time. I've put away a case to age, although I'm down to just one at the house for a now-drinker.

Yeah, these were pretty much poured into a decanter just prior to lunch. Both were excellent though the Vesuvio is massive.