Quinta do Vesuvio, 2017 Vintage Port

Description

2017 Quinta do Vesuvio Vintage Port

Overview:
The 2017 Quinta do Vesuvio Vintage Port is an outstanding expression of a widely acclaimed Douro vintage. Produced from a blend dominated by Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional, with contributions from Sousão, Alicante Bouschet and Tinta Amarela, it combines immense concentration with remarkable freshness and precision. Still in its youth, the wine displays exceptional structure and depth, with the balance and intensity to reward several decades of cellaring.

Appearance:
Deep, opaque purple-black in colour with a vibrant youthful rim, reflecting its concentration and youth.

Nose:
Powerful and highly aromatic, displaying intense notes of blackberry, cassis and black plum alongside distinctive aromas of rockrose, wild mint and hints of ginger. Further complexity emerges with aeration, revealing floral nuances, dark chocolate and subtle spice.

Palate:
Full-bodied and muscular, with concentrated layers of black fruit supported by firm, peppery tannins. Flavours of blackberry, damson and black cherry are complemented by notes of cocoa, liquorice and crushed schist. Despite its power, the wine retains excellent freshness and balance, with remarkable purity and precision throughout.

Finish:
Exceptionally long and persistent, with lingering dark fruit, spice and mineral notes carried by a powerful tannic structure that promises outstanding longevity.

Decanting:
Although approachable with extended aeration, this youthful Vintage Port will benefit from significant cellar ageing. If opened young, decant several hours before serving at 16–18°C to allow the wine's aromas and flavours to fully develop.

About Quinta do Vesuvio:
Quinta do Vesuvio is one of the Douro Valley's most celebrated estates and a flagship property of the Symington family. Located in the Upper Douro, the estate is renowned for producing powerful, age-worthy Vintage Ports from exceptional vineyard sites. Traditional foot treading in granite lagares remains central to production, helping to create wines of extraordinary concentration, structure and complexity.

Condition

New

Reviews

***17.5/20 - Richard Mayson ***
A blend of the Tourigas with Sousão, Alicante Bouschet and Tinta Amarela: very different from the other Symington estate wines, lifted and aromatic on the nose with a touch of green leaf and ginger (Land of Green Ginger?) with a wild, herbal edge; lovely freshness on the palate, all the way through, not especially big with peppery tannins but showing near perfect purity, leading to a long linear finish. Should be approachable early but will last the course. 17.5 +?

*** 95/100 - James Suckling ***
Finished aromas of crushed berry, graphite and stone. Full body, very sweet with a tangy almost sweet and sour character. Distinct flavors of dried oranges and dark berries. Medium tannin structure. Very ripe yet fresh. Try in 2025.
jamessuckling.com

*** 92/100 - Vinous Neil Martin ***
The 2017 Quinta do Vesuvio Vintage Port was picked from August 28, the earliest on record and the Symingtons single out the Touriga Franca as the foundation of its quality for imparting all-important freshness. It has a fragrant and more floral bouquet compared to its peers, not as intense as either Warre’s and Cockburn’s with scents of blackcurrant, Medjool dates, raspberry preserve and raisin, well defined, although you are convinced that this Vesuvio is holding something back. The palate is smooth with lace-like tannin, very well judged acidity, quite powerful and dense with a voluminous black plum and blackcurrant finish with hints of espresso and mint. This is a fine Vesuvio although, it lacks the profundity of its peers in this vintage. Total production 1,200 cases.
Score: 92 Neal Martin, vinous.com, June 2019

*** 18.5/20 Jancis Robinson ***
1,200 cases, just 3% of the vineyard production. 30th anniversary of the Symington acquisition of this property. Foot trodden in lagares. Earliest ever harvest at Vesuvio, starting on 28 August. Yields 15% below the Quinta’s 10-year average. Fruit from mature plantings of Touriga Franca from the Vale da Teja sections of Vesuvio (35%), the Touriga Nacional from the high-lying Vinha das Minas and Raposa parcels (33%), the Sousão from the Minas and Quinta Nova vineyards (15%) and the Alicante Bouschet from Castelos (12%), plus 5% Tinta Amarela. The Sousão component was larger because of its important contribution to acidity. Baumé 3.9, TA 4.37 g/l.
Dark purple with purple rim. The fruit character is less wild here than in the Graham’s and Stone Terraces, more domesticated black fruit and yet just as pure and still with fine bergamot from the Touriga. Sweet baking spice on the palate leading in to highly textured tannins, as if the texture itself was spicy, but fine like layers of paper. Dense, packed with potential and less approachable than the Dow’s and Warre’s, less obviously sweet on the mid palate. But the long finish is sweet and utterly pure fruit. Wonderful persistence. (JH)