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Tasted as part of a Vesuvio Vertical from 1989 to 2008 at The New Cavendish Club, London on 23rd February 2010.

• Organisation thread
• Review of the evening
• Quinta do Vesuvio 1989
• Quinta do Vesuvio 1990
• Quinta do Vesuvio 1991
• Quinta do Vesuvio 1992
• Quinta do Vesuvio 1994
• Quinta do Vesuvio 1995
• Quinta do Vesuvio 1996
• Quinta do Vesuvio 1997
• Quinta do Vesuvio 1998
• Quinta do Vesuvio 1999
• Quinta do Vesuvio 2000
• Quinta do Vesuvio 2001
• Quinta do Vesuvio 2003
• Quinta do Vesuvio 2004
• Quinta do Vesuvio 2005
• Quinta do Vesuvio 2006 (Magnum)
• Quinta do Vesuvio 2007
• Quinta do Vesuvio 2007 Capela
• Quinta do Vesuvio 2008 (Work-in-progress Cask Sample*)

*Please note that the 2008 Cask Sample was donated to this tasting by the Symington family before the final blend was complete so this may not accurately represent what the Vesuvio 2008 will be, should it be approved and declared later in 2010.

Perhaps a touch darker than the '94. More muted on the nose with, unfortunately, a touch of the '92. Much less well balanced and integrated: immediate hit of sugar followed by complete disintegration and a bitter aftertaste. Hopefully some age will allow the pieces to fall in the right place.

Sadly, following the 94, this seemed particularly poor. A bit thin, simple, disjointed, and unmemorable. Maybe another decade under the influence will do it some good, but I'm not overly optimistic about my remaining bottle.

80 pts.

Lovely nose, good weight with chocolate flavours and very dry in the mid-palate. A slight bitterness in the finish but overall a nice wine for drinking now and over the next 10 years.

V95: an edge darker than the V94. Full sweetness, heat. A little light vegetable in nose and palate. Slight; pleasant.

Almost as deep in colour as the 1994, but with a slightly transparent edge. Chocolate on the nose, with a touch of alcohol showing through - dusty and slightly harsh. Tannins and acidity dominate initially in the mouth but with a fruit presence; lacking in balance but with promising development. Heat dominates the aftertaste and the finish - which is very pleasant and full of grape jelly - is a little short. 89/100. Drunk 23 Feb 2010 after 3 hours decant.