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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.

Same colour as the 2000 with a very similar nose. Notably more youthful, though. Obviously very immature in the mouth but still quite elegant, despite the tannic edge to it.

Wow! Another immense effort, and already showing balance and structure in a way that the 2000 isn't. Obviously tannic and difficult in the mouth, but this shows the potential to at least match the great 1994 if given enough time.

91+ pts (with significant upside)

An intense fruit-bomb nose. massive fruit and acidity on the palate with a long, long finish. Excellent wine and, for me, better than the 2000.

Vey dark, opaque centre and a deep coloured rim. Vibrant nose, full of blackcurrants and sloes. Soft and smooth texture on entry; plenty of fruit but massive tannins hidden behind it all. Such a fruit driven wine, but without being jammy. Strong structure of acid and tannin promises much for the future. An immediate impact from the aftertaste, full in flavour, somewhat jammy but with lovely dry tannins on the cheeks. 94/100.

V03: young enough to stain the glass; opaque; purple at edge. With lots and lots of jammy fruit.