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1994 Quinta do Vesuvio
Posted: 00:22 Sat 01 Feb 2014
by Alex Bridgeman
Deep red and darker than the Graham 1994 shown alongside. Powerful nose, still full of dark red fruit - intense and concentrated. Lovely texture on entry, but little flavour initially. Fruit - and so much of it - comes through on the mid-palate - comes on the mid-palate, supported by soft tannins and fabulous balancing acidity. This has such a palate presence and such depth. The aftertaste delivers a big wave of fruit and a long, intense finish. Stunning port. 96/100. Drunk at the BBR Port Walk on 28 November 2013.
Re: 1994 Quinta do Vesuvio
Posted: 01:06 Wed 05 Feb 2014
by Chris Doty
Glad to see you post a fresh note, as I've been pretty good lately about disregarding my stash.
The 94V is a candidate for 'port of my life' - It just has it all: Delicious, age-worthy, well made / consistent, attractively priced, etc. I do not give this praise lightly. This is a JCVD flying roundhouse knockout.
Graham also made a great 1994. There's a clear stylistic difference, and while well made, the Graham doesn't find the inviting 'jessica rabbit-esque' opulence that puts the Vesuvio on a higher plane to my palate. I remember at the vesuvio tasting in particular how the nose just jumped out of the glass like you had exploded lush purple essence of deliciousness and in the process, anything served alongside it (including the also excellent but generally less harmonious 2000 and 2003 vintages) seem lacking in some area.
I believe this wine has met its equal in the likes of the 2011 Quevedo (and possibly others from the recent vintages), but this is a fabulous, worldclass port. shhhh