2010 Quinta do Vesuvio

[Alex Bridgeman]

I had the good fortune to be offered a half bottle cask sample of the 2010 Vesuvio and 2010 Senhora da Ribeira ports for tasting and review. I spent 7 days over the review of each of these ports in order to allow them to develop and show some of the complexity and structure that might not show so well on a short snap-shot tasting. These are my impressions:

Vesuvio 2010
650 cases made. A touch more magenta on the rim than is showing on the Riberia. A lovely nose, full and rich with a balance of sour cherry fruit and floral perfume. Lovely soft texture, thick and dense, with powerful palate presence. Great fruit and lovely ripe acidity providing a strong backbone; the tannins are powerful, but are dominated by the fruit until the long finish. This is powerful port, with plenty of layers and complexity but still maintaining a terrific balance; certainly one I am adding to my cellar! 90-92.