1996 Quinta do Vesuvio

[djewesbury]

Dark, 85% perhaps. Wide clear rim, block dense centre.

A fresh greenness in the nose above all the chunky violets and fruits.

Very green - surprisingly herby and fresh in the mouth. Minty. After a day this had a real chocolate mint note. Slight sharpness, a tiny bit volatile in the finish; not unpleasant, gives it bite.

Is this finish long? I never know.. It certainly has spearmint. Yes, I guess I'm still tasting it 45 seconds later; and it's growing into different notes..

Is it wrong to say that this suggests freshly steamed green vegetables to me? Specifically broccoli; but I could be persuaded that other brassicas were there.
(EDIT: on reflection, I think this is misleading - steamed brassicas inevitably makes this sound stale, which it certainly wasn't. The taste I'm looking for combines green freshness and iron-rich minerality; something which is clean and sharp in the nose. Quite wonderful.)

I liked it.