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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.

Darker than the '03. Very grappy on the nose, although in the mouth has that immediate wateriness that was only apparent on the older Vesuvios. Strong tannins. Obviously an excellent wine; the best from the 2000s from non-major years.

What a nice surprise this was! A bit gamey and beastly, but more accessible and polite than the 2003 and 2000. One of my favorites from the lesser years, and clearly something to seek out at an appropriate price whilst the 2000s and 2003s sleep.

89 pts

Vanilla on the nose. Soft and approachable but something about this wine reminded me of the 1992 tasted on the same evening.

Decanted 48 hours. Deep red in colour, opaque centre, dark rim. Very floral nose, lots of lavender and blueberries. Slightly dry and a little thin in texture. Takes a long time to develop in the mouth, but does eventually and is worth the wait. Lovely aftertaste, bringing a very long length of sweet and jammy fruit. 92/100.

V04: lightly staining the glass, like V03. Very young; lots of heat. My notes add: ‟JADS likes ’04”.

34% Touriga Nacional; 20% Tinta Barocca; 17% Roriz; 18½% Franca; 3% Souza.