Quinta Do Vesuvio Vintage Port 2008

Wine information: Quinta do Vesuvio is the most spectacular Quinta in the Douro valley. Located in the wild and serenely beautiful eastern reaches of the Upper Douro valley, 120 kilometres east of Oporto and 45 kilometres from the Spanish border, Quinta do Vesuvio stands alone both in terms of remoteness and sheer grandeur. Maturation studies are carried out in the vineyard from mid August in order to select the ideal picking date for each grape variety and for each part of the Quinta. All picking is done by hand, with a careful selection being made. The grapes are then taken in small trays to the “adega” on the estate. Vesuvio is one of the very few estates in the Douro where the entire production of the property is made by foot treading in the traditional stone lagares (most, if not all Quintas that still tread also have other fermentation tanks as well). The magnificent 24 pipe lagares at Vesuvio are among the largest in the Douro, each requiring at least 50 people to tread. During the harvest, only the very best grapes are used to make the wine, and even then, Vintage Ports are only made in years when the conditions ensure a high level of quality. This means that only a small quantity of the wine produced at Vesuvio is bottled as Vintage Port under the Vesuvio name. Of all the wine produced at Vesuvio, only a relatively small proportion is selected for release as Vesuvio Vintage Port. Not unlike the great Château wines of France, Quinta do Vesuvio is offered en premier, as a Single Quinta Vintage Port. "A luscious, velvety Port, this is draped in black, plummy fruit flavor. The fruit is warm and spicy, the structure soft underneath. A sweet vintage of Vesuvio, this will likely be at its best around ten to 12 years of age." Wine & Spirits Magazine, 90 Points. "A full-throttle, full-bodied Port, exhibiting lively raspberry and cassis flavors that feature plenty of grip. Lush creamy notes carry through to the chocolate mousse infused finish." Wine Spectator, 93 Points.

 
     

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