Quinta do Vesuvio, 1990

Vintage Port

Description and Reviews:
1990 was the first official year of Quinta do Vesuvio Vintage Port. Quinta do Vesuvio is arguably the most magnificent estate in the Douro valley.
"Light rose in colour; 30% opaque. Soft rose perfume on the nose, a little harsh and with a hint of bake. Hollow entry but some burnt sugar and a little red apple comes though on the mid-palate; dry and slightly bitter at the core. Big and flavoursome on the late palate, flavours which lead to red cinnamon and an aniseed finish that drops off quite rapidly. 84/100. Drunk 13-Feb-19. Decanted 1½ hours." Note By AHB on The Port Forum.

Wine Makers Notes: This was fortunate as the weather throughout the summer was very dry and the months of July and August were particularly hot. The budding of the young wines was huge, and the 'flowering' was completed under ideal conditions, all pointing to a large vintage, welcome to all farmers after two very short years. Then the searing heat of late July and most August appeared to change everything and the grapes seemed to be drying up still only half-ripe. However, some heavy rain on 21st August heralded the end of the heat wave, and from mid- September maximum daily shade temperatures dropped to just below 30oc (86ºF) for the fist time in almost two months. Rain in early September brought cool weather and allowed the grapes to swell and ripen fully.



Now part of Symington family Estates, Quinta do Vesuvio is one of the great Quintas of the Douro. It’s located in the Douro Superior on the way to the Spanish border), 120 km east of Porto. The estate was founded by António Bernardo Ferreira, who purchased it in 1823 and developed it to become the grandest Quinta of all in the Douro. António’s son inherited the estate; his wife was the famous Dona Antónia, who was widowed shortly after and went on to develop a grand portfolio of Douro properties.

The Symingtons (owners of Warre, Dow and Graham) purchased the property in 1989, redeveloped it and expanded the vineyard holdings to some 130 hectares. The focus of Vesuvio is vintage Port. The grapes, however, are rigorously selected and only a proportion find their way into the Vintage Port; some are used for the Symington’s table wine projects, and soon there will be a table wine with Vesuvio’s name on it. [Update: this wine is now available, and is excellent, with a second wine called Pombal de Vesuvio.