2017 Quinta do Vesuvio - Vintage Port
Quinta do Vesuvio is one of the Douro's most storied estates, with written records tracing the property back to 1565. Its modern character took shape in the early nineteenth century under António Bernardo Ferreira, a prominent Port grower who carved terraces into the hillsides and built an adega on a scale that matched his ambitions for the vineyard. The Symington family acquired the estate in 1989 and has spent decades restoring its vines, drawing on generations of winemaking experience in the Douro to bring the quinta's reputation back to its former standing.
The 2017 vintage was picked beginning August 28, the earliest harvest on record at the property, and the fruit was largely dominated by Touriga Franca, prized here for the freshness it lends to the blend alongside Touriga Nacional, Sousão, Alicante Bouschet, and Tinta Amarela. The wine was bottled unfiltered in May 2019 under the direction of winemakers Charles Symington and Bernardo Nápoles.
The color is a deep, opaque purple black with a vibrant, youthful rim. Aromas of lavender and rockrose mingle with mint and ginger, while the palate delivers dense black fruit lifted by peppery, schist-derived tannins. The finish is long and structured. Pair with venison stew or a hard, aged cheese.