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Viinin Kuvailu
The Story
This iconic Douro property is recorded as far back as 1565. In the early 19th century the quinta was acquired by António Bernard Ferreira, a well known Port grower and businessman, who began a programme of building and landscaping on an unprecedented scale. Old stone walled terraces were repaired and new ones created, bringing approximately 100 hectares under vine of the 325 (803 acre) hectare property. An adega was built to match the scale of the vineyards: whereas typical lagares (the stone tanks in which grapes are treaded by foot) hold about 12 pipes of port, the eight lagares at Vesuvio each hold 25 pipes of wine (14,000 litres) and require 50 people to tread the grapes.
Ultimately the property passed into the hands of António’s redoubtable daughter in law, Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira. She oversaw the building of the grand estate house and chapel, and thereafter frequently used Quinta do Vesuvio as her principal residence. It was Dona Antónia who bottled and sold the Vesuvio wines under their own name – which was an extraordinary practice in the 19th century – and brought the quinta and its wines into renown. She faced the devastation of phylloxera in the 1870’s, shifting to production of olives, almonds and oranges when the grape crops failed, and kept her labour force further employed with the construction of a 16 km stone wall to encircle the property. As phylloxera came under control, vineyards were replanted with grafted vines, and wine production resumed. Dona Antónia’s descendants continued production at Vesuvio, but blended or sold the wines to other shippers; although the Quinta remained a legend, the wines became less well known.
In 1989 the Symington family acquired the property with the intention to restore the quinta and its wines to their former glory. The house and adega were restored and a massive planting program undertaken which extended the area under vine to 136 hectares, as well as revitalising and re-planting selected existing vineyards. The decision was made to retain the tradition of treading by foot, and to make only Vintage Port – no other Port styles are made under the Quinta do Vesuvio name. If necessary, no Vintage Port will be made when the stringent quality criteria have not been met, as in 1993 and 2002 when weather conditions were a challenge.
Wine Information
Touriga Nacional makes up 40% of the Vesuvio 2011 Vintage Port, delivering freshness, structure and phenomenal colour, as well as gorgeous aromas of esteva (rockrose). The other principal component, Touriga Franca (45% of the blend) realized its full potential in 2011, ripening fully and evenly. Sourced from the predominantly west-facing Vale da Teja vineyard (30 years is the average age of these plantings), the Franca provided superb floral characteristics (violets, roses) and velvety tannins, contributing exceptional elegance to the overall blend. True to its typical late ripening cycle, the Franca was last to be picked from the 1st to the 9th of October. The balance of the blend is made up with small quantities of Tinta Barroca (10%) and Tinta Amarela (5%). All of the Quinta do Vesuvio Port wines are foot-trodden in the famous stone lagares in the traditional manner.
Quinta do Vesuvio 2011 Vintage Port is a beautiful, powerful and aromatic wine with a heady floral fragrance. On the palate it gives sumptuous liquorice and blueberry flavours, which coat the well-integrated peppery tannins. A crisp acidity underscores the wine’s profile, revealing a wine that is supple, yet taut. This is a beautifully balanced wine with the classic Vesuvio velvet-like elegance that has turned this Quinta into one of the greatest producers of Vintage Port in the Douro over the last 20 years.
