This Quinta do Vesuvio 2012 Vintage port wine is deep purple-black and inky in the glass, indicative of a voluptuous, blockbuster wine, It
denotes opulence on the nose, with rich and ripe blackberry aromas. This is balanced with a distinctive minerality and floral fragrance. It has good structure and smooth tannins with a soft, velvety feel on the palate. This is a beautifully balanced wine with the classic Vesuvio velvety elegance that has turned this Quinta into one of the largest producers of vintage port wines in the Douro in the past 20 years.
Food-Pairing
This port is delicious with foie gras, certain cheeses (Gorgonzola, Roquefort), as an aperitif or as dessert wine
Grapes: 5% Sousão, 10% Tinta Amarela, 25% Touriga Franca, 60% Touriga Nacional
2012 was a very dry year. The spring was changeable with dramatic fluctuations of temperature and
rainfall. Warm conditions in March sped up the vines’ development. This was followed by cold weather and above average rainfall in April and May. This climatic irregularity led to late bud-burst, beginning at Vesuvio in the last week of March.
In response to the dry conditions the vines had developed very short shoots, few bunches of grapes and
little foliage. This all contributed to aiding the vines’ water retention. Despite the very low soil humidity,
therefore, the vines were able to ripen their small bunches of grapes perfectly, producing small quantities
of concentrated and balanced wine.
Alcohol content
19,5 %vol
pH: 3,8
Store & Serve
Serve at 16-18 °C. Must be decanted and opened 6 to 24h in advance.
Stand the bottle upright for a short while
before you intend to decant (20 to 30 minutes at most). Pull the cork slowly and steadily and
leave the bottle for a few minutes. Clean the neck of the bottle. Pour the wine into a clean and rinsed decanter. Once you have started pouring do not stop until you see the very first traces of sediment begin to appear out of the bottle. You may prefer to use a decanting funnel. Port is best served in classic Port wine
glassware or white wine glasses.
Vintage port wine can not remain open for a long time, because it oxidizes faster. After opening, maximum 2 weeks shelf life
Critics & Awards
Silver Outstanding - International Wine & Spirit Competition, 2016
94/100 - Wine Enthusiast
Tasted: 12-Jan-2014
94/100 - Wine Spectator
Tasted: 28-Feb-2015
88/100 - Wine & Spirits Magazine
Tasted: 01-Dec-2014
18/20 - Revista de Vinhos
Tasted: 01-Aug-2014