2007 Quinta do Vesuvio Capela
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Tasting notes
Charles Symington described this as one of his favourite years, 'a complete outlier ... but overshadowed by some of the 2011s'. Very cool year, later vintage, slow ripening. Started picking mid to end September, finishing when there is a risk of rain in October. But the rain didn't come. 2007 was also their first vintage of table wines. Foot-trodden and fermented in two smaller lagares, including Sousão but not Alicante Bouschet. He could't resist bottling this separately even though it was disruptive to the business process. 'I'm bottling this whether you like it or not'. Sweet black fruit with a biscuity richness. Gorgeous, voluptuous, rounded and velvety yet it progresses across the palate to a dry tannic finesse. Sweet and rounded on the finish. (JH)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Old-vine selection with more (tartish) Sousão than usual. Dark blackish brick colour. Pepper and spice and the tannins are starting to mellow. Marked acidity on the end. STILL masses of tannins on the end. (JR)
The 2007 Quinta do Vesuvio Capela offers a very similar personality with a bit more of everything, depth, concentration, extract, and succulence. It, too, will offer pleasure through 2040. Importer: Premium Port Wine, San Francisco, CA; tel. (415) 554-9920
Special very small production from this Symington-owned quinta. Very dark. Hint of treacle on the nose. Very round and actually a little lighter than the regular bottling. Great edge and attack and lots of sweetness but not as dense as the regular bottling – though there is more obvious tannin on the finish. I imagine this is more expensive than the regular Quinta do Vesuvio but I'm not quite convinced by its superiority? (JR)