Purchased en primeur from Berry Bros, London, back in 1997. Been in my cellar since delivery 1998, so 16 years with stable storage conditions.
Decanted 4.5 hrs. Medium dark red with a touch of brown. Quite powerful aroma of wet old cellar, mixed with fruit (prunes) and oak. Medium to full body. Taste is smooth, and little disturbance. The fruit is there (clearly prunes and some pears), but getting the impression that the fruit is “leaving the bottle” if I may say so. Still some alcohol in the taste. Well balanced. I still have four bottles, and think that they will be consumed during the next few years. 89 pts.
1996 Quinta do Vesuvio vintage port
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