Decant: 85 hours - At 85 hours the wine is very smooth. Acidity is now well at the back of the wine and fruit with tannin at the front. Tannins are soft and gentle. Lovely, simple mouthful of balanced fruit. Little length. Very pleasant.
That finished the bottle. It was an interesting experience trying a wine this young, but one which left me slightly disappointed. After being blown away by the Sandeman 2003 in November and the Vesuvio '94 I had in December, I had expected great things from this wine and didn't feel that I found them. This was a very enjoyable wine at its peak after some day and a half in the decanter, but I would prefer to open a bottle of the Vesuvio '94 than another bottle of the 2003. However, I have never been able to taste a wine at the first stage of its life and then again 10 or 20 years later. I have absolutely no idea how this wine will develop over the years to come other than to say that I am sure it will. Will it improve? I have no idea and turn to the experience of Roy and others to guide me in this. I do know that I am going to take this opportunity to learn what a wine tastes like in its first year of life and how it develops. My New Year's resolution is to taste a bottle of the Vesuvio '03 at least once a year for the next 20 years. 91 points
TN: 2003 Quinta do Vesuvio Vintage Port
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