2011 Quinta do Vesuvio Capela

The 2011 Capela da Quinta do Vesuvio is a single vineyard bottling that ranks as one of the finest of the declared Ports. Unlike the maiden 2007, it includes a small proportion of Alicante Bouschet, while the heart of the Capela comes from the “Vale da Escola” plot of Touriga Naçional close to the Quinta house. It is endowed with a heart-warming, refined, elegant bouquet with pure scents of raspberry coulis, apricot jam, macerated small dark cherries and blueberry. Supremely well-defined, it unfolds beautifully in the glass. The palate is full-bodied with thick ripe, slightly chewy tannins and exquisite balance. Examining this nascent Port over several minutes, it is stylistically reminiscent of the Noval’s Naçional, and how can you not resist the tremendous power and “authority” of this Vintage Port that seems self-aware of its class? It climaxes in a copious, lightly spiced, lemongrass-tinged finish that goes on and on and on. What an outstanding Vintage Port! Just 200 cases declared – bottles individually numbered. 95-97 points