2024 Quinta do Vesuvio Capela

The 2024 Capela da Quinta do Vesuvio Vintage Port is the sixth time this cuvee has been released, a selection of parcels populated by century-old vines at the namesake quinta. It has a perfumed nose that is more floral than Vesuvio`s regular bottling, more open, with scents of black plum, bay leaf and, again, that touch of Japanese nori. The palate is silky smooth on the entry with impressive depth. Plush and saturated tannins, very well judged acidity, there is impressive weight on the finish with a liberal sprinkling of black pepper. Quite a forthright Vintage Port, give this a few years in the cellar. 96 points

The 2024 Capela da Quinta do Vesuvio Vintage Port, named after the Chapel Vineyard, which is the first to be replanted after phylloxera, is a field blend of centenary vines, and the wine also has grapes from other plots, including a younger one planted exclusively with Touriga Franca. It fermented with indigenous yeasts in stone lagars that were foot trodden and then matured in oak casks for 18 months. This somehow didn`t have the energy and edge of the regular Vesuvio. It has notes of orange blossom, a hint of resin and rockrose, and it grew in the glass. It has lavender, notes of pine needles, the Vesuvio signature, and is explosive in the mouth, with well-armed tannins. It`s a big wine but has balance. It has 20% alcohol, a pH of 3.65 and 101 grams of sugar. 5,160 bottles produced. It was bottled in 2026. 95-97 points