Quinta do Vesuvio Vintage 2003

Quinta do Vesuvio Vintage 2003

The 2003 winter was quite humid in the Douro and this was critical for the growth phase. Precipitation brought mild and moderate conditions, only decreased in April and was followed by very hot and dry conditions, interrupted only by a few drizzles in late June and July. Some of the highest temperatures ever recorded in Portugal were in August, although in the Douro it was not much hotter than normal, maximum daytime temperatures in Vesuvius with an average of 42ºC. Due to the accumulated water reserves at the bottom of the soil it heats up, maturation took place under ideal conditions and the dry climate in September ensured that the harvest has been running in perfect conditions.