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Quinta do Noval

The history of Quinta do Noval begins, as far as we are aware, in 1715. The estate belonged to the Rebello Valente family, although it did not have the reputation for the production of Port that it has today. The estate passed through several other hands before purchase by António José da Silva in 1894. If there is any moment in time which should be identified as a turning point for Quinta do Noval, this is it. Da Silva, and his son Luis Vasconcelos Porto, replanted vineyards, repaired buildings, widened the terraces - in doing so he made the estate one of the showpieces of the Douro - and generally kick-started a Quinta do Noval revolution.

These innovations bore fruit in 1931, a vintage that was declared by only three Port houses, of which Quinta do Noval was one. Many argue that the Quinta do Noval Nacional 1931 is the greatest Port of the twentieth century. And it is not only with top quality that Quinta do Noval leads - there are many other firsts for this estate, including the creation of the late bottled vintage style in 1954 and of aged tawnies in 1958. Although for centuries a family firm, time marches on, and in 1993 Quinta do Noval was purchased by the French insurance group AXA. The current range of Ports offered by Quinta do Noval is led by the Nacional vintage Port, made from a 2.5 hectare plot of ungrafted vines. There are a mere 300 or so cases made - so demand and prices are high. Other leading cuvées are the standard vintage wine together with Silval, a slightly lighter vintage Port, but impressive nevertheless. The LBV is made in a traditional, unfiltered style, so it is more like a mini-vintage than the usual LBV. It can repay cellaring. The colheita and blended tawny Ports can be very good indeed also. The introduction of the stylishly packaged ruby Port, Raven, in 2003, has also been a success. (4/12/03)

Contact details:
Address: Av. Diogo Leite 256, 4400-111 Vilanova de Gaia
Telephone: +351 22 377 0270
Fax: +351 22 375 0365
Internet: www.quintadonoval.com

Quinta do Noval Port - Tasting Notes

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Cedro do Noval (Vinho Regional Duriense) 2007: Named for the cedar on the property, which appears on the label too. The blend is 30% Touriga Nacional, 30% Touriga Franca, 10% Tinta Roriz and 30% Syrah. Attractive, with a dark but vibrant rim. Lovely perfumed fruit nose, very fresh style, charcoaly, really appealing dark and crunchy fruit. Good depth and substance on the palate, plenty of nice structure, although rather soft at the edges. Dark and perfumed, crunchy, elegant. Rather soft palate, plentiful layer of fruit, dry backbone of tannin, pillowy substance with a tannic backbone and a little drop of acidity at the very front. An appealing flavour profile here. Overall this is attractive and modern, the main issues being that it finishes a little soft and short. It's also a little warm. Lots of appeal though. From a Quinta do Noval tasting with Christian Seely. 15.5/20 (October 2010)

Quinta do Noval (Douro) 2007: A blend of 50% Touriga Nacional, 40% Touriga Franca and 10% Tinto Cão, this wine is sourced from some of the same vineyards as Quinta do Noval Vintage Ports. This is dark, spicy and intense, although it has some tightly reined in and reserved fruit. Alongside there are notes of charcoal, bonfire and smouldering wood. It is sweet, slightly nutty, and certainly ripe, with a dried-fruit character. A good, supple but fleshy character to it. There is rather more substance here than in Cedro, and better definition too, the suppleness coming with a firm, central backbone too. A fine effort, but with plenty of nutty fruit substance too. And in the finish, a rolling presence of fruit with a grippy, tannic layer. Very good. From a Quinta do Noval tasting with Christian Seely. 16.5+/20 (October 2010)

Quinta do Noval (Douro) 2005: This well known Port house now also produces table wines, and this particular example is a blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tinta Cão. It has dark and restrained fruit on the nose, with a backward, gamey, animally edge. The entry onto the palate has a cool style, followed by an elegant midpalate There is firm acidity, a gentle and ripe structure and fresh, minerally fruit. In the background there is a touch of game, a sappy character and a clean finish. Overall, a nice style. From a tasting of 50 Great Portuguese Wines. 16.5+/20 (April 2009)

Quinta do Noval Late Bottled Vintage Unfiltered Port 2004: A hugely appealing nose here, very open and elegantly perfumed, although there is still a layer of sandalwood beneath the fruit which has a dark and seasoned character, with elements of bonfire, charred wood, but over it all sweet perfumed fruit. For such a young port it has a very appealing, compact, linear definition on the palate, holding up its skirt sides through into the midpalate where it then relaxes showing some tannin and spirit. But it is very well composed, showing good kick but lots of well-judged fruit as well. Delicious; wait for those oak characteristics to resolve, by which time I hope this will be ready to drink. Polished. Certainly some breed here. Very fine. From a Quinta do Noval tasting with Christian Seely. 17+/20 (October 2010)

Noval Late Bottled Vintage Unfiltered Port 2003: A dark and glossy wine, and one that is still awkwardly adolescent on the nose. We have sweet and heady roasted meats, cloves and cinnamon swirled with honey. A fine sweetness on entry, then it broadens out considerably through the middle, with plenty of spirity and tannic bite underneath but perhaps less acidity than some other wines. But not an absence of acidity, not at all. I think from the texture on the palate at present this will soften into a sweet, slightly more chewy style than some other vintages, but it will still have backbone and give pleasure. From a Quinta do Noval tasting with Christian Seely. 15.5+/20 (October 2010)

Noval Late Bottled Vintage Unfiltered Port 2001: Finely defined and linear fruit character on the nose, fresh and yet dense too, with concentrated black fruits still with a little sweet, pureed suggestion of youth. Alongside there is a nicely spiced wood character, with touches of tobacco leaf here and there. Nicely polished at the start, with a rather charming, accessible, soft and pillowy start to it which hides the tannins beneath rather well, until the midpalate at least. Bright and a little violetty. There is a darkness brooding beneath but on the palate the lifted and perfumed side wins out, and overall this is very pleasant now and will drink well before the 2000 I am sure. It does need another 5 or so years yet though. From a Quinta do Noval tasting with Christian Seely. 16+/20 (October 2010)

Noval Late Bottled Vintage Unfiltered Port 2000: A fresh yet still slightly glossy hue here. This has a compact, animalistic, gamey core on the nose, and it shows a painfully youthful presence of spirit as well. Rather supple and nicely composed on entry though, sweet and still showing a little dry woodiness at the edges, but with no shortage of substance. Rich, compact, more than that supple opening suggests, with texture and grip aplenty. And reassuringly still with a lifted suggestion, the nascent perfume of future maturity perhaps. Lovely potential but this needs another 5-10 years I think. From a Quinta do Noval tasting with Christian Seely. 16.5+/20 (October 2010)

Quinta do Noval Silval Vintage Port 2000: Dense and powerful fruit - we have clearly moved up a gear here. Immense richness, power and easily sensed extract on the palate. Piles of tannin, grip and appropriate acidity. A lovely wine which needs a decade in the cellar at the very least. 18+/20 (December 2003)

Quinta do Noval Vintage Port 2000: Top gear now. The nose has complexity and power in combination - a sure sign of a title contender. Despite this apparently heavyweight nature, however, we have immediately obvious elegance on the palate. This is underpinned by fine tannins and piles of dark fruits. And enveloping it all is a creamy mouthfeel which builds in intensity. Simply tremendous. 18.5+/20 (December 2003)

Noval Late Bottled Vintage Unfiltered Port 1997: Dense, sweet and smoky fruit on the nose here, which is full of promise. The palate doesn't disappoint. It is full of power and extract, but with a rich, sweet, creamy texture and a wealth of fruit. This is amazing quality - what a shame more Port houses don't produce unfiltered (or 'traditional') Port. This will age very well in the cellar for five years or more. 16.5+/20 (December 2003)

Quinta do Noval Silval Vintage Port 1997: This has sweet black fruits on the nose, with an undertow of molasses providing a rich note. The palate offers lovely balance, carrying a rich, textured mouthfeel. Good grippy tannins and an excellent provision of sweet fruits. Straightforward and easy to understand, but lovely too. Needs another five to ten years. 17+/20 (December 2003)

Noval Late Bottled Vintage Unfiltered Port 1996: This vintage seems so much more dense and compact on the nose than the 1994, and it has a hint of smoky, slightly burnt rubber to it as well. Supple, sweet, slightly crunchy and perfumed in a lightly sugary way. Rather more viscous than the previous wine on entry. The tannins come through in the midpalate though, where there is still a little spirity kick too. Good, sappy-supple style in the finish, but lots of structure, including a good acid backbone. Whereas the 1994 is just about ready, this really needs more time yet. From a Quinta do Noval tasting with Christian Seely. 16+/20 (October 2010)

Noval Late Bottled Vintage Unfiltered Port 1994: An elegant, maturing hue here. Fine spiced sandalwood on the nose, perfumed, delicately appealing, rather floral too. There is certainly enough here to keep you coming back for more. Sweet, open, certainly ripe and yet there is great freshness here too, giving it a crunchy feel. And also a warm, honeyed layer to it. Finely textured on entry, rather polished in fact, with an attractive seam of soft tannin underneath the gently honed fruit. There is even still a little bite to it especially in the finish. For an LBV I find this expressive, exotically complex, and overall very good. From a Quinta do Noval tasting with Christian Seely. 16.5/20 (October 2010)

Noval Late Bottled Vintage Traditional Port 1991: A glossy red-purple wine. On the nose, toasty forest fruits, with nuances of fig and spice. Rich, solid and fairly well balanced on the palate, with plenty of fruit. Alcohol dominates from the midpalate onwards. A good sweetness and texture, and a firm but integrated tannic structure. This doesn't seem to quite have the elegance and clean lines of my previous bottle. This, together with rapid oxidation once opened, leads me to question previous storage conditions. 15?/20 (June 2001)

Noval Late Bottled Vintage Traditional Port 1991: A rich, dense and glossy purple-black wine, with a nose of sweet plum and berry fruits, and a rich, tarry note. There follows an enticing palate of chocolate and liquorice, sweet plummy fruit and cigar smoke. Beautifully structured, with integrated tannins, a superb texture and balance, this wine proved a delight. Rich and sumptuous, this is one of the top LBV Ports I ever recall drinking, if not the top. 16.5/20 (December 2000)

Quinta do Noval Port Colheita 1986: This is much more dense than the proceeding tawnies and colheita. Lots of character on the nose, with nutty aromas, but again a spirity note. Rich and warm on the palate, meaty and powerful. It has all the 1974 has to offer, and just that little bit more. Still has tannin, and a spirity kick. Drinkable now, but not on its deathbed. 16.5/20 (December 2003)

Quinta do Noval Vintage Port 1985: A pale hue, a mature fading red, and a touch cloudy too, despite being stood upright for the day. On the nose, sweet maturity, notes of violet-perfumed fruit, flowery but also peppery, but also figgy and woody, and at the side occasionally a little spirity. Nicely broad and quite well fleshed out on entry and through the midpalate, but underneath good and fairly firm tannins, and also fairly punchy acidity too. But there are also some attractive flavours, and attractive dark fruits, Although this wine displays a fading character, there is still substance, flesh and a little sweetness here, and overall this is attractive. For drinking now. Very good. From a 1985 Vintage Port tasting. 17/20 (March 2009)

Quinta do Noval Vintage Port 1985: A very mature, dark mahogany hue here. Paler than I expected. Rather spirity, but with attractive meaty-earthy notes, an caramel too. It doesn't look too good; the victim of poor storage I think. Rather sweet palate, a little creamy-oily, softly structured, with sweet caramelised flavour rather like that suggested by the nose. Rather surprising in view of how pleasing this was a couple of years ago. This has gone over the edge; possibly storage related? I opened another; this bottle fortunately fared much better. Although also obviously maturing judging by the colour, there is none of the brown pigment which raised my concern with the first. It has a well pigmented core, gently fading out to the rim. Certainly some complexity on the nose, as the figgy fruit is followed by notes of aniseed and sage, with a subtle woody-caramel layer beneath. Quite lightfooted on the palate, but with a pleasing, rounded, complete texture. The nose is a little spirity, and here too on the palate the alcohol stands out a little, although it is not problematic. It engenders a rather firm mouthfeel, which cuts through the finish. Appealing length. Very good. 17/20 (March 2007)

Quinta do Noval Vintage Port 1985: Even the cellar-smell that fills the air as the capsule is removed evokes good memories; but the Port is pretty good too. A lovely, vibrant and lively colour; bright ruby red, with a little pink-orange rim. Initially cloves and cigars on the nose, then sweet tarry fruit, crystallised sweetness, figgy liquorice. Certainly nicely developed. A good sweet, fleshy roundness with just a very slightly spirity alcohol. Plush, deep texture, with plenty of pepper, cigar and liquorice flavour here, with a sweet richness to the fruit. This is lovely; drink over the next ten years. A Christmas Wine. 17+/20 (December 2004)

Quinta do Noval Vintage Port 1985: This wine also has a less dense hue than the preceding wines. The nose is quite woody, with some figgy fruit. On the palate, however, sweet black peppery fruit marries with well integrated alcohol to produce a good, smooth, weighty texture. Finishes well, leading into a good length. From a 1985 Vintage Port blind tasting. 17/20 (October 2000)

Quinta do Noval Vintage Port 1982: This has a lovely deep red colour, and it is just a touch cloudy - nothing a second decant wouldn't have sorted out. The nose has lovely floral perfume, together with somewhat raisined fruit. Pleasing weight on the palate, which has integrated alcohol and good balance. Good peppery fruit. Fabulous length. From a 1982 Vintage twenty years on blind tasting. 17/20 (April 2002)

Quinta do Noval Port Colheita 1974: A warm, open, somewhat spirity nose. There's great texture on the palate, with the alcoholic warmth coming through, but also that spirity element as well. Amazingly still a little tannin too. Meaty, with a touch of power. Some negative points here, but quite impressive for such an aged wine from a washout vintage. Drink now. 16.5/20 (December 2003)

Tasting notes are ordered by date of tasting, most recent first. I have tried to indicate whether it is a tasting of a new release, or of a wine I have cellared.

Quinta do Noval Ten Year Old Tawny Port NV: Latest release. An almost floral, nutty nose. The palate is quite rich, nutty and powerful. A smooth mouthfeel, and good balance. There's still a little tannic grip in the background. Drink now. 16/20 (December 2003)

Quinta do Noval Twenty Year Old Tawny Port NV: Latest release. This is more impressive on the nose. It is full and open, with rosehip and treacle character. The palate has a similar full richness, but it is restrained by fresh acidity. This results in an amazing elegance and a wonderful, refreshing mouthfeel. Plenty of nutty fruit for interest. Delicious stuff. Drink now. 17.5/20 (December 2003)