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Quinta do Noval Nacional Vintage Port 1997

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Quinta do Noval Nacional Vintage Port 1997
Producer Quinta do Noval
Region, Country Douro, Portugal
Bottle Size 750ml
Product Code 21100-750

The most revered and collectable Port in the world, Quinta do Noval Nacional is a Vintage Port produced from a single 2.5-hectare parcel of ungrafted vines in the Quinta do Noval estate, right next to the cellars. This patch of vines consistently produces a sublime and unique wine which is widely considered to be the pinnacle of Vintage Port and indeed, one of the great wines of the world. It is also almost certainly the rarest of the great wines of the world as so little is released and then, only in the appropriate years.

The Nacional plot is not named after the grape Touriga Nacional (as is commonly assumed). In fact, the site is planted with a range of the best Port varieties including Touriga Nacional (which only accounts for roughly 30%), Touriga Francesa, Tinto Cão (about 20%, 60-year-old vines), Tinta Roriz and some Sousão. The average age of the vines is around 50 years. The wine is called Nacional (i.e. national) because it is produced exclusively from ungrafted vines (i.e. vines on their original rootstocks and therefore directly in touch with the soil of the nation). The yields of these vines are minuscule (around 15 hl/ha) and the tight bunches of small, deeply coloured grapes produce a massively profound, yet typically sublimely refined Port of rare finesse. The La Romanée-Conti of Ports if you like.

 


 


Quinta do Noval Nacional Vintage Port 1997

Reviews

“Blackish very deep crimson with a crimson rim. Seems more evolved on the nose than the regular 1997 and with masses of rich sweet fruit in the forefront although the tannins and the alcohol slightly impose on the finish. Very beguiling and dramatic. It would be very tempting to drink this now but the second half of the tasting experience suggests one should keep it really quite a while!”
20/20 points, Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com
“There’s an earthy, spicy savouriness to the dark fruits nose, which makes it seem a bit backward. The palate has a minty edge to the fruit. Very focused and fresh with good structure. Not as alluring or elegant as the Vintage Port, but quite different with tight structure.”
97 points, Jamie Goode, wineanorak.com
“Even more saturated dark ruby. Even riper but much more reticent aromas of dark berries, maple syrup and black licorice. Superripe and voluptuous in the mouth, with impressively deep, lush fruit of uncanny purity. Complicating notes of graphite, flowers and minerals. Thick but bright. Finishes with big, ripe tannins, great persistence and a very late burst of black cherry flavor. As with the outstanding '94 bottling, this wine's extraordinarily pure, deep fruit is partly hiding its underlying structure.”
97+ points, Stephen Tanzer, Vinous

Reviews

“Blackish very deep crimson with a crimson rim. Seems more evolved on the nose than the regular 1997 and with masses of rich sweet fruit in the forefront although the tannins and the alcohol slightly impose on the finish. Very beguiling and dramatic. It would be very tempting to drink this now but the second half of the tasting experience suggests one should keep it really quite a while!”
20/20 points, Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com
“There’s an earthy, spicy savouriness to the dark fruits nose, which makes it seem a bit backward. The palate has a minty edge to the fruit. Very focused and fresh with good structure. Not as alluring or elegant as the Vintage Port, but quite different with tight structure.”
97 points, Jamie Goode, wineanorak.com
“Even more saturated dark ruby. Even riper but much more reticent aromas of dark berries, maple syrup and black licorice. Superripe and voluptuous in the mouth, with impressively deep, lush fruit of uncanny purity. Complicating notes of graphite, flowers and minerals. Thick but bright. Finishes with big, ripe tannins, great persistence and a very late burst of black cherry flavor. As with the outstanding '94 bottling, this wine's extraordinarily pure, deep fruit is partly hiding its underlying structure.”
97+ points, Stephen Tanzer, Vinous

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