2019 Quinta do Noval Nacional
Prezzo di mercato
Opzioni di acquisto
Note di degustazione
Pure perfection in Port, the 2019 Vintage Port Nacional is riveting stuff in every sense, and I certainly can't imagine it being any better. Coming from a single parcel of older vines and a field blend (it's primarily Touriga Nacional) brought up in older wood, it's one of those ports that brings incredible intensity, richness, and power while somehow staying perfectly balanced, pure, and light on its feet, with its fruit, alcohol, and structure just flawlessly integrated. It's also incredibly complex, even at this young stage, offering red, blue, and black fruits as well as sandalwood, Asian spice, dried flowers, iron, black olive, and graphite on the nose. While the base Noval closed down quite quickly, this showed consistently over the three days I had the bottles open, never showing any sign of fatigue or oxidation, and given its incredible balance, it was the wine I chose to pour a small glass of each evening as well. While the 2020 is all about power and richness, this is an utterly complex, compelling, insanely good Port that I wish I could pour for every reader. While it offers ample pleasure today (count me in the group that enjoys young Port), I would hide any bottles I might have for at least 7-8 years, and it should have 50, 60, 70 years of longevity? This beauty will unquestionably outlive most of us today.
Punteggi della critica
Punteggio medio
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Neal Martin
Altre recensioni e punteggi
The 2019 Nacional has an incredibly intense nose with black cherries, tar and clove, maybe not quite as precise as the 2020 yet still utterly transfixing. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, firm grip, spicier than the 2020, powerful and almost muscular, yet without taking one iota away from its precision and focus. There is plenty of spice on the finish that lingers long in the mouth. Seriously long-term. Tasted at the Quinta do Noval tasting at Spring restaurant in London.
Full bottle 1,354 g. Small vineyard of ungrafted vines within the Noval estate. A blend of Touriga Francesa, Tinto Cão, Touriga Nacional, Sousão and Tinta Roriz. Grapes are trodden by foot to obtain the must, then during fermentation macerate to obtain the best possible extraction in the lagares. Aged 18 months in wood. RS 100 g/l. Black to the rim – there is virtually no rim! Aroma is completely different from the Quinta do Noval 2019. This is more open, with blueberry and vanilla. On the palate, the tannins are firmer and offer more resistance but still smoothed in texture. There's a dark, savoury, almost charry quality on the palate but it's more texture than flavour. Outstanding length like a long plateau of deep consistency which will need time to take on a more specific shape. Sip slowly. (JH)
Last but certainly not least, the 2019 Quinta do Noval Naçional Vintage Port comes from Noval’s un-grafted vines and undergoes essentially the same maturation as the regular Noval. It is more backward on the nose compared to the Noval, demands time to open, before eventually revealing black cherries, tar, tobacco and clove. A touch of smoke and eucalyptus make an appearance with time. The palate is absolutely sublime with a perfectly judged line of acidity; a Naçional that is full of tension and energy, finely chiselled tannins and an enthralling crescendo towards the spicy and peppery finish. This is quite profound.