2021 Quinta do Noval Vintage Coll. Case (12,14,15,16,17,18)

Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Tinto Cão, Sousão, Tinta Roriz. Grapes are trodden by foot and macerate in the traditional stone lagares. It is matured for 18 months in wooden casks in the air-conditioned cellars of the quinta before bottling. RS 97 g/l, TA 4.6 g/l, pH 3.61. Black core with dark-purple rim. Intense aroma that has all the lovely dark, savoury/rocky character of the Douro and the ripe, fragrant black fruit of a not-too-hot vintage. Tannins are flowing and smooth, not quite silky but remarkably gentle for a young vintage port. Cool, pure and fragrant. Really gentle, layer upon layer of very fine tannins, with a fresh finish. Wonderful harmony and balance in such an embryonic wine. Tasted again two months later alongside the Nacional 2021 it seemed even more elegant, marked by delicious dry finesse. (JH)

Intense aromas of black fruits with blueberries, lead pencil and graphite. Wet earth as well. Full-bodied and layered with very fine tannins and a juicy and savory finish. There is such polish and beauty to this. Reminds me of the 1967. Best after 2030.

The 2021s come from a mild, even year that allowed plenty of hang time and solid ripeness. The wines certainly don’t lack for power or density, even if they might not have the same overall concentration as 2020. The 2021 Vintage Port clearly shows the even style of the vintage and offers a concentrated yet fresher, elegant profile with classic young Port aromatics of cassis and jammy black and blue fruits that give way to more candied violet, flowers, licorice, and cedary herb nuances. This beauty takes plenty of air to shed its primary fruit, but it’s not far off the style of 2019 and is full-bodied, beautifully balanced, shows a terrific sense of freshness, and has more than adequate structure to evolve for 40+ years in cool cellars.