Quinta do Noval - Vintage Port 2008 (750ml)

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Price: $179.99

6+ Price: $174.99 / btl

Producer	Quinta do Noval
Country	Portugal
Region	Duriense
Subregion	Porto
Varietal	Touriga Nacional
Vintage	2008
Sku	121193
Size	750ml
ABV	19.50%

Quinta do Noval Description

One of the oldest port houses, Quinta do Noval is also arguably the greatest. It is unique among top port houses in that most of the ports are made from estate-grown fruit and, notably, all of the vintage Noval wines are from the single Quinta do Noval vineyard. In addition, it is difficult to elaborate on Quinta do Noval without mentioning Nacional, the legendary port made from a 6 acre parcel of ungrafted vines. When declared, only 200-300 cases of Nacional will be made, and instantly become the most sought after port in the world. Many vintages of Nacional are considered as the finest ports, and some of the finest wines, ever made.

Noval is mentioned in land registries going back to 1715, and has been sold just twice in that time, once in the late 19th century, and to its present owners in 1993. Noval has, however, a reputation for being an innovative, independent producer. Noval’s focus on its vineyard and estate ports distinguishes it, but there are numerous other areas in which it has been a pioneer:

Noval was the first to introduce stencilled bottles in the 1920s.
Noval pioneered the concept of Old Tawnies with an indication of age.
In 1958, Noval was the first to introduce a late-bottled vintage (LBV).

The astonishing terraced vineyards of Noval, perched above the Douro and Pinhao rivers, are an infertile schist, and not soil as much as sheer rock. The elevation of the vineyards goes from just above river level to 1,200 feet, with density at about 2,000 vines per acre, and vines producing on average 30-35 hectoliters per hectare. The tremendous rewards of the work done at the estate over the last fifteen years are visible across the range of Noval ports, and have placed Noval a step ahead of everyone in the Douro.

92 Points Wine Enthusiast
"Although 2008 was not a general vintage, some estates have released vintage Ports. Noval's Vintage, just bottled at the time of tasting, is a delicate and perfumed wine, elegant rather than powerful, with delicious black berry fruits to go with the rich core of sweet tannins." — Roger Voss

fortheloveofport.com
"2008 ~ Quinta do Noval ~ Vintage Port – It was my third time trying this Noval, the other tastes were from barrel samples during visits to the Quinta. This bottle was wound way tight early on and was hard to decipher until days two and three. Loaded with spicy, peppery accents, and inviting notes of fragrant flowers, blackberry, blackcurrant, herbs and cinnamon. The 2008 put on weight after 48 hours and showcased seasonings of black pepper and tar, complementing the dark fruits and cinnamon. The density was far more noticeable by day three and yet it was still quite a different beast than their 2007. This Noval displayed more exotic spice and was drier in style, with powerful chalky tannins that coated my tongue and teeth after the swallow. Powerful, smooth and with a vestige of elegance, this lacks the pure blackstrap character of the previous vintage that was one of the all time great young Noval’s in my opinion. It’ll age effortlessly over the next 3 decades. The 2008 Quinta do Noval is amongst the very finest Ports of the vintage. 18,000 bottles were produced. 94+ points ~ 5/28/11"

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