Quinta do Noval 2017 Vintage Port

Quinta do Noval 2017 Vintage Port
Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinto Cão, Sousão | Alc: 20%
Douro Valley, Portugal

Winemaker’s notes:
2017 was characterized by a cold, dry winter followed by an exceptionally hot and dry spring and summer. June was the hottest month since 1980, with temperatures reaching 104-111°F in the Douro Valley during a heat wave lasting from June 7 – 24. Due to these extreme weather conditions, all phases of the vine’s growth were 15 – 20 days early compared to 2016. The vines weathered the shortage of water and the high temperatures well. Harvest started much earlier than usual due to the weather: from August 17 for the white wines and August 21 for the reds and the Ports, lasting until September 28, with high temperatures and a total absence of rain.

Critical Acclaim:
“The 2017 Vintage Port is a field blend, mostly Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinto Cão and Sousão, aged for 18 months in old wood vats. It comes in with 99 grams of residual sugar. This was bottled in May 2019, about a month before tasting, but I made sure at least some of it had a lot of air. Aromatic, wonderfully fragrant and laced with eucalyptus, this then shows typical Noval focus and power. A couple of hours in a glass simply increased the power. More intense than the very fine 2016, it grips the palate and shows rather significant astringency. As wonderfully aromatic as this is, there the 2016 might have the edge.” 97 Pts – Wine Advocate

“Big grip in this wine with dark blackberries, blueberries and floral notes. Fine tannins. Ripe but sweet and pretty. Shows a lovely finish. Try after 2027.” 97 Pts – James Suckling

“This is well-packed, offering the vivid plum, boysenberry, cassis and açaí berry fruit profile of the vinta