Why it matters
The producer
Luiz Vasconcelos Porto transformed many narrow older terraces at Quinta do Noval into broader terraces, improving land use and sun exposure. Quinta do Noval is the only historic Port shipper that bears the name of its vineyard.
Christian Seely is Managing Director, Carlos Agrellos is Technical Director and Jose Eduardo Costa is Vineyard Manager. Production is now roughly split equally between table wines and Ports, with 15 percent of the dry wines being white.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Vale Mendiz lies in the Pinhão Valley in the Douro. The estate has 192 hectares under vine across varied altitudes and aspects. Altitude changes temperature and ripening pace, while aspect changes the sunlight each parcel receives. Warmer, sunnier positions can ripen grapes earlier, while less exposed parcels can retain more acidity.
Wines to know
The range in view
The Port range combines Quinta do Noval Vintage Port, Nacional Vintage Port and Quinta do Noval Unfiltered Late Bottled Vintage Port. Nacional is the parcel wine, made from a field blend of many Douro grape varieties, including Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Tinto Cão, Tinta Roriz and Sousão. Traditional vinification takes place in granite lagares with foot treading to obtain the must and extract aromas, colour and tannins during fermentation. Douro table wines are made alongside Ports.
Quinta do Noval Unfiltered Late Bottled Vintage Port 2019 has a rich nose of ripe blackcurrant and blackberry, followed by raspberry, cherry and wild herbs. Liquorice and coffee add further notes. The palate is full of ripe fruit flavours, with smoothness and a firm palate in balance. A long aftertaste leaves fresh, vibrant fruitiness.