Quinta do Noval : Vintage Port 2023

Characteristics and Tasting Notes of Quinta do Noval Vintage Port 2023

Tasting

This cuvée captivates with its power and concentration while maintaining a beautiful freshness.

Serving and Cellaring

This Vintage Port 2023 is best enjoyed at a cellar temperature between 59°F and 63°F. Once opened, it should be consumed within 48 hours. Its exceptional aging potential allows it to be cellared for approximately 4 to 50 years after bottling.

A powerful Duriense Vintage Port with exceptionally pure aromas

The estate

Founded in 1715, Quinta do Noval flourishes over 192 hectares in the Cima Corgo at the heart of the Duriense, between 100 and 500 meters in altitude. Owned by AXA Millésimes since 1993 under the direction of Carlos Agrellos, this historic house remains the only one to produce Vintage Ports from a single vineyard. A pioneer in the sector, it revolutionized the world of port by creating the first tawnies with age indication in 1920 and the first LBV in 1954. Its schist soils with varied exposures allow for single-varietal plantings by plot, giving rise to a Terroir range that celebrates the noble grape varieties of the Douro.

The vineyard

This Vintage Port comes from carefully selected lots, including 10 from the Pinhão valley and 2 from the Roncão valley. The vines thrive on the region’s characteristic schist soils, benefiting from diverse exposures that allow for optimal expression of the Douro’s traditional grape varieties in this exceptional terroir.

The vintage

The year 2023 began with a mild, wet winter, followed by an exceptionally warm and dry spring. Budbreak took place in the first half of March, slightly delayed and then accelerated by 5 to 10 days at veraison. Precipitation reached 838 mm between October 2022 and September 2023, more than double that of 2022. Flowering occurred in excellent conditions between the second and third week of May. Veraison took place from June 19 to July 7 for touriga francesa and tinta roriz, then from July 13 for touriga nacional.

Winemaking and Aging

Vinification follows tradition, with foot treading in granite lagares, allowing for optimal extraction of aromas, color, and tannins. Aging lasts 18 months in wooden vats in climate-controlled cellars, thus preserving the wine’s freshness and aromatic complexity.

Blend

This harmonious blend brings together the Douro’s noble grape varieties: touriga nacional, touriga francesa, tinto cão, sousão, complemented by a traditional field blend, reflecting the rich ampelographic diversity of this exceptional wine region.