2019 Quinta do Noval Vintage Port

The 2019 Vintage Port is one that I tasted a few months earlier at Pichon-Baron, and so unsurprisingly, there are few changes except that I feel that the nose has closed up ever so slightly since then. The palate is still velvety smooth, richer and slightly sweeter than the 2020, enormous depth towards the finish with a hedonistic veneer on the finish. Interestingly, this has less residual sugar than the 2020, but slightly more acidity. Superb. Tasted at the Quinta do Noval tasting at Spring restaurant in London. 

- Neal Martin (06/2022)

This is dense, winey and well-structured, delivering a tarry spine through the core of packed black currant, fig and bramble notes that run in lock-step with mouthwatering licorice snap and spice accents. The great finishing kick leaves an invigorating feel, not easy for Port to do. Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Cão, Sousão and Tinta Roriz. 

- James Molesworth (02/2022)

The 2019 Vintage Port is a field blend aged for 18 months in old wood vats. It was bottled May 4, 2021, and has 100 grams of residual sugar. It was in bottle only a bit more than two months when tasted, but it seems quite brilliant, even so. Very concentrated, it adds controlled power and coats the palate. Tasted with some other 2019s, this certainly stood out for both concentration and power. It touches all the bases in terms of expressive fruit and structure, finishing dry and seriously. It seemed balanced enough to drink young, but that would be a mistake. For one thing, it steadily tightened as it aired out. It also increasingly showed gorgeous eucalyptus-laced aromatics. Two days later, it was notably more astringent. Four days later, it was very firm on the finish and better overall. In fact, that was a far better showing than on day one. This is plainly built for the long haul. I would expect nothing less from a fine Noval Vintage Port. It became more focused and precise as well. This needs the rest of this decade, at least, in the cellar to show better. Then it will develop well for decades and hold indefinitely. Frankly, it won't show everything it has in even 10 years, where I have the "start drinking" window, so if you have a lot more patience, that would be useful. It will be more interesting around 2035-2040. This is a powerful beauty, well justifying Noval's tendency to declare most every year. 

- Mark Squires (07/2021)