2023 Quinta do Noval Vintage Port, Douro Valley

The 2023 Vintage Port from Noval comes from 12 different parcels, southwest facing the Douro and two east-facing, picked from 10 to 25 September, later than the Passadouro. It was fermented in granite lagares and matured for 18 months at the Quinta. The bouquet is exuberant, with bursts from the glass: blueberry, violet, touches of eucalyptus and tar. On the palate, it is fresh and vibrant with very fine tannins, silky smooth with a vivacious and pure finish. Touches of Christmas cake and cracked black pepper linger on the aftertaste. Marvellous.

96 points, Neal Martin, Vinous

Deep, brooding but fresh on the nose, with tons of ripe blackberries, mulberries, violet extract, iodine and melted dark chocolate. Lush, fairly substantial and concentrated, with significant structure and fine-grained, dusty tannins. Licorice and sweet fruit shape the flavorful finish. Not a vintage known for great depth, but very promising for its balance and floral elegance. Drink from 2032 through the next two to three decades, if not longer.

95 points, James Suckling

A blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca (Noval still call it ‘Francesa’), Tinto Cão, Sousão and field blend: deep in colour, ripe and dense on the nose with underlying firm, defined fruit; similarly ripe and multi-layered on the palate, fleshy mid-palate with supple yet firm spicy, tannins, lovely length showing both ripeness and purity of fruit. This is a well- structured wine, destined for a long life. Broach in 15 years or so. 2,230 cases declared.

18.5 points, Richard Mayson

From one of the Douro’s most historic estates, Quinta do Noval has been producing benchmark Ports since 1715, with a reputation built on both tradition and a willingness to do things a little differently. The estate’s vineyards, anchored around the famous quinta itself, are carved into steep schist slopes, where old vines and low yields deliver fruit of remarkable intensity. Vintage Port is only declared in exceptional years, and 2023 stands as a confident, expressive release.

Deep and almost opaque in the glass, the aromatics are powerful yet beautifully defined. Blackcurrant, blackberry and dark plum surge forward, layered with violet, spice and a subtle note of dark chocolate. There is a purity to the fruit that feels both concentrated and lifted.

The palate is rich and full bodied, with dense black fruit wrapped in firm, structured tannins that give the wine its backbone. There is a fine balance between sweetness and freshness, with a line of acidity keeping everything in check. Layers of spice, liquorice and a gentle mineral edge build through the finish, which carries on with impressive length.

This is a wine made for both contemplation and the table. Stilton, aged cheddar or dark chocolate desserts all work beautifully, while it can also stand on its own as a slow sipper at the end of a meal. Built for the long haul, it will evolve over several decades, gradually revealing more complexity as those powerful tannins soften.