Quinta do Noval : Vintage Port 2015

A powerful Port wine by Quinta do Noval

The estate

As early as 1715, records mention the name Quinta do Noval. António José da Silva, a merchant at the port of Gaia in Porto, acquired Quinta do Noval in 1894, after it had been ravaged by Phylloxera. Subsequently, his son-in-law, Luiz Vasconcelos Porto, set out to reorganise the vineyard. Notably, he widened the narrow, dry stone terraces that shape the landscape of Douro vineyards. Revolutionary at the time, this method made better use of space and sunlight. Painted with lime, these white terraces remain a distinctive feature of this Quinta do Noval vineyard, an iconic reference among fine Portuguese wines.

The vineyard

Quinta do Noval's Vintage Port 2015 stems from an exceptional terroir where the congruence between the remarkable soil and microclimate are ideal conditions for the production of fine Port wines. On the south side of the Douro River in Portugal, the Quinta's 138 hectares of 30 to 40-year-old vines are rooted in schist-influenced soil at altitudes ranging from 130 metres to 350 metres above sea level. The climate is dry and characterised by extreme cool and hot temperatures.

The wine

Quinta do Noval only declares exceptional harvests as Vintage Port. Renowned for their balance, harmony and elegance, these Vintages stem from an exceptional terroir and a rigorous selection of the best wines in the final blend. Quinta do Noval Vintage Port 2015 represents 9% of the harvest.

The blend

A cold, dry winter gave way to a spring that alternated between hot weather and heavy rainfall, replenishing the soil’s water reserves and allowing the vineyard to develop. Thanks to these water reserves, the vines did not suffer from the sunlight and high temperatures during the summer months. Depending on the weather conditions, the harvest was carried out in several stages to ensure that the grapes had reached optimum ripeness and showcased a high-quality.

Vinification and ageing

The grapes are crushed to obtain the must and then macerated in lagares, the Quinta’s traditional stone vats, in order to guarantee the optimal extraction of aromas, colour and tannins during the fermentation process. The wine is aged for 18 months in wooden barrels in the air-conditioned cellars of Quinta do Noval before being bottled.

The blend

This Quinta do Noval Vintage Port 2015 comprises a blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinto Cão and Sousão.

The tasting

Nose

The nose of this Quinta do Noval Vintage Port 2015 is full of intense fruity and spicy notes (wild black pepper), thus expressing its terroir of origin beautifully.

Palate

Fresh and well-balanced, the palate is seduced by this wine’s delicate, powerful, persistent and great aromatic purity.

Service

For an optimal tasting experience, serve between 15 and 17°C.