Quinta do Noval Vintage Port 2019

Professional Ratings

• 97 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
  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.
• 97 Jeb Dunnuck

  Coming from a cooler vintage, the 2019 Vintage Port is nevertheless powerful, full-bodied, and concentrated, with lots of structure and density giving it a tight, backward, yet incredibly impressive feel. It's actually more concentrated than the 2018, with a touch more baby fat as well, yet has a similar level of complexity. Red and black plums, cassis, iron, chalky minerality, chocolate, black olive, and licorice are just some of its nuances, and unlike the 2018, which showed even better with air, this closed up rather quickly and was more enjoyable on Day One than Day Three. Nevertheless, this is magical stuff that just needs a solid decade of bottle age. As with the 2018, it spent 18 months in old wood tanks and was bottled with around 100 grams of residual sugar.

• 97 James Suckling

  Aromas of dried cherries, blackberries and cassis with dark licorice, chocolate and graphite undertones. Full-bodied, with a ripe and mellow sweetness, and ultra-fine, silky tannins that flow through the palate for minutes. Lots of grip. Such an elegant texture, with great finesse. Long and seamless.

• 96 Wine Spectator

  Dense, winey and well-structured, delivering a tarry spine through the core of packed black currant, fig and bramble notes that run in lockstep with mouthwatering licorice snap and spice accents.

• 96 Wine Enthusiast
  Although 2019 was not a generally declared vintage by other Port shippers, Noval went its own way with this vintage. It is such an elegant wine, balancing black fruits against a massive texture for aging. A rich structure gives the wine density and enormous potential. Drink from 2030.
• 95 Decanter
  A dry summer with moderate temperatures and perfect weather through the harvest, which lasted well into October. Closed and sullen on the nose with underlying density and a hint of graphite; much more expressive on the palate with lovely, rich liquorice-like intensity (though not as dense or concentrated as the 2020) combined with lovely purity and freshness (the hallmark of this vintage). Firm, spicy tannins mid-palate leading to a long linear finish. Mid-weight with a classic profile showing balance and definition.
• 91 Wine & Spirits
  A lean vintage from Noval, which is typically fuller and fleshier in its fruit, this 2019 is meaty in the way that spicy chorizo is meaty, with hints of tobacco and smoke. The black-grape flavors develop toward chocolate tannins, edged in mineral schist and warmth from the alcohol. An awkward adolescent, this needs age to integrate; the elements are there to become a 20-year wine with complexity.