1997 Quinta do Noval VP question

[Andy Velebil]

THIS THREAD got me thinking about the 1997 Quinta do Noval VP, the regular one NOT the Nacional.

Here's what I wrote in the other thread...I've had the 1997 Noval (regular one) now 3 times and it was nowhere near a 98-100 point experience. I never had it young, so I have no idea what it was like back then, if it's in a closed up phase, or has started to gone off the deep end prematurely.

Has anyone had this VP closer to release and now almost 20 years later? What are people's thoughts on this one; Is it closed up, fallen apart, or still a great VP that just needs time?

[Jasper A.]

THIS THREAD got me thinking about the 1997 Quinta do Noval VP, the regular one NOT the Nacional.

Here's what I wrote in the other thread...I've had the 1997 Noval (regular one) now 3 times and it was nowhere near a 98-100 point experience. I never had it young, so I have no idea what it was like back then, if it's in a closed up phase, or has started to gone off the deep end prematurely.

Has anyone had this VP closer to release and now almost 20 years later? What are people's thoughts on this one; Is it closed up, fallen apart, or still a great VP that just needs time?

I can't talk about this port, but i had the Fonseca 1994 (also 100 points) last summer. This port was still closed and also not any near the 100 points for me, guess we just have to wait.

[Marco D.]

Odd. I had a half bottle of this recently and it showed fantastically, especially on day 2.

[Glenn E.]

The only time I can remember having it was at the "Roy's Top 12" tasting, and well you remember how THAT one showed. Ew.

[Eric Ifune]

Had it along side the Nacional at the Domaine maybe 4 or 5 years ago. It was stupendous, but side-by-side, the Nacional was even better.

[Roy Hersh]

I remember this at its launch and for whatever reason, it seemed that within two years of it hitting the USA, the price had skyrocketed and it was in very short supply. It was a big brash and astringently tannic monster of a Port. Not for everyone and I think it would be great if all individuals new to Port wine, got to taste a just released Port exactly like this. It would really help them to understand how far a Vintage Port has evolved in a side-by-side presentation with a vintage like 1966 or 1970.

I was there with Eric when we did that 1997 Noval vs. 1997 Nacional ... a great tasting. Similarly 1994 Noval vs. Nacional, although with different results. The 1997 Noval is still an excellent and (from a bottle earlier this year) remarkably un-evolved VP at this point. I think its best years are still 12+ and possibly 15+ years from now.

The 1994 comparison was done blind and the regular Noval was a monster compared to the easy-to-approach Nacional that afternoon. Most of us had them reversed for that reason, believing the massive and more tannic nature of the regular bottling, fooled us into believing it had to be the Nacional. Wrong!

Not to get off topic, but it begs the question ... Why doesn't the '96 Nacional get a lot more attention?
The 1996 is clearly one of the least talked about Nacional bottlings of all, but one I have found to be a superlative experience every time I've had it. It has shocked me big time in some Nacional horizontals and blind tastings. It very much reminds me of another outlier ... when it was a bit younger, the 1967. I would have loved to have had the 1967 when it was young. Strike that thought as that would make me even older, so forget that idea. Nonetheless, the 1967 which we had during the harvest tour this year, is still an extraordinary young Port today, and that bottle blew people's hair back (as all well-stored bottles of the 1967 have) ... most of whom had only had one other Nacional and it was at the same tasting. The 1967 served blind, was one I have had been fortunate to try a bunch of times and felt good to be able to nail this with my guess ... actually, it immediately resonated with my memory of tasting that particular Port. It doesn't happen often.

[Tom Archer]

and it was in very short supply

A few years ago Christian told me that a careless sales manager at Noval over-sold the N97 to the extent that the Quinta was only left with about 18 bottles. He also told me that most of it was sold into the French market, and under-priced..

[Andy Velebil]

and it was in very short supply

A few years ago Christian told me that a careless sales manager at Noval over-sold the N97 to the extent that the Quinta was only left with about 18 bottles. He also told me that most of it was sold into the French market, and under-priced..

Ouch!

[Andy Velebil]

Had it along side the Nacional at the Domaine maybe 4 or 5 years ago. It was stupendous, but side-by-side, the Nacional was even better.

Thanks

I must then assume it has gone into phase then. I know the 1994 Noval closed up a lot several years ago and the last I had the Nacional blind it wasn't showing as it had in the past either. Guess these should be left alone for the time being.