Some time ago on eBob, Roy started a thread called "the Holy Grail" in which he tried to "persuade" the community to find a bottle of the '31 Nacional for him.
That set me to thinking. As far as I am aware, in 1931 the bottles of Nacional were not labelled any differently to the regular Noval. The distinction was made on the cases in which the bottles were shipped.
Does anyone know if it is possible to tell the two versions of the wine from each other without opening the bottle and tasting the wine? It just struck me that with auction houses having to be cautious about their descriptions, there could be some 1931 Nacional bought at auction and sitting in people's cellars which the owner thinks is the regular bottling.
Or am I just having a quiet day and gazing out of the window too much?
Alex
Holy Grail - Noval Nacional 1931
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Tom Archer
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I have heard (but can not be sure) that some of the corks in the '31 Nacional were branded with an "N" and the bottles can be differentiated this way.
I was with Michael Broadbent when we had a bottle together that was possibly a '31 Nacional. He has had his share of them and told me that regardless of branded cork he could tell the difference by taste. My friend who is one of the key distributors in WA and has had this particular bottle in his own cellar since the 1970s, brought it over.
I was excited because I had tried the '31 regular Q d Noval on several occasions and it had blown away just about everything else I have ever tasted. It was a no lose situation. The cork was carefully removed with an Ah So but it was impossible to tell from the cork. To me, this was the stuff legends are made of and amazingly, Mr. Broadbent said it was just the regular bottle. I could not imagine the Nacional being any better or bigger or younger or more delicious. But Michael was positive immediately and thereafter.
Fortunately, I tasted the holy grail the following year and still have the empty bottle. It was in a side-by-side tasting with the regular '31 and (20 other Nacionals) I definitely prefered the regular bottling on that day (as did the VAST majority of the tasters). I realized that those that chose the Nacional were going by the label (this was not done blind) and not by what was in the glass.
If I were to choose 3 other VPs that could be called Holy Grail's they would be (in no specific order):
a. 1994 Quinta do Noval Nacional - the second time I had a bottle of this, was the ONLY time, I ever scored a VP 100 points. It will continue to get better from here and that in itself is outrageous. When given plenty of air time, it just quiets everybody in the room.
b. 1945 Croft - I have only had one mediocre bottle out of the times I have tried this. Bottles in top form are as young as VPs 30-40 years younger. Absolutely brilliant!
c. 1931 Quinta do Noval - I've consumed this wine on six occasions and every single one was memorable and decadent. It too shows a color and flavor profile of a wine half its age or younger. I bet it would not be detected in a tasting of top 1970s or possibly even the '77s. Fantastic VP.
Note: There is still one great VP that I have never had. I must now look at that VP as "my holy grail" and hope to try it once, someday. 1927 Fonseca, which is a legendary bottle and one that I have never even seen. I did see one being offered for sale last year for $2000 but I did not have the money at the time. Someday!
I was with Michael Broadbent when we had a bottle together that was possibly a '31 Nacional. He has had his share of them and told me that regardless of branded cork he could tell the difference by taste. My friend who is one of the key distributors in WA and has had this particular bottle in his own cellar since the 1970s, brought it over.
I was excited because I had tried the '31 regular Q d Noval on several occasions and it had blown away just about everything else I have ever tasted. It was a no lose situation. The cork was carefully removed with an Ah So but it was impossible to tell from the cork. To me, this was the stuff legends are made of and amazingly, Mr. Broadbent said it was just the regular bottle. I could not imagine the Nacional being any better or bigger or younger or more delicious. But Michael was positive immediately and thereafter.
Fortunately, I tasted the holy grail the following year and still have the empty bottle. It was in a side-by-side tasting with the regular '31 and (20 other Nacionals) I definitely prefered the regular bottling on that day (as did the VAST majority of the tasters). I realized that those that chose the Nacional were going by the label (this was not done blind) and not by what was in the glass.
If I were to choose 3 other VPs that could be called Holy Grail's they would be (in no specific order):
a. 1994 Quinta do Noval Nacional - the second time I had a bottle of this, was the ONLY time, I ever scored a VP 100 points. It will continue to get better from here and that in itself is outrageous. When given plenty of air time, it just quiets everybody in the room.
b. 1945 Croft - I have only had one mediocre bottle out of the times I have tried this. Bottles in top form are as young as VPs 30-40 years younger. Absolutely brilliant!
c. 1931 Quinta do Noval - I've consumed this wine on six occasions and every single one was memorable and decadent. It too shows a color and flavor profile of a wine half its age or younger. I bet it would not be detected in a tasting of top 1970s or possibly even the '77s. Fantastic VP.
Note: There is still one great VP that I have never had. I must now look at that VP as "my holy grail" and hope to try it once, someday. 1927 Fonseca, which is a legendary bottle and one that I have never even seen. I did see one being offered for sale last year for $2000 but I did not have the money at the time. Someday!
Ambition driven by passion, rather than money, is as strong an elixir as is Port. http://www.fortheloveofport.com
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Stuart Chatfield
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Tom Archer
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