Quinta do Noval Nacional - Nothing since 2003?

[Victor D.]

Sorry for the newb question but I have been reading an a great deal about QDN Nacional and see consecutive years up to 2003 and then it all abruptly stops?

Just curious about the lack of Nacional since 2003? Is this the normal progression of "waiting" to see if 2004 or later years too see if it has what it takes to be declared?

Thanks,

Vic

[Derek T.]

Victor,

From what I understand, Quinta do Noval have been bottling the Nacional almost every year but have not declared one since 2003 as Christian Seely does not think that the recent years are exceptional enough to do so. Given that the wines have been bottled it is possible that they have been approved by the IVDP so we can't rule out some of these wines being released later if they improve sufficiently in bottle.

Christian is a great believer in only declaring a wine that is good enough to deserve the name on the label, and I suspect that part of what he is doing now is to restore the reputation of "Nacional" to where it should be following some less than impressive wines that were declared in the past, particularly in the 1980s.

One thing that we can be sure of is that, given the standard that Christian is now applying, when the next Nacional vintage is declared it should be stunning!

Derek

[Victor D.]

Thanks Derek,

I figured that must have been it. I patiently await one day to open my 94 and 97 Nacional. Thank you for the reply.

Vic

[Victor D.]

Thanks Derek,

I figured that must have been it. I patiently await one day to open my 94 and 97 Nacional. Thank you for the reply.

Vic

...And now a 2001 added to the collection.

Also, I guess the reason this caught my eye is when I searched "wine searcher" it showed just about every consecutive year had a Nacional and then after 2003, nothing to this day.

I think you're correct though, when a finally Nacional is announced it may be something VERY special indeed and probably cost a bundle out the gate!

[Andy Velebil]

Derek has pretty well summed it up. I'll just add that since AXA bought Noval Christian S. had been doing all he can to restore it to it's former glory after a rough patch starting in the early 70's and lasting through the famous 1994 vintage. Granted some of those changes were started by a very young Cristiano Van Zellar who's family ended up having to sell it to AXA. So it's really only fair to give some credit to Cristiano as well.

[Derek T.]

Christian v Cristiano: The "Who Made the NN94 Great?" Debate.

That's one I'd like to watch with a glass of NN94!

[Andy Velebil]

Christian v Cristiano: The "Who Made the NN94 Great?" Debate.

That's one I'd like to watch with a glass of NN94!

That would be entertaining for sure, may I suggest we turn it into a no rules steel-cage match