1937 Quinta do Noval?

Jay Powers · Post by **Jay Powers** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:03 pm

Has anyone had this wine recently? And if so, what did you think? Is it tired out or still going? Thanks,

Jay

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:35 pm

I have taken part in drinking three bottles of the 1937 Quinta do Noval Colheita in the past four years. One showed very hot and harsh and I was a bit disappointed. The other two (the last was while at Noval last Oct.) were really beautiful and as smooth as silk with a fabulous length and intense complexity. Nothing like the other bottle.

I still have one or two left in my cellar too. I also have Kopke, Niepoort and one other, maybe a Burmester ... all Colheitas from the grapes of the '37 harvest. I do not know why this year in particular was so great for Colheitas? For Noval, it is the oldest Colheita left at the Quinta.

Dave Johnson · Post by **Dave Johnson** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 11:01 am

Roy,
Jay is being kinda coy, but my guess is that he is referring to a '37 Noval that is currently available at auction and is listed as a VP, not a Colheita. (don't be mad at me Jay, I waited until the bidding closed to post)
Dave

Jay Powers · Post by **Jay Powers** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:14 pm

Maybe a little coy, but not in the sense you guessed

. There is one bottle of this wine available here in the Bay Area, at Benchmark Wines in Napa (at least according to their web site), for US$237.

I have never utilized this vendor before, and do not know their reputation. I put an inquiry in but have not heard back yet and dont know if the even have it anymore.

In fact, I'm not too embarrased to say that I harbored the idea that this might have been a vintage port, not a colheita

. I was interested primarily to try a really old Vintage Port (1966 is the oldest I have tried so far) without spending $500. I don't really know if the price for this bottle is reasonable.

I have not tried very many Colheitas at all, but the Kopke and others (even pretty old ones) are around the bay area quite a bit, so I will not feel so terrible if someone else from this forum snaps it up!

Jay

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 11:54 pm

I know BENCHMARK very well and the guy who ran it (who is a friend) just left two months ago to start up his own company as he was the GM not the owner. That said, Benchmark is a solid organization with mostly reliable service with an occasional glitch that they are quick to fix with little hassle. Their prices are fairly reasonable and you are best to check on winesearcher.com to see how close your bottle is to the market. I don't believe there was a VP from Noval in '37, so I'd imagine that this IS a Colheita. At that price, it would be worth the punt if you had some clue about its previous owner(s), type of storage, ullage and current condition etc. Ask plenty of questions.

Jay Powers · Post by **Jay Powers** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 6:29 am

Thanks Roy

I'll ask some questions, when they get back to me.

Jay

Steven Kooij · Post by **Steven Kooij** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 1:36 pm

Whist the Noval 1937 Colheita is much more common, I have come across a 1937 VP by A.J. d. Silva - I assume it would be a Qta. d. Noval. The bottling is mentioned in James Suckling's book as well.
Would it be drinkable? I have no clue.

simon Lisle · Post by **simon Lisle** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 1:54 pm

There also quite a few Amandios reserves from the 30s and 40s turning up at auction which are da Silva.I have a 45 which I paid £30 pounds for but I have'nt tried yet