NV Quinta do Noval 40 Year Old Tawny Port
Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 3:24 pm
The last of my bottles from a long-ago FTLOP buying opportunity. Probably 2009? Who says tawnies don't age well in bottle?
Quinta do Noval 40-year Old Tawny Port
Bottled 2007
Color: Deep, rich tawny with red-orange highlights and a green tint near the rim.
Nose: Madeira? Tart apricot, some lime, faint tart lemon, rich vanilla, cedar, and sandalwood.
Palate: Crisp, bright acidity, but not harsh. It's more citrusy than tartaric acidy. Well-balanced sugars allow it to be very refreshing for a 40-yr old. Very nutty (pecan and walnut) along with loads of dried fruits (apricots and dates). There's an impression of brown sugar, but it's faint. Brown sugar isn't really this Port's style. (That's more Romaneira or Brunheda.) It's lip-smacking good.
Finish: Very long and very pleasant. Nice warmth. Rich echo of candied fruit. 5+ minutes.
Score: 96 points. A fantastic bottle that only started to fade very slightly after being open 10 days. (It only lasted 10 days due to other bottles being open at the same time.) You'd never know this has been bottled for 10 years - it tastes as crisp and fresh as one bottled in 2017.
Quinta do Noval 40-year Old Tawny Port
Bottled 2007
Color: Deep, rich tawny with red-orange highlights and a green tint near the rim.
Nose: Madeira? Tart apricot, some lime, faint tart lemon, rich vanilla, cedar, and sandalwood.
Palate: Crisp, bright acidity, but not harsh. It's more citrusy than tartaric acidy. Well-balanced sugars allow it to be very refreshing for a 40-yr old. Very nutty (pecan and walnut) along with loads of dried fruits (apricots and dates). There's an impression of brown sugar, but it's faint. Brown sugar isn't really this Port's style. (That's more Romaneira or Brunheda.) It's lip-smacking good.
Finish: Very long and very pleasant. Nice warmth. Rich echo of candied fruit. 5+ minutes.
Score: 96 points. A fantastic bottle that only started to fade very slightly after being open 10 days. (It only lasted 10 days due to other bottles being open at the same time.) You'd never know this has been bottled for 10 years - it tastes as crisp and fresh as one bottled in 2017.