2003 Noval Vintage Port

[Al B.]

Decant: Not known - 6,000 cases declared. Deep red with a browning rim of medium width. Similar reductive nose to the 2004 vintage shown alongside, the slight rubberiness of fresh elastic bands. Delightfully silky texture on the palate. Quite closed initially with lots of tannin supporting the sweet, ripe fruit that overwhelms the gentle acidity. The reductive tones show through slightly on the powerhouse palate. The aftertaste is a touch hollow but delivers a long finish of licorice root and slightly green but enjoyable tannins. This is a port built on power and not elegance, but probably going through a bit of an odd phase at the moment. 90 points