1978 Quinta do Noval Vintage Port
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 5:12 pm
Decant: 1½ hours - From a bottle with a very sticky capsule, and a top shoulder fill; cork was extracted in two pieces and was very faintly branded. Bottle was imported by Rutherford Miles. Decanted cleanly off a great deal of very solid sediment.
Lovely mahogany-red colour, looking beautifully mature; 40% opaque. Toffee and orange on the nose; also some VA when swirled. Sweet entry, the toffee tones come through on the palate together with raisins and sultanas but with a balancing dose of ripe acidity; good development on the palate, nicely mouthfilling and thick texture. Rather hot on swallowing, but with a big aftertaste and long finish of dry black licorice and bitter oranges. Tasty port, probably at its peak but not in any hurry to be drunk. 90 points
Lovely mahogany-red colour, looking beautifully mature; 40% opaque. Toffee and orange on the nose; also some VA when swirled. Sweet entry, the toffee tones come through on the palate together with raisins and sultanas but with a balancing dose of ripe acidity; good development on the palate, nicely mouthfilling and thick texture. Rather hot on swallowing, but with a big aftertaste and long finish of dry black licorice and bitter oranges. Tasty port, probably at its peak but not in any hurry to be drunk. 90 points