Quinta do Noval Nacional Vintage 2022 Port
€ 1,200.00
Quinta do Noval Nacional Vintage Port 2022 is characterised by outstanding power, structure and purity. It reveals beautiful aromas such as sweet dark fruits alongside bold, savory, spicy earthy tones. It's fresh and vibrant, with a touch of mint and liquorice. The palate is rich and opulent, showcasing delightful sweet fruits. There's an astonishing freshness present. It's beautifully pure and concentrated, with outstanding fruit clarity and structure. The palate bursts with super-concentrated, dense, and pure blackberry fruit. Its incredible intensity, tannic expression and depth are remarkable.
Of the 143 hectares of vineyard, two have never been affected by phylloxera. Why that is so, no one really knows. Seely may not be a technical person but he has tried to unravel the mystery by replanting cuttings from the plot to other parts of the remaining 141 hectares of vines. It hasn't work though. Like a poet who knows better than to challenge the divine. It is no accident that the name of this single 2 ha parcel reflects all that is dearest and most precious to vinous Portugal
Food-Pairing
A delicious digestive, but can also be accompanied by rich old cheeses, dark chocolate or chocolate mousse.
Grapes: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinto Cão
Grapes are trodden by foot to obtain the must, then during fermentation macerate to obtain the best possible extraction in the lagares, the traditional stone vats from the Quinta. It is matured for 18 months in wooden casks in the air conditioned cellars of the Quinta, at the demarcated region of the Douro Valley before bottling.
The word "Nacional" refers to the fact that the vines are Portuguese vines growing in Portuguese soil with no foreign root stock, and are therefore "attached to the soil of the Nation". During the late 19th Century, the best vineyard of Noval was saved from the Phylloxera outbreak that destroyed most European vines, through intense fumigation. Rather than grafting the vines to American rootstock, the standard practice to give resistance to the Phylloxera aphid, the vineyard survived with their original Portuguese rootstock – hence the name, ‘Naçional’. The legendary Naçional is made from a 6-acre parcel of ungrafted vines, which when declared will only produce 200-300 cases, instantly becoming the most sought-after port in the world. Many vintages of Naçional are considered as the finest ports, and some of the finest wines, ever made.
2022 will stand out as a remarkably dry year with unprecedented weather conditions in our region. So extraordinary were these conditions that even our oldest and most seasoned vineyard workers could not remember ever having experienced anything similar. Nonetheless, this growing season also showed the remarkable resilience of the Douro’s vineyards and grape varieties.
The rainfall recorded at Quinta do Noval during the viticultural year was 364mm, 276mm below the 1970/2000 average. The weather conditions were favourable during flowering in May and during fruit set. With a high number of bunches, a good harvest was expected. From the 7th to the 15th of July a heatwave brought daily temperatures above 40°C, even reaching 45,5°C at Quinta do Noval – and it was on July 15th that Pinhão recorded Portugal’s highest ever temperature at 47°C. From July 30th to August 10th, we experienced another heatwave with temperatures above 40°C.
Alcoholcontent
19,5%
pH: 3,66
Store & Serve
Serve at cellar temperature at 12 - 15ºC.
Decant before serving. Can be kept for up to 2 days after opening.
Critics & Awards
20/20 - Grandes Escolhas Tasted: Jul 2024
98/100 - Robert Parker The Wine Advocate Tasted: Dec 2024
When to drink: 2030 to 2070
Producer: Quinta do Noval
Region: Douro