Quinta do Noval Vintage Porto

Very fine young Port. Fascinating aromas of crushed fruit, tar and wet earth. Turns floral. Full-bodied, medium sweet, with chewy, velvety tannins and a long finish. Grips your mouth. A balanced and caressing Noval. Best after 2012.

One of the vintage’s standouts, the 2000 Quinta do Noval is incredibly rich and intense, with a density that made me think I should reach for a spoon. Chocolate and coffee, prune and date aromas; plum cake flavors. Despite the richness, there is a superb backbone of acidity and ripe tannins that suggests peak maturity is probably two decades or more away.

Saturated black ruby to the rim. Sappy aromas of black cherry, minerals and roasted nuts. Wonderfully concentrated, very sweet, silky and suave; like an elixir of dark berries. As it opened in the glass, the superb underlying structure became obvious. Finishes with big, building, extremely fine tannins and superb length and grip.

The saturated blue/purple/black-colored 2000 Vintage Port reveals a distinctive bouquet of graphite, creme de cassis liqueur, licorice, and spice. Sweet tannin, full body, and outstanding concentration provide an impressive entry on the palate. Notions of chocolate make an appearance in the long finish of this sweet, lush, precocious effort. Anticipated maturity: 2008–2030.