Quinta do Noval - Porto Vintage 2008
Quinta do Noval is an iconic Porto house founded in 1715, and is one of the few wineries located directly in the heart of the Douro Valley, unlike most which are based in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal. Its name comes from its flagship vineyard, Quinta do Noval. The vineyards of this quinta are mostly planted with the noble grape varieties of the Douro: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, and Tinta Cao. The grapes grow on soils mixing schist and clay, where the significant presence of rocks around the vine roots makes harvesting particularly demanding for the winemakers. Extensive replanting began in 1994, with each plot meticulously adapted to the most suitable grape variety according to soil, altitude, and exposure. At the heart of the vineyard, a small plot of ungrafted vines miraculously escaped the phylloxera disaster in the 19th century, offering a unique character to the terroir. Since 1993, Christian Seely has been the general manager, also overseeing several renowned wine estates across Europe within the AXA Millésimes group, which also owns prestigious properties such as Château Pichon-Longueville, Château Pibran, and Disznókő in Hungary.
This Porto Vintage 2008 is made using exceptional traditional methods: the grapes are foot-trodden to gently extract the must, followed by fermentation in lagares, the stone vats typical of the Quinta, ensuring optimal extraction of aromas. It benefits from a minimum of 18 months aging in 640-liter wooden barrels, giving the wine unique complexity, richness, and power.
Grape varieties: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Cao
