Quinta do Noval - Porto Vintage 2013
Quinta do Noval is a prestigious Port wine house founded in 1715, renowned for its unique location in the heart of the Douro Valley, unlike most houses located in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal. This house takes its name from its emblematic vineyard, Quinta do Noval. Most of its vineyards are planted with the emblematic and noble grape varieties of the Douro: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, and Tinta Cao. The grapes thrive on a complex terroir mixing schist and clay soils, with widespread presence of rocks that make harvesting particularly demanding for the winemakers. Since 1994, a meticulous replanting has been undertaken, scrupulously respecting the match between grape variety, soil, altitude, and exposure to optimize grape quality. A precious asset lies in a parcel of ungrafted vines dating from before the phylloxera crisis in the 19th century, a rarity that gives the estate exceptional authenticity and richness.
Since 1993, the general management has been ensured by Christian Seely, a recognized expert who also oversees many vineyards in Europe under the aegis of the AXA Millésimes group. This prestigious investment group also owns renowned estates such as Château Pichon-Longueville, Château Pibran, as well as the Disznókő estate in Hungary, thus consolidating a high-level winemaking expertise.
This Porto Vintage 2013 embodies Portuguese winemaking tradition: the grapes are foot-trodden to gently extract the must, before fermentation in lagares, the typical stone vats of Quinta do Noval, ensuring optimal extraction of aromas and colors. The wine then benefited from a rigorous aging of 18 months in wooden barrels with a minimum volume of 640 liters, thus preserving the finesse, complexity, and longevity of the vintage.
Grape varieties: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Cao
