Quinta do Noval - Vintage Port 2019
Quinta do Noval is a prestigious Port house founded in 1715, recognized as one of the few estates located directly in the heart of the Douro Valley, unlike the majority of producers based in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal. This house takes its name from the emblematic vineyard of Quinta do Noval, an exceptional terroir benefiting from a unique climate and soils rich in schist and clay. The vineyards are mainly planted with noble Douro grape varieties: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, and Tinta Cao, perfectly suited to this high-altitude terroir exposed to the Portuguese sun. The grape cultivation takes place on rocky schist soils mixed with clay, making the harvest demanding but allowing for exceptional aromatic concentration. Since 1994, meticulous replanting has optimized each plot according to soil nature, altitude, and exposure, thus ensuring perfect balance. Moreover, a unique plot of ungrafted vines, preserved from phylloxera in the 19th century, constitutes a living treasure, giving the wine a historical dimension and rare complexity. Since 1993, the estate has been managed by Christian Seely, a renowned general manager and manager of many prestigious vineyards in Europe within the AXA Millésimes group. This leading investment group also owns famous properties such as Château Pichon-Longueville, Château Pibran, and the Disznókő estate in Hungary.
This 2019 Vintage Port is made according to the exceptional traditional method: the grapes are gently trodden to extract a rich must, then macerated in the traditional stone lagares of the Quinta to ensure perfect extraction of aromas and tannins during fermentation. This exceptional port was aged for 18 months in wooden barrels of at least 640 liters, allowing careful refinement while preserving the freshness and aromatic depth characteristic of great Douro wines.
Grape varieties: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Cao, Sousão
