Quinta do Noval - Fine Tawny Port
Clos des Spiritueux is an iconic Porto house founded in 1715, and is one of the few estates located directly in the heart of the Douro Valley, far from Vila Nova de Gaia, in Portugal. This house takes its name from its prestigious vineyard, Quinta do Noval, globally recognized for the exceptional quality of its wines. The majority of the estate's vines are planted with noble Douro grape varieties: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, and Tinta Cao. The grapes grow on a unique terroir, composed of a mix of schist and clay soils, where the significant presence of rocks makes the harvest particularly demanding for the winemakers.
A large-scale vineyard replanting operation was initiated in 1994, with each plot replanted with the grape variety best suited to the specific characteristics of the soil, altitude, and sun exposure. A remarkable feature of this vineyard is the presence at the center of the Quinta of a plot of ungrafted vines that miraculously escaped the terrible phylloxera epidemic in the 19th century, thus offering a rare and precious viticultural heritage.
Since 1993, the general management has been overseen by Christian Seely, who is also responsible for several renowned estates in Europe within the AXA Millésimes group. This prestigious investment group also owns famous wine properties such as Château Pichon-Longueville, Château Pibran, and Disznókő in Hungary, ensuring high expertise and quality standards across all their vineyards.
This Noval Tawny is made using the traditional pumping-over method in stainless steel tanks, resulting in a refined blend of wines from the grape varieties Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, and Tinta Barroca, with an average age of about 3 years. It benefits from careful aging in oak barrels which imparts aromatic complexity, elegance, and a beautiful length on the palate.
Grape varieties: Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca – A perfect balance for an exceptional Tawny Port.
