Noval 40 Year Old Tawny, Qunita do Noval

Light amber colour. Extremely rich and complex nutty bouquet reminiscent of mint and almonds. Full bodied, sweet and intensely fruity, delivering vibrant orange zest, dried mango, apricot compote and baked apple flavours that are plush, well-structured and long. Notes of sage and honey mark the mineral-infused finish that belies its age.

Quinta do Noval is widely regarded as one of the leading lights in Port and has always done things a little differently. Situated just outside Pinhão in the heart of the Douro valley, Quinta do Noval is a single estate Port shipper with a focus on quality, terroir driven Ports and wines. Acquired by AXA Millésimes in 1992, the estate undertook an extensive replanting and regeneration programme under the leadership of Christian Seely that has furthered its reputation as one of the top producers in the region.

The grapes for Noval 40yo Tawny are harvested 100% from Quinta do Noval, Pinhao. The domain of 145 hectares which dominates the Pinhão Valley constitutes the heart and soul of Quinta do Noval. The soil is made up of schistous rock, which makes work in the vineyard particularly difficult. Since 1994, Quinta do Noval has replanted 100 hectares of the domain with the noble grape varieties of the Douro, adapting pruning methods to suit each parcel. The parcels have been replanted in single grape variety plots, the varieties chosen to suit each individual parcel of land. The grapes are foot trodden and fermented in the traditional ‘lagares’ of the Quinta, where a disciplined and intense treading is fundamental for a good final result. The wine is fortified using grape spirit from traditional suppliers in the douro, after fortification the resulting wine is then aged in large 640 litre oak vats for 40 years until bottling.