Quinta do Noval : Vintage Nacional 2023

Characteristics and Tasting Advice for the Vintage Nacional 2023 from Quinta do Noval

Serving and Cellaring

The Vintage Nacional 2023 can be cellared for between 5 and 100 years after bottling. It is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 15 and 17°C and to consume it within 48 hours of opening to preserve all its tasting qualities.

An exceptional Vintage Port from a legendary Duriense terroir

The estate

Founded in 1715, Quinta do Noval remains the only historic Porto house to produce Vintage Ports exclusively from its own estate. Located in the Cima Corgo on 192 hectares between 100 and 500 meters in altitude on schist soils, it has belonged to AXA Millésimes since 1993. The estate stands out for its complete centralization of activities in the Douro and its legendary "Nacional" plot with ungrafted vines, perfectly illustrating the diversity of the Duriense terroir.

The vineyard

This Vintage Port comes from the legendary "Nacional" plot at the heart of Quinta do Noval. This exceptional parcel is home to ungrafted vines resistant to phylloxera, constituting a unique viticultural heritage. The vines flourish on the characteristic schist soils of the Douro region, benefiting from a particular microclimate that gives this terroir its singularity.

The vintage

The 2023 vintage was marked by a warm and wet winter, followed by an exceptionally hot and dry spring. The summer was in line with climatic averages. Budburst occurred in the first half of March with a slight initial delay that was quickly caught up. Precipitation reached 838 mm between October 2022 and September 2023, more than double that of 2022. Flowering took place between the second and third week of May, while veraison began in mid-June for touriga francesa and tinta roriz, and mid-July for touriga nacional.

Vinification and aging

Vinification follows traditional methods with foot treading in granite lagares to extract the must, aromas, color, and tannins. The harvest of the Nacional plot took place on September 20, 2023. Aging lasted 18 months in old oak and chestnut vats with a capacity of 2,500 liters, allowing this cuvée to develop its complexity without masking the expression of the terroir.

Blend

Touriga nacional, touriga francesa, tinto cão, tinta roriz, and sousão.