“On the nose intense and precise aromas of blackberry and black cherry combine with herbal nuances, spice and cocoa. On the palate it has a powerful attack, with a lively acidity and firm but ripe tannins. A stony minerality combines with the brooding back fruit and spice flavours and culminates in a long finish. The structure and conentration of this fine wine give it the potential to age in bottle for up to 40 years.” 14,500 bottles produced

Luis Sottomayor - Head Winemaker, Sandeman

"A blend of 50% Touriga Franca, 40% Touriga Nacional, 5% Sousão and 5% ‘other native red varietals’ from Quinta do Seixo and Quinta do Vau, both properties on the south side of the Douro in the Cima Corgo: very deep inky ‘black’ colour; demure and brooding on the nose, distinctly ripe, hot country fruit (kirsh) with a touch of liquorice and tar; big, ripe dark chocolate flavours, layered spicy depth, impressively structured with ripe tannins giving plenty of grip and leading to a big, expressive finish, perhaps lacking a little in freshness but very, very good. A definite keeper."

18.5/20 **** / ***** - Richard Mayson

“On the nose intense and precise aromas of blackberry and black cherry combine with herbal nuances, spice and cocoa. On the palate it has a powerful attack, with a lively acidity and firm but ripe tannins. A stony minerality combines with the brooding back fruit and spice flavours and culminates in a long finish. The structure and conentration of this fine wine give it the potential to age in bottle for up to 40 years.” 14,500 bottles produced

Luis Sottomayor - Head Winemaker, Sandeman

"Deep red in colour, almost impenetrable. Fresh aromas of sour cherry, raspberry and redcurrant fruit with touches of rose petal and freshly cut mint. On the palate, it is a serious and complex vintage revealing ripe black fruit, pepper and a floral note which provides character. Great structure, silky tannins and a fresh, velvety finish."

Ana Rosas - Master Blender, Ramos Pinto

"From Ramos Pinto’s flagship estate deep in the Rio Torto: ripe black cherry nose, overtly so, never have I tasted a wine so redolent of cherries; lovely soft, ripe fleshy fruit, sweet black cherries again, lovely purity of fruit backed by ripe, soft fine grained tannins with lovely gravely tannic length. Not the biggest of the bunch but very much all there."

17.5/20 **** - Richard Mayson

"Deep red in colour, almost impenetrable. Fresh aromas of sour cherry, raspberry and redcurrant fruit with touches of rose petal and freshly cut mint. On the palate, it is a serious and complex vintage revealing ripe black fruit, pepper and a floral note which provides character. Great structure, silky tannins and a fresh, velvety finish."

Ana Rosas - Master Blender, Ramos Pinto

“The wine is wonderfully ripe, full and exuberant, spicy on the nose, with very fine long tannins and a classic Noval purity and elegance.” 1,600 cases produced

Christian Seely - Managing Director, Quinta do Noval

"No percentages here but a blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Tinto Cão and Sousão, picked over a long period from 5th September to 13th October: lovely deep, dark colour; dense, ripe, bold fruit (a touch hot country) on the nose; lovely super-ripe blackberry / cassis fruit initially, wonderful freshness, vitality and verve, backed by broad, ripe tannins and a long powerful finish. This has it all! 1600 cases in total, representing 7% of Noval’s production."

19/20 ***** - Richard Mayson

“The wine is wonderfully ripe, full and exuberant, spicy on the nose, with very fine long tannins and a classic Noval purity and elegance.” 1,600 cases produced

Christian Seely - Managing Director, Quinta do Noval