1966 Quinta do Noval Nacional

Medium red. Ineffable perfume of strawberry, mocha, coffee and burnished wood and Cuban cigar tobacco tones, lifted by a floral topnote. Wonderfully thick, even viscous, but with terrific acid cut accentuating the wine's inner-mouth aromatic character. The combination of layered texture and energy is captivating. Finishes with great subtle persistence, late-arriving tannins and a mounting smoky quality. Fabulous now but this is still evolving and should go on for another few decades.

The focused fruit zeros in on the palate. Excellent deep ruby, very intense black cherry and plum aromas, full-bodied, with incredibly focused fruit flavors, full tannins and a balanced finish. – James Suckling , Wine Spectator 1989