The most revered and collectable Port in the world, Quinta do Noval Nacional is a Vintage Port produced from a single 2.5-hectare parcel of ungrafted vines in the Quinta do Noval estate, right next to the cellars. This patch of vines consistently produces a sublime and unique wine which is widely considered to be the pinnacle of Vintage Port and indeed, one of the great wines of the world. It is also almost certainly the rarest of the great wines of the world as so little is released and then, only in the appropriate years.

The Nacional plot is not named after the grape Touriga Nacional (as is commonly assumed). In fact, the site is planted with a range of the best Port varieties including Touriga Nacional (which only accounts for roughly 30%), Touriga Francesa, Tinto Cão (about 20%, 60-year-old vines), Tinta Roriz and some Sousão. The average age of the vines is around 50 years. The wine is called Nacional (i.e. national) because it is produced exclusively from ungrafted vines (i.e. vines on their original rootstocks and therefore directly in touch with the soil of the nation). The yields of these vines are minuscule (around 15 hl/ha) and the tight bunches of small, deeply coloured grapes produce a massively profound, yet typically sublimely refined Port of rare finesse. The La Romanée-Conti of Ports if you like.

The most revered and collectable Port in the world, Quinta do Noval Nacional is a Vintage Port produced from a single 2.5-hectare parcel of ungrafted vines in the Quinta do Noval estate, right next to the cellars. This patch of vines consistently produces a sublime and unique wine which is widely considered to be the pinnacle of Vintage Port and indeed, one of the great wines of the world. It is also almost certainly the rarest of the great wines of the world as so little is released and then, only in the appropriate years.

The Nacional plot is not named after the grape Touriga Nacional (as is commonly assumed). In fact, the site is planted with a range of the best Port varieties including Touriga Nacional (which only accounts for roughly 30%), Touriga Francesa, Tinto Cão (about 20%, 60-year-old vines), Tinta Roriz and some Sousão. The average age of the vines is around 50 years. The wine is called Nacional (i.e. national) because it is produced exclusively from ungrafted vines (i.e. vines on their original rootstocks and therefore directly in touch with the soil of the nation). The yields of these vines are minuscule (around 15 hl/ha) and the tight bunches of small, deeply coloured grapes produce a massively profound, yet typically sublimely refined Port of rare finesse. The La Romanée-Conti of Ports if you like.

When declared in the appropriate vintages, between 100 and 300 cases are made and these are highly sought the world over. We consider ourselves privileged to be able to offer them to you (albeit in tiny quantities) sourced directly from the stocks at the Quinta. Although the winemaking is almost identical to Noval’s VP, in some years the Nacional spends a few extra months in barrel (640 litres). The corte and liberdade (treading) were performed by a group of six for three hours.

The most revered and collectible Port in the world, Quinta do Noval Nacional is a Vintage Port produced from a single 2.5-hectare parcel of ungrafted vines in the Quinta do Noval estate, right next to the cellars. This patch of vines consistently produces a sublime and unique wine widely considered to be the pinnacle of Vintage Port and indeed, one of the world's great wines. It is also almost certainly the rarest of the world's great wines as so little is released—and then, only in suitable years.

The Nacional plot is not named after the grape Touriga Nacional (as is commonly assumed). In fact, the site is planted with a range of the best Port varieties, including Touriga Nacional (which accounts for only about 30%), Touriga Francesa, Tinto Cão (about 20%, 60-year-old vines), Tinta Roriz and some Sousão. The average age of the vines is around 50 years.

The wine is called Nacional because it is produced exclusively from ungrafted vines on their original rootstocks and, therefore, directly ‘attached to the soil of the nation’. The yields of these vines are minuscule (around 15 hl/ha), and the tight bunches of small, deeply coloured grapes produce a massively profound, yet typically sublimely refined, Port of rare finesse. The Romanée-Conti of Ports if you like.

The most revered and collectible Port in the world, Quinta do Noval Nacional is a Vintage Port produced from a single 2.5-hectare parcel of ungrafted vines in the Quinta do Noval estate, right next to the cellars. This patch of vines consistently produces a sublime and unique wine which is widely considered to be the pinnacle of Vintage Port and, indeed, one of the world’s great wines. It is also almost certainly the rarest of the world's great wines as so little is released—and even then, only in the appropriate years.

The Nacional plot is not named after the grape Touriga Nacional (as is commonly assumed). In fact, the site is planted with a range of the best Port varieties, including Touriga Nacional (which only accounts for roughly 30%), Touriga Francesa, Tinto Cão (about 20%, 60-year-old vines), Tinta Roriz and some Sousão. The average age of the vines is around 50 years. The wine is called Nacional (i.e. national) because it is produced exclusively from ungrafted vines (i.e. vines on their original rootstocks and therefore directly in touch with the soil of the nation). The yields of these vines are minuscule (around 15 hl/ha), and the tight bunches of small, deeply coloured grapes produce a massively profound yet sublimely refined Port. The La Romanée-Conti of Ports if you like.

The 2022 vintage reminded Christian Seely at Quinta do Noval of the 2017 and 1945 vintages, both notable for the resilience of their vines in the face of soaring temperatures. Seely describes 2022 as ‘a year of extremes’ but also believes this vintage will follow in the footsteps of previous highly rated vintages (and he is usually right about such matters).

Touriga Nacional was the star performer in 2022 and counts for the lion’s share of this year’s blend alongside smaller volumes of Tinto Cão, Sousão, Tinta Roriz and Touriga Francesa—all foot-trodden in temperature-controlled granite lagares. The wine matured for 18 months in old wooden barrels and was bottled in May 2024 with 89 g/L residual sugar.

Crafted from a rigorous selection of just 7% of the estate’s vines, it’s a luscious, ripe Noval with fruit flavours of black plums, violets and wild berries complemented by a delightful perfume that seamlessly intertwines with the velvety, luxurious texture. It’s perhaps the most accessible of Noval’s recent declarations, even if it does not want for staying power. The sheer vibrancy and balance captured this year are remarkable.

Noval’s Vintage Port is a single-quinta wine, the grapes passing a strict selection program from Noval’s vineyards on the slopes of Douro’s Cavadinha tributary. The 2021 vintage marks the 11th Port declaration in a row for Quinta do Noval, and this year’s wine represents only 4% of the estate’s entire production. Each year, the blending proportions for the Vintage Port will vary depending on the varieties which performed best. The 2021 is a blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinto Cão, Sousão, Tinta Roriz and Touriga Francesa—all foot-trodden in temperature-controlled granite lagares.

The wine matured for 18 months in old wooden barrels and was bottled in May 2023 with 97 g/L residual sugar. From the purity of its floral-led aromas and layered berry-fruited palate, this is Noval in its most elegant form. As always, it’s a wine of striking purity and intensity, yet it wears its power lightly, and the long, gently spiced finish is pure class. A delicious counterpoint to the opulent wines of recent years, it will work well in restaurants from a reasonably young age.

Noval’s Vintage Port is a single-quinta wine, the grapes passing a strict selection program from Noval’s own vineyards on the slopes of Douro’s Cavadinha tributary. The 2020 vintage marks the 10th Port declaration in a row for Quinta do Noval, and this year’s declaration represents only seven per cent of the estate’s entire production. Each year, the blending proportions for the Vintage Port will vary depending on those varieties which performed best. The 2020 is a blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinto Cão, Sousão, and Tinta Roriz (very little Touriga Francesa was used in 2020)—all foot-trodden in temperature-controlled granite lagares. The wine was matured for 18 months in old wooden barrels.

The vines at Noval always gift Ports of tremendous elegance and purity, traits that fit the widely declared 2020 vintage like a glove. Bottled in May 2022 with 115 grams of residual sugar, this is a profound Noval of exceptional clarity and sensual power.