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Quinta do Noval Winery Guide
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Last updated: April 18, 2024
Winery Overview
Perched high on the steep terraced slopes northeast of Pinhão, Quinta do Noval is a captivating destination for wine enthusiasts. The breathtaking views of endless vineyards are mesmerizing. As you explore the estate and delve into its rich history, the enchantment captures you. And that’s even before you can taste their legendary wines! The vineyards of Noval have a storied past, originally planted over 300 years ago and later re-established after the devastation caused by phylloxera in the late 1800s. António José da Silva, a distinguished port wine shipper from Vila Nova de Gaia, replanted most of the vineyards and preserved a select few precious vines.
The new owner reserved these vines exclusively for exceptional vintage wines, giving birth to “The Magic of Nacional Vintage.” This extraordinary vintage port wine comes from an untouched plot in the heart of the vineyard, where the grapes grow on ungrafted vines. Quinta do Noval proudly bears the vineyard’s name and is renowned for its flagship wine, Quinta do Noval Nacional Vintage.
Throughout its extensive history, Quinta do Noval has achieved numerous milestones and received well-deserved acclaim. The Vintage Declaration of 1931 was a significant moment, a defining period for the estate. While the world was going through economic challenges and many Port shippers refrained from declaring a vintage that year due to overproduction in the late 1920s, Noval boldly made the declaration. This decision elevated them to the forefront of leading Port houses. As a result, Quinta do Noval Nacional Vintage 1931 has achieved legendary status among wine lovers and experts alike.
In 1958, Quinta do Noval also pioneered a new category of Port known as “Late Bottled Vintage” (LBV). The creators designed this style to offer consumers a comparable experience to Vintage Port at a more accessible price point. LBV Ports mature in wood for an extended period and are bottled later, allowing them to develop complex flavors faster and enabling them to be enjoyed at a younger age. In contrast, Vintage Ports spend less time in barrels and require many more years of aging in bottle to develop their character fully.
Presently, Quinta do Noval is under the ownership of “AXA Millésimes,” a distinguished wine portfolio that includes esteemed estates such as Château Suduiraut, Château Pibran, Château Petit-Village, Château Pichon Baron Longueville, and Domaine de l’Arlot in France, Disnoko in Hungary, and Outpost Wines in Napa. Noval continues to produce exceptional, dry DOC wines alongside their world-famous Ports. Both styles reflect the unique terroir and remain faithful to the estate’s heritage, showcasing supremely high-quality fruit that eloquently expresses itself in every bottle.
Wines produced
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Noval Extra Dry White
Malvasia Fina, Gouveio, Rabigato and Códega undergo 50% pellicular maceration and 50% non-pellicular maceration in temperature controlled stainless steel vats. Ageing is carried out for an average of 2 years, 90% in old wooden vats and 10% in stainless steel. Subtle, fruity and light, this is a refreshing aperitif served on its own or as a Port tonic. -
Noval Tawny 20 Year Old
A blend of old Ports from differnt vintages that have spent their entire maturation in oak casks. The average age of the blend when bottled being 20 years. This is a superb example of Noval Tawny Ports; fine, elegant and long. -
Noval Tawny 40 Year Old
As the 20 Year Tawny, this is a blend of old Ports from differnt vintages that have spent their entire maturation in oak casks, in this case the average age is 40 years. Rich and dark brown in color from the ageing, yet in the mouth it expresses an incredible freshness – exquisite. -
Quinta do Noval Vintage
Vintage is only declared in the most exceptional years and when the wines come up to the demanding Noval standards. Balance, finesse and elegance are essential characteristics. The wines selected for the Quinta do Noval Vintage Port blend account for a minimal proportion of the total production. 2011 and 2008 were optimum Vintages in recent years. -
Quinta do Noval Colheita
These are old Tawny style ports, i.e. matured in casks, but whereas Tawny Ports of 10, 20, 30 and 40 years are blends of many vintages with an average age. The Colheita is from a single vintage, making them even more distinctive and unique. The Colheita ports are bottled and commercialized after 10 to 12 years of ageing. -
Quinta do Noval Nacional Vintage
his is a unique Vintage Port produced from the grapes of the “Nacional” plot, a small plot of ungrafted vines, that were untouched by phylloxera. Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinto Cão and Sousão. Ageing is in seasoned 2,500 litre oak vats following traditional vinification of foot-terdding and fermentation in lagares. -
Quinta do Noval LBV Unfiltered Single Vineyard
Produced as a Vintage port; the grapes are trodden by foot, undergo fermentation in lagares and ageing in oak casks, but in this case for 4 years instead of 2 years, as for a Classic Vintage. Hence the name “Late Bottled Vintage”, a vintage port bottled later. The resulting port is incredibly smooth and ready to drink straight after bottling. -
Cedro do Noval
Named after the symbolic cedar tree which provides glorious natural shade over the terrace. Cedro do Noval is a blend of the noble Douro grape varieties (Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz and Tinto Cão) with a touch of Syrah. Remontage is carried out in stainless steel vats at 26ºC. Ageing is for 18 months in French oak casks. -
Quinta do Noval Touriga Nacional
100% Touriga Nacional. Remontage is carried out in stainless steel vats at 26ºC. Ageing is for 18 months in French oak casks. A fine example of how this noble, native grape expresses itself. -
Labrador Syrah
100% Syrah. Remontage is carried out in stainless steel vats at 26ºC. Ageing is for 18 months in French oak casks. As Christian Seely states “Syrah adapts perfectly to the Douro. It expresses a very Douro-style personality rather than being typically Syrah”. -
Maria Mansa
A blend of the noblest of the classic Douro varieties: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz and Tinto Cão. Vinification is carried out in specially designed conical stainless steel temperature controlled vats, within a temperature range of 25-28°C. Aged for 14 months in French oak barrels of different ages. A very fresh expression of the Douro varieties, ready for drinking as soon as its bottled.
Winery Contact Details
Quinta do Noval
Quinta do NovalVale de Mendiz
5085-110 Pinhão - Portugal
Email: [email protected]
Tel (+351) 22 3770270
Fax (+351) 22 3750365 Find out more
Facts & Figures
Appellation
Douro
Founded
1715
Area under Vine
145 ha
Age of vines
Average 24 years. With some very old plots
Oak barrel origin
French oak
Winemaker
Carlos Agrellos
Owner
AXA Millésimes
Production
Grape varietals
Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Sousão, Tinto Cão, Tinta Barroca
Grape Varieties Used by the Winery
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Sousão
Discover Sezão, the dark-skinned Portuguese grape used in port and table wines, boasting rich flavors and a captivating history. 🍇🍷
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Tinta Barroca
Tinta Barroca is one of the most common red wine grapes grown primarily in the Douro region in northern Portugal.
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Tinta Roriz (Aragonês)
Discover the versatile grape: Spain's Tempranillo, and in Portugal, Aragonês and Tinta Roriz (Douro Valley). Embrace the rich cultural tapestry of this beloved varietal.
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Tinto Cão
Uncover Tinta Cão, the treasured Portuguese red wine grape. A vital Port Wine blend, embodying Portugal's winemaking legacy with grace.
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Touriga Franca (Touriga Francesa)
Touriga Franca is a red grape variety known for producing wines with intense color and aromas of dark fruits and flowers. It's often used in Port wine blends and can also make complex, full-bodied still wines
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Touriga Nacional
Touriga Nacional red varietal is a dark-skinned grape predominately grown in Douro and Dão. In the Douro, it is used as a blending grape in Port wines.
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Winery Appellations
Author
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More information
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