Quinta do Noval : Vintage Nacional 1964

This has always been a very refined and polished vintage port with medium body, lovely sweetness, very fine tannins and a long, long finish. It has always been like this. Drink now.

Paleish red-brown. Currant, fresh herbs, coffee and mellow wood tones on the slightly shallow, evolved nose. Offers an attractive mid-palate sweetness but comes across as quite light, finishing with slightly drying tannins and a sugary, caramel-like quality. Faded with air. “This has been on a plateau for the last 20 years,” noted Seely. I’d drink it over the next ten years.

Now, here’s a wine you don’t see every day. It wasn’t the most concentrated Port I’ve ever tasted. But the incredible sense of purity in the fruit was overwhelming. It was as if all the fresh, sweet, bursting cherries, orange and figs had just been picked from the tree. Add in beautiful notes of licorice, dark cocoa, raisins, and sweet, warm, spiced fruits. I’m big on style and character, and this has both.