1997 Quinta do Noval

[Alex Bridgeman]

Ex-cellars. 1,200 cases produced but only 16 bottles left at the Quinta due to an administrative error a few years ago! Deep red in colour but with the first signs of development on the edge of the glass. Fine nose of bluenberries, but with a minty freshness that I have not noticed in later vintages. Sweet, ripe fruit impact in the mouth of red fruits and red cherries around a gently tannic core. Masses of fruit comes through in the mid-palate that just doesn't stop, the longer you can hold it in your mouth the more it delivers. All with beautiful, balanced acidity. I found the aftertaste slightly clipped and dropped a point from the wine's score so imagine what this would have been like with a long and luxurious aftertaste. 9/9 on Tom's scale. 97/100. Drunk March 2007.