NV Quinta do Noval LB
Posted: 22:46 Fri 31 Jul 2009
This was a bottle of unknown age, the only clues to age being the name of the importer (Rutherford Osborne & Perkin of SW1V 4TG, who were dissolved in December 1995), their postcode and the fact that it was a subdivided SW1 code, and the fact that the bottle was a three piece moulded bottle (the two halves of the cylinder plus the base). The cork was a 2/3rds length driven cork branded "Quinta do Noval". There was a surprising amount of fine and sludgy sediment in the bottle which was caught by the filter paper I decanted through.
On decanting, the colour was very pale and very brown but quickly put on colour to become an attractive tawny colour. On the nose, this was subdued, but smelling pleasantly of honey and flower perfume but without much complexity. In the mouth it is pleasant, but light-weight although with a very good and thick texture. The flavours are delicate and simple, showing age and very tawny characteristics - lots of simple sugar water - but there is a good balance of acidity to keep the sweetness in check. Patience does allow the wine to develop a touch of complexity as dates and bitter marmalade show. The aftertaste starts with too much alcohol causing a bit of a burn, but then develops into a long length of dates and brown sugar.
Very tertiary and wholly now a tawny, but still a pleasant drink and one which I will look forward to sipping over the next 2-3 days. 88/100. Drunk on 31 July 2007 after 3 hours decanting.
On decanting, the colour was very pale and very brown but quickly put on colour to become an attractive tawny colour. On the nose, this was subdued, but smelling pleasantly of honey and flower perfume but without much complexity. In the mouth it is pleasant, but light-weight although with a very good and thick texture. The flavours are delicate and simple, showing age and very tawny characteristics - lots of simple sugar water - but there is a good balance of acidity to keep the sweetness in check. Patience does allow the wine to develop a touch of complexity as dates and bitter marmalade show. The aftertaste starts with too much alcohol causing a bit of a burn, but then develops into a long length of dates and brown sugar.
Very tertiary and wholly now a tawny, but still a pleasant drink and one which I will look forward to sipping over the next 2-3 days. 88/100. Drunk on 31 July 2007 after 3 hours decanting.