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From a bottle with top shoulder fill, rewaxed in November 2009. The corks used in these Oporto bottled wines are short and very poorly branded. It is clear the cork is branded, but the branding is so light as to be illegible. Thankfully the labels are still attached and intact.

Mature red, 50% opaque and smelling wonderfully of fresh figs. Thick texture, little immediate fruit flavour but plenty of mid-palate concentrated essence of cherry. Very thick texture. Lovely depth to the wine on the palate. A quick flash of heat on swallowing, which also dominates the initial stages of the finish, but this does eventually fade to leave a long, sweet flavour of cherry jam. This is a concentrated, jammy port that is drinking nicely now but will easily last another 10+ years. Given the poor reputation of Noval during this era, this is a very enjoyable wine. 91/100. Drunk 14 September 2010.

By the Grace of God, reportedly acting through one of the many loyal subjects of Her Britannic Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, a 6cl sample of N78 arrived today. Praise be!

Well, not so much. Much paler than the preceding O83, and lighter nose. There is a tart acidity in the mouth, behind which lurk red cherries and a sweetness, not wholly natural, that I couldn’t identify. Satisfactory drinking port, but lacking fullness. Perhaps too much air time?

Nonetheless, thanks be to AHB and his superiors.