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Deep red and opaque. Youthful blackcurrants all over the nose. Sweet fruit dominates the entry with big flavoursand firm tannins giving a medium bodied but lively palate. The finish is of dry blackcurrants and of good length. This is too young and astringent to be enjoyable, but has great potential. 85/100. Drunk 22 Feb 2012.

Perhaps this should be re-named 2005 Quinta do Noval single vineyard LBV - label here

Difficult on first night, much improved on the second - far more integrated and approachable, even if slightly cheek-drying. A lot of time needed - if these ever go on offer, i'd be tempted by a 6-pack. Not as impressive as the regular 2003 Noval for current drinking IMHO. **(**?) (85 with 90 potential?)

RAYC wrote:Not as impressive as the regular 2003 Noval for current drinking IMHO.

That is an extremely high bar for an LBV to get over.

DRT wrote:

RAYC wrote:Not as impressive as the regular 2003 Noval for current drinking IMHO.

That is an extremely high bar for an LBV to get over.

Indeed!

Noval 2003 LBV!

perhaps i should still clarify exactly what i meant though.

When it was on the shelves, on occasion i used to pick up the Noval 03 LBV for immediate drinking. It slipped down very nicely and, along with a BBR crusted, was my first "every-day" port. I don't know what its ageing prospects are (good, i hope - i have a 6-pack stored), but it certainly seemed to me to be far more enjoyable to drink on release than the 05 LBV offerings.

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• Croft Vintage Character;
• 1952 Burmester Colheita;
• Mundy’s Investiture Port (from AHB);
• Mundy’s Investiture Port (from BMHR);
• 1967 Martinez;
• 1970 Warre;
• 1977 Gould Campbell;
• 1983 Factory House Blend;
• 1991 Quinta de la Rosa;
• 2005 Noval LBV;
• 2005 Quinta do Noval single vineyard LBV;
• Placemats;
• Planning and arrangements.