Noval, part of a 1963 horizontal At my father’s in Sussex, on Saturday 2nd February 2008.
Links to relevant threads:
1963 Quinta do Noval
Noval 1963
I had trouble deciding whether the Noval 1963 was great or ordinary. Middling red to the eye. I, supported by SC, found lavender and sugar. PMD and SRG found black cherries. The taste started rich and fruity, and fatty unctuousness. Lovely. But the aftertaste was mostly alcohol. Some people had this amongst the best ports of the evening, but I thought in the second three rather than the top tier.
2nd Feb 2008: Noval 1963 cork
Noval 1963 cork
Last edited by jdaw1 on 15:22 Tue 05 Feb 2008, edited 1 time in total.
Re: 2nd Feb 2008: Noval 1963 bottle
Noval 1963 bottle
2nd Feb 2008: Noval 1963 capsule
Noval 1963 capsule
- Alex Bridgeman
- Graham’s 1948
- Posts: 14915
- Joined: 13:41 Mon 25 Jun 2007
- Location: Berkshire, UK
Decanted for 4½ hours before drinking. Mid-red colour with hickory smoke on the nose over a floral lavender and cherry bouquet. Rich mouthfeel with dust and then cranberries and lots of fruit; some fatness and a great acidic structure. A warm aftertaste bringing red licorice. This port took quite a time to develop in the glass to its full potential, but an hour later the nose had opened up and was magnificent. My second top wine of the night after the Fonseca '63. 94/100. Drunk 2/2/08.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
N63
Regular Noval. I have found great variation in UK bottlings of Noval 1963. Some, from Queens’ College Cambridge, are among the best ports I have ever tasted. Others have been dry or dismal or both. This was at the better end, but not best-ever N63.