1963 Quinta do Noval

[Alex Bridgeman]

Mid red colour, looking to be at the peak of maturity. Quite closed on the nose - sweet and inviting. Sweet and balanced in the mouth, but showing a dry core and still some tannins in the wine. Very elegant. Big oranges on the aftertaste, with a long and very lovely length.

Initially, I preferred the other bottle of Noval 1963, but after allowing both to stand in the glass for a couple of hours, this wine was the better of the two without any of the harsh tones noticeable in the other bottle. 92/100. Drunk 17 Dec 2009.

[jdaw1]

Colour translucent strawberry. Nose and palate: heat; spice; strawberry. The heat particularly mid-to-late palate.

Heat suggested Taylor; fruit said Warre; I said Sandeman. Actually Noval. Year I got right: ’63.

[Chris Doty]

Thanks for the notes guys -- I had been under the impression that this was generally not a particularly good effort from Noval, and that it should only be viewed as attractive ~$65 -- it seems you guys were a bit more positive, no?

[jdaw1]

N63 very variable. One bottling (my Cambridge college) was consistently fantastic; many others have been mediocre. Seemingly very random.

[DRT]

I have had from very good to very bad and a few inbetween. You just have to be lucky with this one.