1978 Quinta do Noval

[Alex Bridgeman]

Deep bronze colour, much more brown than red; slightly hazy so difficult to estimate opacity - perhaps 30%. Sour sultanas on the nose, a touch of VA but the whole is attractive and promising. Lovely balance on the palate; sweet dried fruit with raisins and dried citrus zest balanced by a powerful acidity and a gentle smokiness that hints at what once the tannins in the port. A lovely aftertaste, then a huge finish of enormous length that is full of mace, muscvado sugar and black licorice. Very good port, extremely mature and in its tertiary phase of life - drink now as this will only decline with more time in the cellar. 91/100. Drunk 01-Feb-14. Decanted 4½ hours.