Acquired via Christie's in June 2006. Reputed to be from the same collection as the Nacional 1931 that was sold in the same auction. (The Nacional '31 was later used for the Linden Wilkie tasting in March 2007.)
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
Slightly lighter in colour than the regular Noval shown alongside this Nacional, but still with a dark red/brown core and lots of coffee on the nose. Elegant entry with a sweet orange syrup and a thick texture that gets thicker the longer you hold it in your mouth. Redcurrants and cloves, nutmeg and raspberries. Long and fabulous aftertaste which is the typical Nacional signature for me, no-one else seems to get the same aftertaste as a Nacional does. This is a port that will hold for many years and may even improve over the next decade or so. 9/9 on Tom’s scale or 96/100. Decanted for 4½ hours and drunk on 28/1/08.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
This was one of those moments that etch themselves into the port geeks brain - my first tasting of NN66. I have to admit to being slightly aprehansive about this one having bludgeoned everyone into agreeing to stump up over £40 each for a small glass. Thankfully it lived up to all expectation. What a fabulous port.
My note simply says: "Dark, very thick, complex and delicious" - whilst entirely accurate, I don't think I've done it justice with that note
AHB had this 1st and I had it a close 2nd behind the Fonseca.
A huge thanks to AHB for supplying this very special addition to the line-up. Not many would be so generous with such a prized possession.
"The first duty of Port is to be red" Ernest H. Cockburn
Is Nacional worth the money? Generally I would agree that it isn't but its price as well as its quality makes it something special and it was great to be able to include it in Monday's line up. The first time I have ever tasted the '66.
Would I prefer 5 bottles of Fonseca '66 to 1 bottle of the Nacional '66? Clearly not, as I had the choice and decided to keep the Nacional for an occasion like the Deeper Underground offline!
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.