1963 Quinta do Noval

[jdaw1]

From Victoria: The Queen, Julia Baird: “Queen Victoria was born, roaring, at 4:15 ᴀ.ᴍ., in the hour before dawn on May 24, 1819”.

The time convenient to us that is closest to the two hundredth anniversary of that would be the evening of Thursday 23^rd May 2019.

And we did.

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• The Ports:
  • 1963 Quinta do Noval;
  • 1960 Croft;
  • 1963 Sandeman;
  • 1963 Dow;
  • 1966 Taylor;
  • 1966 Fonseca;
  • 1966 Warre;
  • 1970 Royal Oporto Carvalhas;
  • 1970 Fonseca;
  • 1970 Warre;
  • 1977 Taylor;
• Placemats;
• Food order;
• Planning and arrangements.

[jdaw1]

N63, though thought to be the same shipper’s 1960; decanted 16:30. Red-brown, 30% opaque. Drying out; heat; slight cherry. Too dry.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Originally an unknown from Ben Read, believed to be Noval 1960 but identified from the branded cork as Noval 1963 (bottled in the UK but with no bottler on the cork). Soapy on the nose, but with plenty of redcurrant. The soapy fruit comes through on the palate, there is lots of fruit but the soapy tone is slightly odd, despite the heat and spices. Soapy sweet redcurrant on the aftertaste and finish. There are better bottles than this one. 86/100.