Noval Nacional 1979 - Real?

[Bertie3000]

Last year I purchased this bottle from a Scandinavian auction. It was part of a reasonably large collection of ports from a natural cellar in Sweden. I did not think this port existed so thought I would buy it to take a closer look (seemed like a good idea at the time, even though my admittedly limited experience of 1979’s should have told me to steer clear!).

The only reference I can find for this port relates to a single bottle that is noted on both the vintageport.se website and in The Port Vintages book. I have never managed to find a picture. So the question is whether it is genuine or not. Obviously it is never listed in lists of Nacional so at best it was an unofficial release. Lots of things go through my mind - who on earth would fake this vintage being an obvious one. Oddly the label is the same as the one on the bottles from 1967 but not those in the 1970s/1980s. I cannot see the cork so have no information in the regard.

I think I will open it at some point this year and hope the cork reveals further information but in the meantime does anyone on here have any knowledge of this?

[Alex Bridgeman]

That is a really interesting looking bottle - there’s nothing I see on the pictures that makes me think it’s a fake but I’d really want to handle the bottle before a final conclusion.

I have some 1979 Malvedos, which isn’t a bad wine. Happy to open it alongside the 1979 Nacional.

[JB vintage]

Hello Bertie!
I am one of the 3 people behind vintageport.se. I have not tasted this one but my father in law has in the mid 90ies. I would be very interested in joining Alex, if you are interested, and could add a few additional 1979s. I currently have 7 different 79s, incl the Malvados. May I suggest to make a small 1979 tasting on April 2, the day before the BFT? I am currently planning my trip to London and might as well arrive on April 2 as on April 3.
Regard, Jörgen

[Alex Bridgeman]

April 2nd is not a good day for me — I am usually a little bit busy the day before the BFT. I have dinner with about 20 winemakers!

[Andy Velebil]

Pretty sure they stopped using the AJdS as producer before 1979 vintage (1981 by the time this would have been bottled). IIRC, I think 1970 vintage (or so) was last year to list producer as AJdS. No Selo or any sign of a previous one. Weird type set and only listed as “Noval”, no Quinta do. Generic capsule.

-a sample bottle that made it out into the wild?

-not a genuine bottle?

Who knows. Curious what the cork says when you open it.

[Bertie3000]

Thank you for all your replies. Plenty of reasons to be suspicious but why would anyone go to all this effort? Seems like I need to see what the cork says! Very sorry but work prevents me from being able to meet on 2 April. I am happy to bring the bottle to a tasting later this year. I also have a Borges 1979 (came in a bundle) so we could have a very small 1979 tasting. I think we might need something else to raise the bar afterwards though.

[Andy Velebil]

Thank you for all your replies. Plenty of reasons to be suspicious but why would anyone go to all this effort? Seems like I need to see what the cork says! Very sorry but work prevents me from being able to meet on 2 April. I am happy to bring the bottle to a tasting later this year. I also have a Borges 1979 (came in a bundle) so we could have a very small 1979 tasting. I think we might need something else to raise the bar afterwards though.

Not speaking specifically of this bottle…Going through the effort to fake a bottle knows no boundary. I’ve seen a fake 1933 Croft VP many years ago. I’ve seen cheap $10 bottles of wine faked. If someone thinks they can make some money, they’ll do it.