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I’ve been thinking, recently, that out of the major Port shippers, I don’t really have a good understanding of Quinta do Noval’s Vintage Port. I’m not really sure about a house style (or lack thereof) and whilst I know it went through some rocky patches, I’d struggle to name when they were.

I was therefore wondering if anyone on fancied a little Noval tasting? I didn’t have in mind a parallel Nacional v. Noval double vertical going back to 1931 but just a few bottles for different years. Perhaps with a tawny or colheita as an aperitif.

If anyone is interested, do let me know here with any good / bad dates; any bottles you have or whether you might need to adopt. I’m afraid I will probably be in the latter category since I only own some 2007 which probably isn’t that great for drinking now.

New members of and lurkers would be very welcome; don’t be shy!

Details:

Date: Monday 25th June, the Bunghole.

Current Attendees:
1. JacobH (1985);
2. RAYC (1960);
3. DRT (1950);
4. AHB (1963);
5. THRA (1955);
6. HG (1978); and
7. KD (1966).

[The above not being set-in-stone, simply to give a reflection of what looks possible from the replies below].

I'd be interested in this if it was late June, especially if we kept this as something relatively informal - a bit like our recent Croft mini-vertical where everyone brought a bottle of Croft along to share.

AHB wrote:I'd be interested in this if it was late June, especially if we kept this as something relatively informal - a bit like our recent Croft mini-vertical where everyone brought a bottle of Croft along to share.

That’s exactly what I had in mind.

Since you are more constrained about when you can be in London, do you have an preferences for dates?

Keen - 28th and 29th June are definitely out for me, and 27th would be a real stretch but i could probably make it. Otherwise i am not yet booked for anything.

Monday 25th would be a good day for me. Tuesday 26th might also be possible, but is less certain than Monday.

I must admit i don't have any of the older vintages myself, but this is plenty of notice to acquire from retail/auction if necessary. There are some bits and pieces from Noval coming up at auction that i will look out for.

I would actually be keen to include the 2007 - i have tasted this port at various intervals since first release and would be very interested to see how it is now going. I wouldn't be against trying the 2003 as well, though my preference would be for 60s, 70s and 80s dependant on numbers.

My experience of the 94 at BBR (Doty's excellent review here) makes me feel that inclusion of the blockbuster 94 and/or 97 would be a bit of a waste at this stage (especially given their expense), though i am more than happy to taste if others want to!

I've got bottles from '58 (but only 1) through to '78 but nothing from the '80s.

I'm in. Noval 1950 is my contribution.

Great stuff. Shall we pencil in the 25th June? I’ll look around for what Novals are available.

As I mentioned in the first post, there is no pressure to make this a massive tasting with old and valuable wines; just bring a bottle of a Noval to try with some friends.

I'll bring a bottle of the '63. That covers the '50s and '60s decades - shall we try to get at least one bottle per decade?

Not yet sure that the date will work. But if it does, assuming a trip to Sussex, I could bring ’63 or ’78. Of the latter I have one bottle, and I don’t fully trust its previous storage.

Nearer the time placemats will be drafted.

jdaw1 wrote:Not yet sure that the date will work. But if it does, assuming a trip to Sussex, I could bring ’63 or ’78. Of the latter I have one bottle, and I don’t fully trust its previous storage.

Nearer the time placemats will be drafted.

If you do attend, you can bring the '63 and I'll bring the '78.

If I do, why don’t I bring both?

Would love to come, I can bring a 66 or a 97 for a progress update!

Actually if OK would like to bring a guest, so please count me in for the 66 and 97

One point that is potentially of note: there is a possibility that jdaw1, DRT and I put in a team order for Noval 63 and Noval 66 from Davy's list at the end of the last event. But it sounds like we now have those covered.

jdaw1 wrote:If I do, why don’t I bring both?

Because I'd rather have a '78 from reliable storage - they are rather pleasant if properly treated. Very mature and full of oranges.

Thanks for the replies. I’ve updated the first post to give a (very provisional) overview. I’ll see if I can find a bottle from the 1980s to acquire since that seems to be the decade we are lacking the most at the moment.

JacobH wrote:Thanks for the replies. I’ve updated the first post to give a (very provisional) overview. I’ll see if I can find a bottle from the 1980s to acquire since that seems to be the decade we are lacking the most at the moment.

Not true. We are desperately lacking wines from the 19th century and also from the first four decades of the twentieth century. We should also consider the fact that the 1980s was the black spot on Noval's reputation. Should we boycott that decade in protest?

DRT wrote:

JacobH wrote:Thanks for the replies. I’ve updated the first post to give a (very provisional) overview. I’ll see if I can find a bottle from the 1980s to acquire since that seems to be the decade we are lacking the most at the moment.

Not true. We are desperately lacking wines from the 19th century and also from the first four decades of the twentieth century. We should also consider the fact that the 1980s was the black spot on Noval's reputation. Should we boycott that decade in protest?

No, I don't thInk we should boycott the 80s just because of a poor reputation. We are the ones who can independently judge whether the reputation is deserved, or merely an old wives' tale. Who else would do this to our high standard? Who else would be prepared to forc themselves to drink bottle after bottle of delicious and mature Vintage Port?

AHB wrote:No, I don't thInk we should boycott the 80s just because of a poor reputation.

You have ducked DRT’s more important point: there needs to be a proper sampling of ≤1940 Noval.

AHB wrote: DRT wrote:
JacobH wrote:
Thanks for the replies. I’ve updated the first post to give a (very provisional) overview. I’ll see if I can find a bottle from the 1980s to acquire since that seems to be the decade we are lacking the most at the moment.Not true. We are desperately lacking wines from the 19th century and also from the first four decades of the twentieth century. We should also consider the fact that the 1980s was the black spot on Noval's reputation. Should we boycott that decade in protest?
No, I don't thInk we should boycott the 80s just because of a poor reputation. We are the ones who can independently judge whether the reputation is deserved, or merely an old wives' tale. Who else would do this to our high standard? Who else would be prepared to forc themselves to drink bottle after bottle of delicious and mature Vintage Port?

Looking at the list, the ones i would favour targeting are 1960 and 1970. I can't recall having had either.

RAYC wrote:Looking at the list, the ones i would favour targeting are 1960 and 1970. I can't recall having had either.

These are unexpected nominations for filling the gap of vintages from the '80s. Still, who am I to question a suggestion to drink port from the '60s and '70s. Splendid idea.

note I am subtley still ignoring any ludicrous suggestion from anyone other than our nominated organiser that we should become completist about this tasting

I have acquired a 1985 (keeping with the traditional definition of 1980s rather than others suggested in the thread...).

Is there anyone I need to contact in particular the Bunghole to book? Assuming we are about 7 or so, should we stick with the large room or another space?

There's no-one in particular that you need to speak to at The Bunghole to book - all the staff seem to know us. The large room works well for a smaller number of people, but if it is already booked with only 7 of us we can happily be tucked away in a corner somewhere.

Great. Thanks!

THRA is in.

Provided from his cellar, on his own and my behalf, will be Noval 55 and Noval 60.

Great stuff. I’ll drop by Berry’s when I next have a chance and get a William Pickering 20-Year-Old Tawny (which I think is made by Noval) as a aperitif, unless anyone has some strong preferences for something else.

I have booked for the 25th. I am told that if there are requests for things--like a ‟club sirloin”--that aren’t on the menu, then I will need to order those on the 18th June, so please let me know. (I always assumed one chunk of flesh was much like any other, but then this isn’t really my area of expertise .)

Some placemats.

My bottle of 1963 was dropped off at The Bunghole Cellars this evening, to be allowed to settle over the weekend.

I've just heard that CMAG will not be able to make the tasting (presumably meaning that his +1 will also not be with us).

AHB wrote:My bottle of 1963 was dropped off at The Bunghole Cellars this evening, to be allowed to settle over the weekend.

Great. I hope mine will join it there this afternoon.

AHB wrote:I've just heard that CMAG will not be able to make the tasting (presumably meaning that his +1 will also not be with us).

That’s a shame. I will remove them from the list. Any word from jdaw1?

JacobH wrote:Any word from jdaw1?

Just heard he won't be able to make it either.

Very sorry I cannot make it! What a wonderful tasting and sorry for the short notice!

Jacob - because JDAW isn't attending, I have brought the 1963 for the line-up and not the 1978 as shown on the first post.

There is an outside chance that I will have two guests with me on Monday night. I will give as much warning as I can and will provide additional bottles if they are able to attend. If this causes problems, then let me know and I will de-invite them, but thought it might be worth asking them along simply because we're a relatively small number.

Christopher wrote:Very sorry I cannot make it! What a wonderful tasting and sorry for the short notice!

Not to worry; hope to see you soon!

AHB wrote:Jacob - because JDAW isn't attending, I have brought the 1963 for the line-up and not the 1978 as shown on the first post.

Thanks; that’s very generous of you.

AHB wrote:There is an outside chance that I will have two guests with me on Monday night. I will give as much warning as I can and will provide additional bottles if they are able to attend. If this causes problems, then let me know and I will de-invite them, but thought it might be worth asking them along simply because we're a relatively small number.

The more the merrier, as far as I am concerned! I’ll speak to the Bunghole just in case it would affect them but I don’t see how it would.

JacobH wrote:

AHB wrote:There is an outside chance that I will have two guests with me on Monday night. I will give as much warning as I can and will provide additional bottles if they are able to attend. If this causes problems, then let me know and I will de-invite them, but thought it might be worth asking them along simply because we're a relatively small number.

The more the merrier, as far as I am concerned! I’ll speak to the Bunghole just in case it would affect them but I don’t see how it would.

Unexpectedly quickly, I have had a positive response from the two people I have invited. Both would love to attend. Their initials are HG and KD, both are right handed. One (KD) has definitely been to one of our offlines before.

I will bring the 1978 and the 1966 as their contributions.

AHB wrote:

JacobH wrote:

AHB wrote:There is an outside chance that I will have two guests with me on Monday night. I will give as much warning as I can and will provide additional bottles if they are able to attend. If this causes problems, then let me know and I will de-invite them, but thought it might be worth asking them along simply because we're a relatively small number.

The more the merrier, as far as I am concerned! I’ll speak to the Bunghole just in case it would affect them but I don’t see how it would.

Unexpectedly quickly, I have had a positive response from the two people I have invited. Both would love to attend. Their initials are HG and KD, both are right handed. One (KD) has definitely been to one of our offlines before.

I will bring the 1978 and the 1966 as their contributions.

Great. Looking forward to it

Sorry, I could have posted a little sooner. I’m a definite no-show for this tasting. Alas.

jdaw1 wrote:Sorry, I could have posted a little sooner. I’m a definite no-show for this tasting. Alas.

No need to apologise; the advantage of ‟bring a bottle” is that we can be flexible in this way!

Updated placemats; will probably print on Sunday night.

'60 decanted - dregs tasted nice..

Very sorry for late decision but I am able to attend this evening and will bring a N'70 if that is acceptable.

'55 & '70 decanted - looking good..

I also now have a last minute guest. Therefore the 1958 will also be in attendance tonight.

'58 decanted - looking good!

Fantastic; though there is now a complete placemat disaster...

i printed two spare copies of the placemats and one of the TN sheets. I figure we improvise with hand-drawn circles for the 70 and 58...

JacobH wrote:will probably print on Sunday night.

JacobH wrote:there is now a complete placemat disaster...

Maybe I should have spoken sooner: last-moment placemat-printing is generally recommended.