2004 Quinta do Noval Tinto
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Tasting notes
70% Touriga Nacional, 20% Touriga Franca, 10% Tinta Cão. First year. A challenging year for Douro table wine – very good for vintage port, but very, very, very ripe. Had to pick pretty quickly to get reasonable ripeness. They were initially very thrilled but now they realise that the fruit is less fresh than it could have been. Very rich and sweet with a tobacco top note. Very flattering and sweet but with a slight raisiny note. Rather fun – spicy – but the tannins are a bit obvious. Not at all Bordelais... unlike their other table wines. They’ve gone native with this one! It will probably never be perfectly balanced. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Touriga Nacional 70%; Tinto Cão 20%; Touriga Franca 10%, aged in French oak. Fresh, peppery dark fruit aromas. Notably dry but definitely not drying. Lifted, elegant, restrained. A cool customer. (JH)
The 2004 Tinto is a blend of Touriga Nacional (70%), Tinto Cao (20%), and Touriga Franca (10%) raised exclusively in French oak. This has grip, concentration and a level of intensity that the Cedro does not. It coats the palate more. It shows a fair bit of oak at the moment, most of which should integrate nicely with age. Its mid-palate is still fairly elegant in weight, and it presents a relatively smooth, velvety feel, until the structural components rear their heads. The Touriga Nacional flavors asserts themselves with air, too. The handling of the tannins here is deft, but it does become more stern and a bit drying as it airs out. I liked the fact that it had a backbone. Still, the tannins are relatively ripe and the wine should be approachable relatively young. It became livelier with substantial aeration, and it needed several hours to fully awaken. I liked it more and more as it aired out, and in fact, it was better on Day 2. Drink 2009-2017. Importer: William Grant & Sons, New York, NY; tel. (212) 246-1760
About the producer
Product details
Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca/Touriga Francesa, Tempranillo, Other
Red
Dry