2020 Quinta do Noval
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
Reminding me of the 2003, the 2020 Vintage Port is distinctly different than the 2018 and 2019 and leads with a huge amount of jammy, almost blue fruits as well as sandalwood, pepper, and Asian spices. Full-bodied, inky, and concentrated, it's much more expansive and supple on the palate, with velvety tannins and a great finish. It's certainly the inkiest colored of all the releases in this report, but it doesn't quite have the precision or structure of the 2018 and 2019. Nevertheless, if you love port and this doesn't put a smile on your face, I would be utterly shocked. It's going to develop more complexity and nuance with 4-5 years of bottle age, and I would enjoy bottles over the following 25-30 years.
Critic scores
Average Score
Neal Martin
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The 2020 Vintage Port from Noval, which was picked from 1 to 22 September, has a residual sugar of 115g/l. It is forward and lively on the nose with macerated black cherries, cassis, raisin and pressed iris flower. Fine delineation and focus. The palate is medium-bodied with an attractive peppery entry. Lively, good depth and density, this is very focused with impressive structure behind it. Yet there is no heaviness and there is just the right amount of salinity to keep it on its toes on the finish. Exquisite. Tasted at the Quinta do Noval tasting at Spring restaurant in London.
The 2020 Vintage Port is a field blend aged for 18 months in old wood vats. It was bottled April 2, 2022, and has 115 grams of residual sugar. There is almost no Touriga Franca in the blend this year, the winery saying the heat in 2020 damaged the grapes. The rest works well, but it's a bit different. This is sexier and softer than the typical Noval, utterly delicious, sweeter and ripe. The tannic backbone is far less impressive, but there is some. As always, the color is dramatic, a dark purple. This probably won't be the Noval with the highest upside or the longest life, but it will certainly be one of the ones that is hardest to resist on the younger side. For the moment, let's start here. You can dive in early on this. If it has more potential, it will need to show that in the cellar.