1962/1963 Quinta do Noval Nacional VP
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Eric Menchen
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1962/1963 Quinta do Noval Nacional VP
Yes, a blend, bottled in 1965. The hue is very light yellow-orange with some browning; light haze. There is a tangy orange citrus aroma to start, and a suggestion of tawny Port. There is also some fruit and barrel character in the aroma. The flavor has a really nice sweetness, with a medium-light body. Persistent finish. Later there was aroma of leather, and the last sip was really nice. 93-94 points.
Re: 1962/1963 Quinta do Noval Nacional VP
Wouldn't that be a Crusted National???
Any Port in a storm!
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Eric Menchen
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- Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2008 9:48 pm
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Re: 1962/1963 Quinta do Noval Nacional VP
John, some people at the tasting threw out the term "crusted" in conversation, but I think the consensus was that it was better to just call it a 62-63 blend.
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Mike J. W.
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Re: 1962/1963 Quinta do Noval Nacional VP
Very strange indeed. I would agree with John. Was this marketed or was it private stock from Noval's cellar? Was this on a FTLOP tour?Eric Menchen wrote: ↑Sun Oct 26, 2025 8:39 am John, some people at the tasting threw out the term "crusted" in conversation, but I think the consensus was that it was better to just call it a 62-63 blend.
Btw, great write-ups!
"I have often thought that the aim of Port is to give you a good and durable hangover, so that during the next day you should be reminded of the splendid occasion the night before." - Hungarian/British journalist & author George Mikes
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Eric Menchen
- Posts: 6749
- Joined: Wed Sep 24, 2008 9:48 pm
- Location: Longmont, Colorado, United States of America - USA
Re: 1962/1963 Quinta do Noval Nacional VP
This was tasted in Chicago last weekend. Roy may correct me, but as I understood it, this was an odd blending of stocks, and bottled in London? I have a picture of the bottle that includes the word "Special" on it, but I can't read the details. I didn't realize the significance of the label at the time I took a group shot of all of the bottles. I suspect someone else has a better picture than I. I'll see if I can add more information later.Mike J. W. wrote: ↑Sun Oct 26, 2025 9:26 am Was this marketed or was it private stock from Noval's cellar? Was this on a FTLOP tour?
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Mike J. W.
- Posts: 1320
- Joined: Fri Aug 26, 2016 7:55 pm
- Location: In the middle of cornfields & cow pastures, PA
Re: 1962/1963 Quinta do Noval Nacional VP
Very unusual. Thanks for the pic, Eric.Eric Menchen wrote: ↑Sun Oct 26, 2025 4:45 pmThis was tasted in Chicago last weekend. Roy may correct me, but as I understood it, this was an odd blending of stocks, and bottled in London? I have a picture of the bottle that includes the word "Special" on it, but I can't read the details. I didn't realize the significance of the label at the time I took a group shot of all of the bottles. I suspect someone else has a better picture than I. I'll see if I can add more information later.Mike J. W. wrote: ↑Sun Oct 26, 2025 9:26 am Was this marketed or was it private stock from Noval's cellar? Was this on a FTLOP tour?
"I have often thought that the aim of Port is to give you a good and durable hangover, so that during the next day you should be reminded of the splendid occasion the night before." - Hungarian/British journalist & author George Mikes
Re: 1962/1963 Quinta do Noval Nacional VP
I've had this a few times and discussed it with the former MD of Hedges & Butler, who were the UK bottlers.
It's a Crusted Port because it's a blend of different vintages. The highest category of Port that a blend of vintage can achieve (at least in the minds of the owners of Noval at the time) was Crusted. The alternatives of Ruby Reserve or Ruby Port just didn't sound as good to Luís Porto, who was the head of AJ da Silva at the time this wine was bottled in 1965, or to Hedges & Butler in London who bottled the wine.
Only 1 pipe (56 dozen bottles) of this wine was blended, and it was sent to Hedges & Butler in wood and was bottled in London in 1965. The blend was recorded as being 1/3rd Quinta do Noval Nacional 1962 and 2/3rds Quinta do Noval (not Nacional) 1963.
Bottles occasionally come up for auction as the original buyer did not consume many of them, but they have become very rare these days. Plus the bottles are not labelled so unless you pull the cork and know how to interpret "Crusted 1965", you would never know what was in the bottle.
Unless you were lucky enough to have a Wine Warehouse label on the bottle telling you the story! If anyone does have a better picture of the label, please do share it with me.
It's a Crusted Port because it's a blend of different vintages. The highest category of Port that a blend of vintage can achieve (at least in the minds of the owners of Noval at the time) was Crusted. The alternatives of Ruby Reserve or Ruby Port just didn't sound as good to Luís Porto, who was the head of AJ da Silva at the time this wine was bottled in 1965, or to Hedges & Butler in London who bottled the wine.
Only 1 pipe (56 dozen bottles) of this wine was blended, and it was sent to Hedges & Butler in wood and was bottled in London in 1965. The blend was recorded as being 1/3rd Quinta do Noval Nacional 1962 and 2/3rds Quinta do Noval (not Nacional) 1963.
Bottles occasionally come up for auction as the original buyer did not consume many of them, but they have become very rare these days. Plus the bottles are not labelled so unless you pull the cork and know how to interpret "Crusted 1965", you would never know what was in the bottle.
Unless you were lucky enough to have a Wine Warehouse label on the bottle telling you the story! If anyone does have a better picture of the label, please do share it with me.