1966 Quinta do Noval Vintage Port

[Marco D.]

Berry Brothers & Rudd bottling. Young, primary, and plumby. Still quite unevolved. This is a 1966? So young! Could go on forever. The balance here is impecable. Reference point port. I kept shaking my head in awe at the solid core of fruit this possessed. 97 points
2/1/2004

[Roy Hersh]

I was thinking of opening this same bottle tomorrow night but have chosen something similar. I really like the '66 Noval too. Like the Nacional considerably more though.

[Henrik Lilja]

Hi Marco

I agree - this is a very nice vintage port - very nice indeed. But I think, this is about all I can agrre to!

The Noval vintage port 1966 I had about 2 years ago was not young at all - this port was fully matured and evolved - just the way a true vintage port should mature. The young fruit was gone - and instead I found more dried fruit and a lot of liqourice. The color was a semi-dark transparent raspberry. A good long aftertaste with a range of different layers. This is a port at its best. I would rate this port 92p.
I've read different tasting notes in regard to this port refering to a "metallic aftaste" - I didn't note any "metallic" in taste nor nose.

[Moses Botbol]

Roy:

How does '66 Nacional compare to '67?

[Marco D.]

Hi Marco

I agree - this is a very nice vintage port - very nice indeed. But I think, this is about all I can agrre to!

The Noval vintage port 1966 I had about 2 years ago was not young at all - this port was fully matured and evolved - just the way a true vintage port should mature. The young fruit was gone - and instead I found more dried fruit and a lot of liqourice. The color was a semi-dark transparent raspberry. A good long aftertaste with a range of different layers. This is a port at its best. I would rate this port 92p.
I've read different tasting notes in regard to this port refering to a "metallic aftaste" - I didn't note any "metallic" in taste nor nose.

I suspect my bottle was unusually well-cared for. The fill level was ridiculously high for its age; well into the neck.

[Marco D.]

I was thinking of opening this same bottle tomorrow night but have chosen something similar. I really like the '66 Noval too. Like the Nacional considerably more though.

Is it a Berry Brothers & Rudd bottling as well?

[Moses Botbol]

I suspect my bottle was unusually well-cared for. The fill level was ridiculously high for its age; well into the neck.

Oh, I bet it was one of the fake Noval 66's that were all over the place a few years ago... Well, as long as you enjoyed it...


Just kidding...

[Marco D.]

I suspect my bottle was unusually well-cared for. The fill level was ridiculously high for its age; well into the neck.

Oh, I bet it was one of the fake Noval 66's that were all over the place a few years ago... Well, as long as you enjoyed it...


Just kidding...

My blood pressure just spiked for a bit , as I still have one bottle of this left... you almost had me.

BTW, are you going to the Madeira festival in New Bedford this weekend?

[Moses Botbol]

I suspect my bottle was unusually well-cared for. The fill level was ridiculously high for its age; well into the neck.

Oh, I bet it was one of the fake Noval 66's that were all over the place a few years ago... Well, as long as you enjoyed it...


Just kidding...

My blood pressure just spiked for a bit , as I still have one bottle of this left... you almost had me.

BTW, are you going to the Madeira festival in New Bedford this weekend?

I am now, did not know it was this weekend. Thanks for the head's up!

1000 knuckleheads drunk on Justinhos eating linguica and malassadas!

[Marco D.]

I am now, did not know it was this weekend. Thanks for the head's up!

I'm heading out today. If I see you, we can have some 2006 Quinta do Crasto Reserva Old Vines. The table wine they sell there just doesn't do it for me.

[Moses Botbol]

I am now, did not know it was this weekend. Thanks for the head's up!

I'm heading out today. If I see you, we can have some 2006 Quinta do Crasto Reserva Old Vines. The table wine they sell there just doesn't do it for me.

http://www.portuguesefeast.com/activities/food.htm

I am happy with the Justinhos in the clear keg cup. Can't wait to hit some local liquor stores and get some hard to find Duoro's and Dao's

[Eric Menchen]

Oh, I bet it was one of the fake Noval 66's that were all over the place a few years ago... Well, as long as you enjoyed it...
Just kidding...

In reading The Billionaire's Vinegar, there was a guy in the UK making fake Ports in the late 90s as I recall. I don't doubt any particular bottle, but the possibility is not zero.

[Roy Hersh]

Marco,

Let me know early enough next year with a quick reminder a month ahead of time and I'll meet you out there and get to see Moses too!




Moses,

The 1966 Nacional is a beauty, and I appreciate its greatness. I have typically had more evolved bottles of the 1966 than 1967s. However, this past week a friend opened a somewhat spirity 1967 which was not what I am used to from that vintage and nothing close to the bottle I opened for you and the gang. The 1966 is the real deal. i only have three left and I will only open those '66s for verticals or special occasions. Always enjoyed and hard to say that I prefer the 1967 as it is another Sophie's Choice.

[Marco D.]

Marco,

Let me know early enough next year with a quick reminder a month ahead of time and I'll meet you out there and get to see Moses too!

It would be awesome to meet up next year. It's a pretty kid-friendly event during the day on Saturday (magic show, etc). You should bring your wife and Taylor down as well. For long term planning, assume the first weekend of August is the date of the festival (it always seems to be). I will send out a reminder a month or so before hand next year. Maybe we can get Sean down there as well.

This year I marinated some meat with the 2006 Quinta do Crasto Reserva Old Vines and cooked it over the coals... pretty yummy stuff.

I asked the folks there what they do with the empty barrels ( I was hoping to snag one). But it looks like they raffle off the empty barrels to club members. Bummer...

[Eric Menchen]

I asked the folks there what they do with the empty barrels ( I was hoping to snag one). But it looks like they raffle off the empty barrels to club members. Bummer...

Now that would be cool. I've made a beer in a Stranahan's Whiskey barrel and right now have a different one going in what I think was a New Belgium La Folie barrel, and another going in relatively new American oak barrels (medium toast, one use for an ale before). I know of several commercial brewers that have used Port barrels. A Madeira barrel would be awesome. What does it take to be a club member?

[Moses Botbol]

I thought they send back the barrels to Justinho and raffle off the left over Madeira in water jugs...

[Marco D.]

I thought they send back the barrels to Justinho and raffle off the left over Madeira in water jugs...

The guy I talked to in the "Santana House" mentioned that they raffle off the barrels, but occaisionly there are years when there are no takers. Perhaps they send back those "untaken" barrels?

[Moses Botbol]

I thought they send back the barrels to Justinho and raffle off the left over Madeira in water jugs...

The guy I talked to in the "Santana House" mentioned that they raffle off the barrels, but occaisionly there are years when there are no takers. Perhaps they send back those "untaken" barrels?

What I was told is that Justinho guards those barrels like gold. This event is the only one in the world outside of Madeira to ever get barrels shipped and they expect them returned. I wanted to buy a barrel and threw some generous numbers at them to buy one. It was flat out impossible to sell me a barrel according to them and 100% sure they sent them back.

Then again, ask 5 people and get 6 answers, so who knows?

[Marco D.]

What I was told is that Justinho guards those barrels like gold. This event is the only one in the world outside of Madeira to ever get barrels shipped and they expect them returned. I wanted to buy a barrel and threw some generous numbers at them to buy one. It was flat out impossible to sell me a barrel according to them and 100% sure they sent them back.

I can't imagine these barrels being cheap. The guy you talked to was probably more knowledgeable... who knows...