For The Love Of Port

Quinta do Noval LBV – 2001
Bottled in 2007. Unfiltered, driven cork. Deep, intense dark red/purple colour. Floral notes mixed with an intense grape/black cherry nose. Some alcohol on the very beginning if you drink it early will blow off with time. After numerous bottles of this, which I absolutely love, the drinking window appears to open up around 8-10 hours, but almost a day in decanter will help it, much like other younger VPs.

Many deep, dark chocolate/cocoa notes are found once this LBV gets to be around 12 hours in the decanter and it holds solidly until around 2 days. After the 3rd day, it falls apart, so definitely drink up prior to then. For an unfiltered LBV, it is surprisingly complex, with a bit of stewed plum but offers a bit of dry tannic structure which leads me to believe that it will age fairly well – a theory I intend to test out if I can hide a case or two in the cellar and avoid its calling to me.

91 pts

Todd,

Superbly written TN. What is really impressive is to see how far your TN writing skills have come in the past year. This is why I urge people to read other people's notes. It really makes a difference and then when you taste, you actually know what to look for. I've only had this Port one time and it was very enjoyable and I don't see it down my way almost ever. Thanks for the note.

Roy Hersh wrote:Todd,

Superbly written TN. What is really impressive is to see how far your TN writing skills have come in the past year. This is why I urge people to read other people's notes. It really makes a difference and then when you taste, you actually know what to look for. I've only had this Port one time and it was very enjoyable and I don't see it down my way almost ever. Thanks for the note.

Thanks Roy

Since you don't get to see it, perhaps we can arrange a swap? A 6-pack of Noval 2001 LBV that I will bring down from Canada for, well, just about ANY single bottle from your cellar!

I look forward to our next face-to-face when you can try this beauty again. For an LBV it is a great! And affordable for "every day" drinking around my place.