2003 Quinta do Noval Vintage Port

[Erik Wiechers]

Wanted to try this bottle now and monitor its progress in the years to come.

Opened it last saturday at 1 PM. Let it breathe for 7 hours in the decanter.
First thing i smelled when opening the bottle was the abundance of red fruit. Sweet smell. Its colour was not pitch-black anymore. Tearing was good. Some sediment already in the bottle.

Quite sweet. Bold and intense taste. Lots of red fruit as i expected. Multi-layered, a middle weight that seems to balance power and elegance. Lingering finish. Can be drunk with pleasure now but will be so good in 7+ years. Also hints of smoked wood and earth. I have a doubt this will be a wine for the long term. Will taste it again in 3 years i think and see how it developed then. I missed the tannins at this point, it was smooth and creamy. Unlike the other youngster i tasted (2004 Javali) which had loads of tannins.
But a excellent wine at this stage. 94 points.

[Roy Hersh]

Your assessment seems right on from a recent bottle I tasted with others here, during the 2008 Port Harvest Tour. I like this Port quite a bit and recently added a few bottles to my stash.

[Bjørn Tore Aastorp Ruud]

Erik.
I am having the LBV 2003 right now. It has quite a lot of tannins, and I think it will develope nice for many years to come. I did not taste the Vintage 2003, but usually they have a much tougher structure than the LBVs.
I think the Noval LBV will last for many years, I have actualy suggested until 20 years. For me the fruit in the LBV is not red at all, but very dark. Strange that the Vintage has less aging potential. I will try to get a bottle of the 2003 vintage to compare.

Thanks for your TN.

[Frederick Blais]

Bjørn, don't be fooled to assess a VP aging potential VS an LBV based only from the perception of the tannins. The 2003 VP from Noval has more tannins, sugar, acidity, glycerin, structure, bold fruits and puts that in a total balance and harmony that you feel such a smooth palate when you drink it. This illusion of silkiness does hide a massive structure that will provide that monster decades of aging and complex development. I think also that when Erik says it will be so good in 7+ years, it does not mean it has less potential than the LBV that you say has 0-20+years. For my palate, I don't think I'll open a 2003 VP of Noval before another 15 years, from my cellar at least.

[Bjørn Tore Aastorp Ruud]

Frederick.
I totaly agree. :)
I am of course guessing when I say the LBV will make 20 years, but I at least think it will be better and more in balance in lets say 5 years from now. Difficult to match with food, if it isnt a powerful and fat dish with game. Reindeer and a creamed sauce would be perfect.

[Frederick Blais]

I had a reindeer steak with blueberry sauce that was really good with Noval LBV 2001.

[Bjørn Tore Aastorp Ruud]

Yes, that sounds like spot on. Getting hungry now, have to go to the kitchen.