Quinta do Noval 2016

This is a ripe and fruity yet strucutred wine that has amazing aging potential. It offers a strongly floral element that contrasts with the tense, mineral texture and dense tannins. It is an immensely concentrated wine that will not be ready until 2029.

This is a superb baby Noval that reminds me of the 1966. Chewy yet so polished. The light sweetness suggests an overall dialing back of the sugar content. Stemmy and lightly green. A truly classic Noval. Almost all from Pinhao. Buy. Better in 2025.

Very dark crimson. Rich and spicy on the nose. Juicy and succulent. A hint of something almost overripe. Heady and very definitely not uptight. Sort of sprawls all over the palate in a devil-may-care fashion. Lots of fun, though the tannins are by no means insistent. Oddly readable, but lots of fun.Drink 2030-2065

Dense but opening up on the nose to reveal dark chocolate intensity with a delicate leafy edge; ripe and minty initially on the palate, lovely purity of fruit and great definition, sweet cassis backed by broad, ripe, grippy tannins, not as big as some wines form this vintage but showing great balance and poise from start to finish. 6,000 cases in total. 18/20