Quinta do Noval Nacional 2022

The 2022 Vintage Port Nacional was produced with grapes from ungrafted vines, not pre-phylloxera, as you might read elsewhere, as these are relatively young vines from two vineyards planted with a field blend of Touriga Francesa, Tinto Cão, Touriga Nacional, Sousão (some 15% in the field blend) and Tinta Roriz. It's produced in exactly the same way as the other Vintage Port, in granite lagars and aged in old casks for 18 months. It has 19.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.67 and 86 grams of sugar, quite similar parameters to the regular Vintage Port from the same vintage, and it's quite low in sugar compared with other years. But the wine is more backward, with more detail, and it's more serious, with lots of complexity. The tannins and the sweetness compensate each other; there's a lot of depth, concentration and power but in a very harmonious way. I think this has better balance and more elegance than other recent vintages. It opens slowly in the glass to give classical notes of candied violets and rockrose and a lactic hint. It should age effortlessly for 50 years. 1,920 bottles were filled in May 2024.