100 POINTS
Roger Voss - Wine Enthusiast
Even better than the impressive 2021 Nacional, this is a magnificent Port. It comes from a small parcel of ungrafted vines on the Noval estate. Beautifully perfumed, ripe with sweetness balancing the massive structure, the wine is set to age for decades. It is a Port to treasure. Drink at the earliest from 2035.
98 POINTS
Neal Martin - Vinous
The 2022 Naçional Vintage Port comes from the usual field blend planted on their own roots in the 1920s. The fruit was trodden by foot in concrete lagares and aged for 18 months in oak and 2,500-liter chestnut vats. This has a broader, deeper bouquet than the regular Noval fortified, black plum and licorice, blueberry and Christmas cake, all delivered with fabulous delineation and freshness. The palate is stunning: lovely balance and tangible intensity, yet it is so light-footed and gentle in terms of grip with a spicier, more peppery finish than the Quinta do Noval. It's very long on the finish. This is a Naçional that will age gracefully over decades. Just 167 cases were produced.
98 POINTS
Luis Gutierrez - Robert Parker Wine Advocate
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.
98 POINTS
Jim Gordon - JamesSuckling.com
With only 2,400 bottles made for the world, this is one of the rarest Ports, produced from a small plot of vines 100 years old and older growing on their own roots in a section of the Noval estate. Such finesse and elegance at first, then power and structure as the wine fills the palate with blackberry syrup, creme de cassis and cocoa. Long, lacy finish lasts for minutes. Best from 2037.
95 POINTS
Roger Voss - Wine Enthusiast
The Vintage Port from Noval is a classic. Its big structure, game aroma and dried fruit flavors measure up against layers of tannins and rich black fruits. Set for long-term aging, don't start drinking until 2033.
95 POINTS
Neal Martin - Vinous
The 2022 Quinta do Noval Vintage Port was trodden by foot in concrete lagares and spent 18 months in wooden casks. This bursts forth on the nose: black cherries, raspberry coulis, licorice, cigar humidor and light pine touches. Wonderful delineation and focus. The palate is very well balanced with superb definition. Pure black fruit is judiciously spiced, with hints of Christmas cake, black pepper and outstanding cohesion on the finish. At 2,600 cases of twelve, this is a relatively larger declaration compared to recent vintages, indicative of Christian Seely's belief in the vintage.
95 POINTS
Jim Gordon - JamesSuckling.com
A huge, monumental wine that will need decades to reach its prime. Heady, bold aromas of crushed blackberries, wood char and grilled plums lead to blackberry jam, road tar, dark chocolate and espresso soaked in sweetness and resting in a full body. Such a long, sweet and fruit-infused finish. Best from 2037 and several more decades.
95 POINTS
Ines Salpico - Decanter
Interesting counterpoint between dense fruitiness and lifted herbal nuance. Unctuous concentration with juicy blackberry, bramble and black cherry. There is, however, a refreshing undercurrent of bergamot and wet stone adding gliding freshness. Earl Grey and dried rose petals play in the background for added elegance and depth. Beautifully presented, mineral tannins.
