NV Quinta do Noval Tawny 40 Year Old

98 POINTS

Jim Gordon - JamesSuckling.com

Made from old vines and blended from casks of Port averaging 40 years of maturity, this is a rare treat with which to finish an evening. The color is tawny brown, with a light orange-amber rim and mahogany center. Fully developed aromas of cinnamon, cedar, nutmeg, vanilla, dried apricots and hazelnuts lead to layered, rich, sweet and creamy flavors and a long, long finish.

96 POINTS

Wine Spectator

This is very flattering up front, with a lush wave of warm date, fig and toffee leading the way, backed by subtle bitter almond and Brazil nut notes that add spine and contrast. A flash of green tea pierces the finish, adding a dry hint in turn and bringing you back for more. A wine with power that is also invigorating to drink.

95 POINTS

Robert Parker - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 40 Year Old Tawny was a tad too old for my tastes. The wine was spicy, with an old cellar, stale, nutty aroma that seems to have greater appeal in the United Kingdom than elsewhere in the world. Tawny ports are aged in wood from essentially a solera system for the number of years indicated on the bottle. In most cases I prefer the younger ten or twenty year Tawnys to the ancient forty to fifty year old wines, but it is really a matter of taste. I tend to like more fruit rather than the oxidized and aged characteristics of the very old tawnys.

95 POINTS

Mark Squires - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The NV 40 Year Old Tawny Port was bottled in 2016 with a bar-top cork and 169 grams per liter of residual sugar. The back label talks of "freshness," which seems odd for a 40 Year Old, but Noval delivers all that and more here. The concentrated flavor burst on the lively finish shows touches of molasses and this is far more intense than the other Noval tawnies this issue on all fronts. However, its calling card is not intensity, but its amazingly youthful and fresh demeanor. The lift to the fruit gives this an irresistibly juicy finish, letting all those flavors linger beautifully. It is smooth, sensual and impeccably balanced, never obvious. This is quite fine.

94 POINTS

Wine Spectator

Intensely fruity, delivering vibrant orange zest, dried mango, apricot compote and baked apple flavors that are plush, well-structured and long. Notes of sage and honey mark the mineral-infused finish.

94 POINTS

Roger Voss - Wine Enthusiast

This is a sweet but deliciously mature wine that exudes the richness of its burnt orange flavors, layers of sweet toffee, and clean, hugely rich aftertaste. A great wine. Imported by William Grant & Sons, Inc.

Richard Hemming MW - JancisRobinson.com

Bottled 2010. Subtle, richly spiced aromas, pickle, nuts, gentle dried red fruit character, very slow fade, surprisingly bright citrus lime fruit in the middle. Tremendous. Score: 18/20

Julia Harding MW - JancisRobinson.com

100% estate grapes, mainly Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Francesa and Tinta Barroca. RS 130 g/l, pH 3.53. More brown and less pink. Lovely raisin and spice and terrific tang. Silky. So zesty and fresh and full of life. More caramel and nuts and doesn’t taste as sweet as that level of residual sugar suggests. Score: 18/20