Quinta do Noval Port Blend Porto Vintage Silval 2007

2007 was a cooler vintage heralding wines of exceptional polish and depth. The port in this bottle is still very young, with notes of dense black cassis, bitter chocolate, and finely ground espresso. Silval refers to a single vineyard where Noval sources grapes in particular years. Though meant to be enjoyed in its youth, this will bring even more pleasure after 10 years of cellaring. Decant, as you would any Vintage Porto, and serve with a generous morsel of Stilton, a classic pairing.

Sattes, dunkles Violett-Purpur. Intensiver Holundergeleeduft. Im Gaumen stoffig, Maulbeerennoten und Pflaumen. Dicht mit einem leicht sandigen Gaumenfluss. Amarenakirschen und Bitterschokolade im Finale.

Saturated deep ruby. Youthful but expressive aromas of blackberry, blueberry, minerals, violet and nutty oak. Dense, concentrated, fruity and seamless, if still a bit youthfully aggressive. But this is creamy, ripe and broad, with compelling sweetness and ripe tannins. Silval, which is intended to be more accessible early on than Noval, is a blend of wines from the Noval estate and from Noval’s best suppliers.

Floral scents of rose and esteva give this wine an immediate appeal. It would be approachable now but for its size and scale, the huge, plummy fruit and black satin texture more forgiving than the tannins. It’s the salty minerality of those tannins that keeps the wine on track, lengthening the flavors into the distance so that they last a minute after each taste. The blend includes grapes from new plantings at Noval, as well as selections from growers. Silval ’03 is close to the Noval in quality, and will likely be drinking best from 2020–30.

Chewy and grapey, with an outstanding backbone of racy tannins and a long, chewy finish.(WS, Barrel Tasting)

The second label of Quinta do Noval is a more open Port than its big brother. Its stalky character, dark fruits and considerable acidity come together well, leaving a dry but fresh aftertaste.

Floral scents of rose and esteva give this wine an immediate appeal. It would be approachable now but for its size and scale, the huge, plummy fruit and black satin texture more forgiving than the tannins. Itrsquo;s the salty minerality of those tannins that keeps the wine on track, lengthening the flavors into the distance so that they last a minute after each taste. The blend includes grapes from new plantings at Noval, as well as selections from growers. Silval rsquo;03 is close to the Noval in quality, and will likely be drinking best from 2020ndash;30.