2019 Quinta do Noval Vintage Port

Pitch black in colour with a very deep dark red black hue. Potent morello cherry, black cherry and liquorice allsorts aromas are complimented by distinct marzipan, brandy spirit and iron notes. Incredibly concentrated and powerful, every corner of the palate is completely drenched with liquorice, morello cherry and blackberry fruits which are framed by muscular yet integrated tannins. Notions of marzipan, liquorice allsorts and spice lie underneath. Luscious yet grippy in its feel it concludes with amazing richness and great persistence. Still very youthful and firmly structured this requires some long term ageing.
Cellar 15-25 years.
Alc. 19.5%

Other Reviews....
The 2019 Vintage Port is a field blend aged for 18 months in old wood vats. It was bottled May 4, 2021, and has 100 grams of residual sugar. It was in bottle only a bit more than two months when tasted, but it seems quite brilliant, even so. Very concentrated, it adds controlled power and coats the palate. Tasted with some other 2019s, this certainly stood out for both concentration and power. It touches all the bases in terms of expressive fruit and structure, finishing dry and seriously. It seemed balanced enough to drink young, but that would be a mistake. For one thing, it steadily tightened as it aired out. It also increasingly showed gorgeous eucalyptus-laced aromatics. Two days later, it was notably more astringent. Four days later, it was very firm on the finish and better overall. In fact, that was a far better showing than on day one. This is plainly built for the long haul. I would expect nothing less from a fine Noval Vintage Port. It became more focused and precise as well. This needs the rest of this decade, at least, in the cellar to show better. Then it will develop well for decades and hold indefinitely. Frankly, it won't show everything it has in even 10 years, where I have the "start drinking" window, so if you have a lot more patience, that would be useful. It will be more interesting around 2035-2040. This is a powerful beauty, well justifying Noval's tendency to declare most every year. Drink 2029-2075.
97 points
Mark Squires - Wine Advocate (Jul 23, 2021)

Noval has released 2,780 cases, equivalent to 15% of production, of the 2019 Quinta do Noval Vintage Port. A blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Tinto Cão, Sousão, Tinta Roriz, foot-trodden in lagares with 18 months in oak barrel. This is well defined on the nose, with dusky black fruit laced with graphite and clove. A serious rendition when compared directly with the more “playful” 2019 Passadouro; hints of liquorice, eucalyptus and boot polish emerge with time. The palate is medium-bodied with vivid red and black fruit, liquorice and black pepper, crisp acidity with a structured finish. This is a fresh, tensile Noval that will age with style. Drink 2032-2055.
96 points
Neal Martin - Vinous

Aromas of dried cherries, blackberries and cassis with dark licorice, chocolate and graphite undertones. Full-bodied, with a ripe and mellow sweetness, and ultra-fine, silky tannins that flow through the palate for minutes. Lots of grip. Such an elegant texture, with great finesse. Long and seamless. Better from 2030.
97 points
James Suckling

Coming from a cooler vintage, the 2019 Vintage Port is nevertheless powerful, full-bodied, and concentrated, with lots of structure and density giving it a tight, backward, yet incredibly impressive feel. It's actually more concentrated than the 2018, with a touch more baby fat as well, yet has a similar level of complexity. Red and black plums, cassis, iron, chalky minerality, chocolate, black olive, and licorice are just some of its nuances, and unlike the 2018, which showed even better with air, this closed up rather quickly and was more enjoyable on Day One than Day Three. Nevertheless, this is magical stuff that just needs a solid decade of bottle age. As with the 2018, it spent 18 months in old wood tanks and was bottled with around 100 grams of residual sugar. Drink after 2033.
97+ points
Jeb Dunnuck