From a 2002 bottling with significant sediment. Unusually light in color and body for a 40 year tawny, is it possible that this bottle was kept a bit too long? I was not very impressed with the wine, but I may have been spoiled by a recent diet of stunning old tawnies from Quinta do Mourão and Vieira de Sousa.
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Sammamish Port Club Grab Bag (Sammamish, Washington): 375ml bottle. Bottled in 2017. Amber-brown in color with a rich palate of caramel vanilla and a light touch of spirit. Rich intensity on the mid-palate and great acidity through the long finish.
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Nuff said. This is amazing. Cannot wait to visit Portugal again, and we will spend time and money at Quinta do Noval…such a great experience. Thank you!
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40 YO Tawny Vertical: Glue and compact caramel on the nose. Wildly creamy palate and packed with oranges, coffee, toffee and mixed fruits. The acidity is just insane and very intense making it, for me, an amazing wine that I just kept going back to! Stunning! Bottled in 2017
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Starter: Light brown. Amazing porty nose with small rancio. Figs and prunes galore. Per os this is a beautifully aged port with all you could ever wish for. Married the blue cheese. Lovely!
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The sort of complex nose you can lose yourself in: prunes, armagnac, blackberry jam, brandied cherries, some cigar smoke... The high alcohol (21.5%) is perfectly balanced with loads of acidity and enough sweetness. It is complex, sweet and savoury, with some subtle herbal and spice notes, and with a gloriously long finish. I love it.
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Bordeaux for once :) (Friend’s place): A bit of alcohol on the nose, then almonds and dried fruits, nutty, very nice, bitty and good acid gives a quite greeny palate, very interesting and fresh, the oxydation is there and gives a great balance with the acidic side, so long... love it, but man those 21,5 alcohol they kill me at the end of that tasting/dinner...
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Smells of tobacco with notes of acetone and VA Apparently the Portuguese term is 'vinagrinho' Fresh acidic lift on the palate. nutty, touch of mushroom here too, even a little dirty. Old and interesting.
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2016 bottling. Thick fruit (youngish) aromas and slightly alcoholic impression. Taste is sweet but not overly so, more fruity and raisiny. Great acidity to balance. Works beautifully with dark chocolate mousse or cheese. Goes on like forever.
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2017 Friends & Family; 9/20/2017-9/23/2017 (Portugal): Dark tawny-brown in color. Orange peel, maple syrup, and nuts on the nose. Incredible rich and lush mouthfeel with caramel, hazelnut and orange spice on the palate. The complexity of the flavors is remarkable. Waves of pecans, caramel, cocoa powder, and molasses roll through the mid-palate into the very long, smooth finish.
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Truffles with the SLDS (CFs): Meaty, smoke and woody with caramel and VA. That same woody character shows through on the palate, with good sweetness helping to find balance. Nice acidity and length. A really nice way to close the night out.
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@Quinta do Noval: translucent tawny color, no dried fruits now, caramel, hazelnuts, coffee, smoke, some spices, extremely elegant and well rounded, perfect balance, extremely long aftertaste
Tasted alongside Colheita 2003 and 20YR old tawny. This one shows the best elegance and roundness.
Score: 95+
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Partager un 50 ml avec ma cherie, nez ecorce d orange,caramel,erable,sucre brun,tabac et pruneaux. En bouche tout aussi bon acidité zeste d orange,noisette,caramel au beurre,raisin de corinthe,tannins presents.finale interminable sur la noisette,caramel et café.meilleur vins que j ai jamais bu,souvenirs de villa gaia sur la terrasses avec vu douro!!
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Sampled at Noval's tasting room in Porto, the Noval 'Quarenta Anos' 40 Year Old Tawny is translucent and brickish, replete with developed notes of dates, Dalmatia fig spread, dried apples, aged leather, and warm wicker. In the mouth it's viscous and full, more so than Noval's Colheita, it's the acidity that really brings this Port to life, an arching spine that penetrates through layers of oxidized fruit notes and finely polished tannins. On the finish, dried Zante currants, nut skins. Allspice. 21.5% ABV
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Confraria Dezembro 2013 (Agnelo - São Paulo - SP - Brasil): I really like Port wines, especially tawnys. This one is very good, but the style of the Quinta do Noval not please me much. They have much predominance of red fruits and I seek dried fruits and tobacco However, it is a matter of taste.
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Blind tasted in black tasting glasses as part of a small game the excellent sommelier of the Epicure devised for us to end our lovely lunch. Nicol and Patrick guess port Andreas said Rivesaltes. Very fine and elegant, ripe fruits, body but kept its balance. A mild giant in a way with a great smile on his face. Very very good wine. 93-94
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2013 Port Harvest Tour; 9/27/2013-10/6/2013 (Porto, Portugal): Dusty, leather nose. This is what I expect from a 40 Year Old Tawny Port. The nose was tight when the bottle was first opened, but with some time and air it really opened up. The flavor profile is dominated by caramel and orange peel, and the balanced acidity on the finish is impressive.
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Floral, dried fruits, elegant, exceptionally silky with a medium light body; not overdone with nuts and raisins but complex with some dried fruits, and subtle nuances of other things (leather, dried fig, light spices, prune); drinks like a beautifully aged wine. Heavenly. Didn't take notes and last wine at a party, but agree with many of the impressions below.
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Ok, this is impressive. Thanks to Andy V for sharing. Color was maple syrup. Nose is giving off fumes. The port drinkers were in love. Palate was walnut, maple, vanilla,and citrus. Extremely complex. Really tasty and the finish never seemed to end.
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Didn't take formal notes as this was consumed at a casual dinner, but fabulous as usual. The color is enticing and dark, the flavor is explosive, and the finish is incredibly long. Lots of butterscotch and rich brewed vanilla.
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Color: Dark tawny, pretty normal looking for a 40-yr old. Nose: Milk chocolate? Light vanilla. Nice tartness - citrusy without smelling acidic. Palate: Tart, smooth, and very nice. Some coffee notes. Rich and dense, with almost (but not quite) a bitter edge. Finish: Short relative to the rest of this flight, but long compared to anything else. Fades quickly but then lingers.
This was one of those uncommon occasions where I rate the Noval 40 over the Kopke 40. They're usually very close for me with the Kopke usually narrowly edging out the Noval, but on this night the Noval was just more impressive due to its extra body and depth.
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A very light honey center that fades to a yellow edge with just a slight bit of light green. Such a perfumed seductive nose full of walnuts, honey suckle, and maple. This briefly starts out with thick maple syrup that quickly morphs to large amounts of nutmeg, mahogany, and some citrus that reminds me of orange blooms. While some 40 Year Old Tawny's lack the acidity to keep the profile fresh, this bottle is the exact opposite with it's massive acidity that sears all those flavors onto your mouth. This is one Port that doesn't stop and that includes the finish, full throttle all the way. This is a great example of a top notch 40 Year Old Tawny. 96 Points
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Rich brown in the glass, like a favorite old leather slipper. Some VA resembling leather on the nose, but not bad. Also vanilla, orange peel, almonds, and oak. Mellow but big in the mouth, with very good acidity. More vanilla and almonds here, along with the requisite dried apricots and notes of figs. A hint of caramel leads off the finish, which is very long and smooth. Overall very satisfying and superb, but just a notch below the Kopke 40-yr old.
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Dinner at Hush (Laguna Beach): This was a good Tawny- but missing something. I don't think I could tell the difference between this and a 20yr old. Like previous reviewer- this is a "bruiser." I was expecting it to be a little more elegant as well. Classic prune and dried fruits taste. Great rich carmelly nose. Was glad I tried, but no wowing factors.
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Quinta do Noval tasting with Christian Seely (Berry Brothers and Rudd): Over 40 years old, of course, as the small print always says. Seely expected that there would be some wines in the blend that were 50 or 60 years old, plus of course some younger ones to keep it fresh. As you always find with the oldest tawnies, this is starting to draw colour back from the wood again and presents a darkening leather tawny appearance. The nose is quite tarry with dried fruits and nuts. Excellent on the palate, rich and round. But also quite tough, with a touch of rancio. I found this a little unsatisfying: unusually for a 40 yr old tawny, it is lacking a little in elegance, really quite a bruiser and, I find, just a little unsatisfying. Good.
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5/10/2024 - robmatic wrote:
From a 2002 bottling with significant sediment. Unusually light in color and body for a 40 year tawny, is it possible that this bottle was kept a bit too long? I was not very impressed with the wine, but I may have been spoiled by a recent diet of stunning old tawnies from Quinta do Mourão and Vieira de Sousa.
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8/20/2022 - theportguy wrote: 93 Points
Sammamish Port Club Grab Bag (Sammamish, Washington): 375ml bottle. Bottled in 2017. Amber-brown in color with a rich palate of caramel vanilla and a light touch of spirit. Rich intensity on the mid-palate and great acidity through the long finish.
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5/22/2022 - Jwmumm Likes this wine: 96 Points
Nuff said. This is amazing. Cannot wait to visit Portugal again, and we will spend time and money at Quinta do Noval…such a great experience. Thank you!
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11/29/2021 - canan wrote: 97 Points
40 YO Tawny Vertical: Glue and compact caramel on the nose. Wildly creamy palate and packed with oranges, coffee, toffee and mixed fruits.
The acidity is just insane and very intense making it, for me, an amazing wine that I just kept going back to! Stunning!
Bottled in 2017
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9/18/2021 - StefanAkiko Likes this wine: 96 Points
Madness and mayhem in Spöland (Spöland, North Sweden): From small btl from before barcodes, meaning the basewine is estimated to come from the 30’ies. At least. The mind boggles.
Starter:
Light brown.
Amazing porty nose with small rancio. Figs and prunes galore.
Per os this is a beautifully aged port with all you could ever wish for.
Married the blue cheese.
Lovely!
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8/7/2021 - mrgarreth Likes this wine: 95 Points
The sort of complex nose you can lose yourself in: prunes, armagnac, blackberry jam, brandied cherries, some cigar smoke... The high alcohol (21.5%) is perfectly balanced with loads of acidity and enough sweetness. It is complex, sweet and savoury, with some subtle herbal and spice notes, and with a gloriously long finish. I love it.
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1/1/2021 - jimcopland wrote: 93 Points
Complex, chocolate, orange. Acidic. High alcohol. Dense. Viscous.
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11/5/2019 - Stanrocks Likes this wine: 92 Points
Bordeaux for once :) (Friend’s place): A bit of alcohol on the nose, then almonds and dried fruits, nutty, very nice, bitty and good acid gives a quite greeny palate, very interesting and fresh, the oxydation is there and gives a great balance with the acidic side, so long... love it, but man those 21,5 alcohol they kill me at the end of that tasting/dinner...
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9/26/2019 - henrygjeffreys Likes this wine:
Smells of tobacco with notes of acetone and VA
Apparently the Portuguese term is 'vinagrinho'
Fresh acidic lift on the palate. nutty, touch of mushroom here too, even a little dirty.
Old and interesting.
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6/12/2019 - Mascarello59 Likes this wine: 94 Points
2016 bottling. Thick fruit (youngish) aromas and slightly alcoholic impression. Taste is sweet but not overly so, more fruity and raisiny. Great acidity to balance. Works beautifully with dark chocolate mousse or cheese. Goes on like forever.
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5/20/2019 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 95 Points
Stunning wine. Rich and bright with almonds and dates and a touch of heat on the finish.
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9/21/2017 - theportguy wrote: 94 Points
2017 Friends & Family; 9/20/2017-9/23/2017 (Portugal): Dark tawny-brown in color. Orange peel, maple syrup, and nuts on the nose. Incredible rich and lush mouthfeel with caramel, hazelnut and orange spice on the palate. The complexity of the flavors is remarkable. Waves of pecans, caramel, cocoa powder, and molasses roll through the mid-palate into the very long, smooth finish.
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9/21/2017 - canan wrote: 95 Points
4 x 50 Years (10 and 40 YO Tanwy) from the same producers: A lot of complexity and VA on the nose.
Huge flavors of sweet caramel, hazelnuts and coffee. A classic aged tawny done in a very beautiful way. Great wine.
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7/29/2017 - CamWheeler wrote: 92 Points
Truffles with the SLDS (CFs): Meaty, smoke and woody with caramel and VA. That same woody character shows through on the palate, with good sweetness helping to find balance. Nice acidity and length. A really nice way to close the night out.
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9/15/2016 - marko2016 Likes this wine: 95 Points
@Quinta do Noval: translucent tawny color, no dried fruits now, caramel, hazelnuts, coffee, smoke, some spices, extremely elegant and well rounded, perfect balance, extremely long aftertaste
Tasted alongside Colheita 2003 and 20YR old tawny. This one shows the best elegance and roundness.
Score: 95+
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8/17/2016 - bsouligny Likes this wine: 98 Points
Partager un 50 ml avec ma cherie, nez ecorce d orange,caramel,erable,sucre brun,tabac et pruneaux. En bouche tout aussi bon acidité zeste d orange,noisette,caramel au beurre,raisin de corinthe,tannins presents.finale interminable sur la noisette,caramel et café.meilleur vins que j ai jamais bu,souvenirs de villa gaia sur la terrasses avec vu douro!!
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7/4/2016 - Christine Havens Likes this wine: 96 Points
Sampled at Noval's tasting room in Porto, the Noval 'Quarenta Anos' 40 Year Old Tawny is translucent and brickish, replete with developed notes of dates, Dalmatia fig spread, dried apples, aged leather, and warm wicker. In the mouth it's viscous and full, more so than Noval's Colheita, it's the acidity that really brings this Port to life, an arching spine that penetrates through layers of oxidized fruit notes and finely polished tannins. On the finish, dried Zante currants, nut skins. Allspice. 21.5% ABV
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12/20/2013 - LFCHALA wrote: 91 Points
Confraria Dezembro 2013 (Agnelo - São Paulo - SP - Brasil): I really like Port wines, especially tawnys. This one is very good, but the style of the Quinta do Noval not please me much. They have much predominance of red fruits and I seek dried fruits and tobacco However, it is a matter of taste.
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11/17/2013 - Papies wrote: 93 Points
Blind tasted in black tasting glasses as part of a small game the excellent sommelier of the Epicure devised for us to end our lovely lunch. Nicol and Patrick guess port Andreas said Rivesaltes.
Very fine and elegant, ripe fruits, body but kept its balance. A mild giant in a way with a great smile on his face. Very very good wine. 93-94
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9/27/2013 - theportguy wrote: 91 Points
2013 Port Harvest Tour; 9/27/2013-10/6/2013 (Porto, Portugal): Dusty, leather nose. This is what I expect from a 40 Year Old Tawny Port. The nose was tight when the bottle was first opened, but with some time and air it really opened up. The flavor profile is dominated by caramel and orange peel, and the balanced acidity on the finish is impressive.
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2/23/2013 - johnnyrichardson wrote: 91 Points
No formal notes (long night) but this is truly wonderful stuff. You have to try it if you haven't already.
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11/7/2012 - WineScoundrel wrote: 97 Points
Delicious yet ethereal. One of the finest beverages I've ever imbibed. A match made in heaven with my Bolivar Petite Corona.
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10/21/2012 - peternelson wrote: 95 Points
Floral, dried fruits, elegant, exceptionally silky with a medium light body; not overdone with nuts and raisins but complex with some dried fruits, and subtle nuances of other things (leather, dried fig, light spices, prune); drinks like a beautifully aged wine. Heavenly. Didn't take notes and last wine at a party, but agree with many of the impressions below.
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7/29/2012 - brigcampbell wrote:
Ok, this is impressive. Thanks to Andy V for sharing. Color was maple syrup. Nose is giving off fumes. The port drinkers were in love. Palate was walnut, maple, vanilla,and citrus. Extremely complex. Really tasty and the finish never seemed to end.
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1/29/2012 - gelliott wrote: 95 Points
Didn't take formal notes as this was consumed at a casual dinner, but fabulous as usual. The color is enticing and dark, the flavor is explosive, and the finish is incredibly long. Lots of butterscotch and rich brewed vanilla.
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1/28/2011 - gelliott wrote: 96 Points
Color: Dark tawny, pretty normal looking for a 40-yr old.
Nose: Milk chocolate? Light vanilla. Nice tartness - citrusy without smelling acidic.
Palate: Tart, smooth, and very nice. Some coffee notes. Rich and dense, with almost (but not quite) a bitter edge.
Finish: Short relative to the rest of this flight, but long compared to anything else. Fades quickly but then lingers.
This was one of those uncommon occasions where I rate the Noval 40 over the Kopke 40. They're usually very close for me with the Kopke usually narrowly edging out the Noval, but on this night the Noval was just more impressive due to its extra body and depth.
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6/19/2010 - cofidis2 wrote: 96 Points
Bottled in 2008
A very light honey center that fades to a yellow edge with just a slight bit of light green. Such a perfumed seductive nose full of walnuts, honey suckle, and maple. This briefly starts out with thick maple syrup that quickly morphs to large amounts of nutmeg, mahogany, and some citrus that reminds me of orange blooms. While some 40 Year Old Tawny's lack the acidity to keep the profile fresh, this bottle is the exact opposite with it's massive acidity that sears all those flavors onto your mouth. This is one Port that doesn't stop and that includes the finish, full throttle all the way. This is a great example of a top notch 40 Year Old Tawny.
96 Points
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5/31/2010 - rwpalmer wrote: 94 Points
This from a 2006 bottling, as previous tasters noted, it is a large wine for a 40 year, but I loved its generous personality.
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7/17/2009 - gelliott wrote: 95 Points
Rich brown in the glass, like a favorite old leather slipper. Some VA resembling leather on the nose, but not bad. Also vanilla, orange peel, almonds, and oak. Mellow but big in the mouth, with very good acidity. More vanilla and almonds here, along with the requisite dried apricots and notes of figs. A hint of caramel leads off the finish, which is very long and smooth. Overall very satisfying and superb, but just a notch below the Kopke 40-yr old.
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6/26/2009 - VinoPKM wrote: 89 Points
Dinner at Hush (Laguna Beach): This was a good Tawny- but missing something. I don't think I could tell the difference between this and a 20yr old. Like previous reviewer- this is a "bruiser." I was expecting it to be a little more elegant as well. Classic prune and dried fruits taste. Great rich carmelly nose. Was glad I tried, but no wowing factors.
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10/27/2003 - andrewstevenson.com wrote: 82 Points
Quinta do Noval tasting with Christian Seely (Berry Brothers and Rudd): Over 40 years old, of course, as the small print always says. Seely expected that there would be some wines in the blend that were 50 or 60 years old, plus of course some younger ones to keep it fresh.
As you always find with the oldest tawnies, this is starting to draw colour back from the wood again and presents a darkening leather tawny appearance. The nose is quite tarry with dried fruits and nuts. Excellent on the palate, rich and round. But also quite tough, with a touch of rancio. I found this a little unsatisfying: unusually for a 40 yr old tawny, it is lacking a little in elegance, really quite a bruiser and, I find, just a little unsatisfying. Good.
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