The reputation is celestial. Quinta do Noval Nacional is to Port what D'Yquem is to Sauternes. Take the best vintage Port from the best houses (e.g., Graham's, Dow, Taylor, Quinta do Noval) and then go up one more level.
About ten years ago, the Rare Wine Company in Sonoma was offering Nacional vintage Port, and I found prices for the 1970 and 1983 vintages attractive enough, so I bought some. I opened a bottle of the 1970 about ten years ago, and deemed it the best vintage Port I've ever tasted, although perhaps a bit young.
There was a get-together of friends of my youth--from college and/or Dungeons and Dragons--who get together annually if we can manage it. We all appreciate good wine, and we had our annual event this past weekend, so I decided this would be a good opportunity to do a look-see on the 1983 Quinta do Noval Nacional vintage Port.
Oh my God.
I was very careful decanting it, and the wine was a brilliant, translucent garnet color. Just what fully mature vintage Port is supposed to look like.
I could have spent an hour just inhaling the aromas, which just blasted up from the glass to greet the drinker. It's way too complex for me to dissect and describe, and dissection would be doing such a magnificent wine a disservice. I got flashes of fig, roasted nuts, and black fruits. It was heavenly.
And then the flavors on the palate. Everything the aromas promised, and then some. Mouth-filling. Everything in perfect balance: the sumptuous flavors, sweetness, a touch of tannins, all with acidity so that it all danced on the palate. No rough edges, and a finish to last forever.
Nacional rules! And this was a perfect example of why.
Should be at its peak for another decade or two. No hurry to drink it up.
Triple curly with extra woo-woo-woo!!
-Paul W.