Noval LBV Port 2016

Quinta do Noval is a legendary name in the Douro and was the first major house to vinify and age its Port on its own estate rather than in the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia. This Late Bottled Vintage is a blend of Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca grown on the steep schist terraces of the Douro Valley, where the heat retaining slate forces the vines to root deep for water and yields small, intensely flavoured grapes. The wine is made from a single 2016 harvest, fermented on the skins for colour and tannin, then fortified with grape spirit partway through fermentation to stop the ferment and keep the natural sweetness. It is aged around five years in oak, longer than a Vintage Port, which softens the tannins and readies it to drink on release. The colour is deep ruby. The nose shows ripe plum, black cherry and dark chocolate with black pepper and liquorice. The palate is full, warming and sweet, with firm but rounded tannin, compote fruit and a long spiced finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees in a generous glass. It is a classic with blue cheese and dark chocolate.