Quinta do Noval Nacional Port 1996

Quinta do Noval Nacional Port 1996

97/100 points from Jamie Goode 96/100 points in Wine Spectator

All our Nacional bottles were purchased directly from Quinta do Noval as first-hand stock, with known provenance and storage history. No secondary-market bottles, just the reassurance that these rare Vintages have been properly kept and are in excellent condition.

Quinta do Noval Nacional is produced from a tiny parcel of ungrafted vines at the heart of the Quinta do Noval estate. These vines survived phylloxera on their own roots, without American rootstock, giving Nacional its distinctive origin and identity. The Nacional vineyard follows its own rhythm and is not necessarily produced in the same years as Quinta do Noval Vintage Port. The 1996 vintage is a particularly fascinating example. While 1996 was not generally considered a classic Vintage Port year and most producers did not declare a Vintage Port, Quinta do Noval recognised the exceptional quality of the Nacional vineyard and produced the Nacional as a single-quinta vintage. More than 25 years later, the 1996 Nacional displays remarkable depth and character, with black fruit, cassis, earthy and savoury notes, violets and spice, supported by firm tannins and impressive freshness. The wine is powerful, tightly structured and exceptionally persistent, while retaining the distinctive character of the Nacional vineyard. The 1996 Nacional is a rare collector's Port, particularly significant because it demonstrates how this extraordinary ungrafted vineyard can produce an exceptional wine even in a vintage that was not widely declared. A fascinating and highly collectible Nacional with substantial ageing potential.