Quinta Do Noval, Vintage Port, 2024

Quinta do Noval is rare in Port in that it derives all its wine from a single vineyard; a 192 hectares site, much of which is made up of old vines co-planted over 80 years ago. For the blend of the 2024 40% is Touriga Nacional, 20% is Touriga Franca, the remainder mostly Sousao, which ripened beautifully. Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo) does not normally make the blend but does this year with 3% of the blend. This feels leaner and perhaps more agile than its rivals. There is an earthy minerality on the nose, graphite and slate. On the palate it shows fig and blueberries, plum and violet. There is a lilt of mushroom, chocolate and ground coffee on the finish. This is rich and dense, but it is much less overt than the Symington and Fladgate wines.