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Porto Vintage 2011 75cl

DOC | Porto | Douro | Portugal
CHF 135.00
Critics scores
97 Robert Parker
The 2011 Vintage Port hasn't been seen in a while. It begins our mini-vertical this issue. Showing rich and gorgeous fruit, this is pure, young and elegant. There is still plenty of power here, but decanting a small portion for about three hours gave me some hope that it would be approachable a bit sooner than anticipated. Noval has mid-palate finesse all the time—so, too, here. It makes this very graceful, despite the power and the first lush impression. The pure power does not detract from the feeling of elegance at all, as this comes together well. Dried herbs, eucalyptus and a long finish make this special, the complexity on the finish sealing the deal. This is early in this wine's evolution, but it is beginning to open its eyes and peek out at the world.<br/>The mini-vertical this issue preceded the 2016s. Of course, even the "old" wines here are only as old as the 2011—not much for Vintage Port of this quality.<br/>
97 Wine Spectator
Vibrant, with luscious yet elegant mineral-infused flavors of dark currant, ripe cherry, green fig and raspberry. Shows ample pepper notes, with the tannins offering plenty of muscle and grip on the long, silky finish. Complex and restrained. Best from 2022 through 2047. –KM
Producer
Quinta Do Noval
Quinta do Noval is responsible for the most famous of all Vintage Ports – Naçional. The roots of this estate can be traced back to the early 1700s, however with the pestilence of the late 1800s – Noval, instead of grafting the vines on American rootstocks, they miraculously managed to keep Portuguese stock – hence their unique “Naçional” wine. Today, under the direction of Christian Seely of insurance firm, AXA – Millésimes, the Port house has thrived like their similarly owned prestigious Bordeaux châteaux, such as Pichon-Longueville. Ideally situated in the heart of the Douro Valley, Quinta do Noval is the only historic Port producer that shares the same name as its vineyard. The steep hillsides are planted to the noble grape varieties of the region – the grapes flourish, producing high-grade fruit. Led by António Agrellos, the brilliant technical director, Naçional is an expansive Port, the power and depth of this wine is matched by the Portuguese earthy, spicy dark flesh characteristics that demand twenty of more years to develop.