1997 Quinta do Noval Colheita Tawny Port Portugal 750 ml

Quinta do Noval is not only one of the oldest port houses, it is arguably the greatest. It’s unique among the storied wine’s elite producers in that all their vintage ports—including this 1997 Quinta do Noval Colheita Tawny Port—are made from their A-rated, 100% estate-grown fruit. 

Only 2% of ports are colheitas, or vintage-dated Tawnies, and in 1997—a year rated 96 by both Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator—Noval director Christian Seely faced a lot of pressure to bottle vintage port right away. But he couldn’t resist culling this lot to make a vintage-dated Tawny, as its superb aging potential was plain as day. 

“I wish I had laid down more,” he told Decanter about vintage-dated Tawnies in general, and when it comes to this 1997, we’re sure collectors would agree.  

Noval has had a 30-year quality resurgence that hasn’t escaped the notice of the wine press. “Quinta do Noval is a jewel,” cooed Decanter. The house has farmed its terraced slopes near the town of Pinhão since 1715. The vines grow on steep slopes that rise up to 1,600 feet above the Douro River, at a range of exposures and elevations that make for a seriously intricate wine. 

Bottled in 2022, after a 25-year rest in well-aged barrels called cascos, it’s incredibly complex and pungent—a special occasion in a glass.

If you’re the kind of wine lover who only wants the very best, treat yourself to this Tawny and enjoy it with a piece of Stilton and a few slices of Comice pear. We can't think of anything better to put on the sideboard to sip over the winter, maybe while reading some Bolaño by the fire.