Quinta do Noval Nacional, 2001

Vintage Port
Presented in Luxurious Quinta Do Noval gift Box
99 Points - Wine Spectator
98 Points - Wine Enthusiast
98/100 - Tom Cannavan

Description and Reviews:
The 2001 Vintage Port Nacional is a late release, declared in 2003. Christian Seely, Owner of Quinta do Noval said that "The 2001 was extremely backward and quite closed up, dense and very tannic. Since we had just declared and released the 2000 Nacional, we decided to lay down the 250 cases of Nacional 2001. The late release has certainly tamed this. It still feels very firm and has a real backbone, but it is not overly drying and it is a lot more approachable than newly-released Nacionals can be.

Q. Do Noval Director Christian Seeley :
“Although we declared Quinta do Noval Nacional 2001 officially in 2003, we did not release the wine for sale at the time. Nacional is always a powerful concentrated wine, but in its youth the 2001 was extremely backward and quite closed up, dense and very tannic. Since we had just declared and released the 2000 Nacional, we decided to lay down the 250 cases of Nacional 2001 that were produced and keep them back for release at a later date.”

Tom Cannavan:
"The nose of the 2001 Naçional is still sensational in its soaring, floral and Maraschino cherry brightness, the spices and the depth of chocolaty, smooth richness, tar and tobacco nuances and the solidity of the fruit. On the palate, still so impressive in the purity and supple, balanced finesse, so dense and smooth in the delivery of its blue/black fruit and Christmas cake spice and Agen prune richness, but the tight tannins so elegantly constraining any sense of obvious ripeness, the acidity balancing the huge core of sweetness so effortlessly. Yes, a Nacional that's as great in the bottle as the barrel, and which is probably close to immortal."