This is a really fantastic young vintage Port showing terrific clarity and power. Full body and a tight center palate of blueberry and plum character. So long and persistent in the mouth. Goes on for minutes. Try in 2023 and beyond. Not a generally declared year for Port, but this is a stunner.

This beautifully perfumed wine has all the tannins that will allow it to age over many decades. It also offers the rich blackberry, dark plum and great structure that will support that aging. As so often, Noval has released a vintage when other major producers have held back. But this powerful wine fully justifies the decision. Drink from 2025 for the fruit, 2030 for the complexity.

The 2014 Vintage Port is certainly the most backward of Noval's recent vintages, notes of black fruit, orange rind, sage, flecks of powdered dark chocolate and white pepper. The palate is ripe and viscous on the entry, tightly-knit and probably not as precise as subsequent vintages, just missing a bit of flair towards the finish. I wonder whether this is in an awkward phase? Very linear at the moment, but the precision is there. Keep this in the cellar. Incidentally, this was Noval's smallest declaration of 700 cases. Tasted at the Quinta do Noval tasting at Spring restaurant in London. -- Neal Martin