Harvest started 21 August. A blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinto Cao, Sousao, Tinta Roriz. Grapes are trodden by foot and fermented in stone lagares. 18 months in wooden casks. RS 99 g/l, TA 4.92 g/l, pH 3.51. Black core with narrow purple rim. Beautifully scented with bergamot, very ripe black fruit and wild herbs. A savoury character, almost an umami note, adding complexity to the rich, spicy black fruit. Firm, dense, compact and all furled up on itself, with depth and richness but no excess weight. The impressive integration of the flavours means it is hard to describe the components separately. Fills the mouth and finishes long and chewy, with just enough freshness to balance. 17.5 points

The 2017 Quinta do Noval Vintage Port was picked from August 21 to September 28 under perfect conditions. It has a tightly wound bouquet that requires a lot of aeration. Eventually it reveals fabulous, detailed aromas of cassis, bilberry jam, crushed stone and pressed violets, later hints of orange blossom and quince. The palate is pure class. Saturated tannins, wonderful structure but the headline is the intensity of fruit. I cannot remember a Noval with this penetration, almost overwhelming the senses as layers of effervescent black plum and cassis fruit segue into a spicy finish that fans out like there is no tomorrow. Is this the best Quinta do Noval ever? 97 points

Noval spills over into two valleys from Pinhao to Roncao which contribute two very different terroirs to the blend though both predominantly south facing: very unusual on the nose, heady Douro aromas with a touch of dust and eucalypt, wild and aromatic; dense, smooth and seductive on the palate with firm, dusty-minerally (schistous) tannins, beautifully integrated though still demure and lacking the freshness that characterize so many of these wines. 3,500 cases declared. 17.5?+ points