1997 Quinta do Noval

[jdaw1]

Neil C. arranged, at the Boot and Flogger, a horizontal of 1997s, the first since a 1997 Maturity Evaluation on 16th June 2014.

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 1997 Burmester;
• 1997 Quinta do Noval;
• 1997 Quinta do Noval Silval;
• 1997 Taylor;
• 1997 Fonseca;
• 1997 Croft Quinta da Roêda;
• 1997 Dow;
• 1997 Graham;
• 1997 Gould Campbell;
• 1997 Warre;
• 1997 Vesuvio;
• 1997 Smith Woodhouse;
• 1997 Quarles Harris;
• 1997 Martinez;
• 1997 Sandeman Vau;
• 1997 Ramos Pinto;
• 1997 Val da Figueira;
• 1997 Osborne;
• Planning and arrangements;
• Food order;
• Placemats (and in list of placemats).

[jdaw1]

Noval and Silval both decanted

I was a bit apprehensive about the Noval as I've seen a couple of duff bottles in the past, but this one seems absolutely fine.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Warm raspberry red in colour, 90% opaque. Sweet raspberries and garden flowers on the nose, elegant and complex. Poised and balanced on the palate with a silky texture gliding over the tongue, bringing behind it a blanket of glorious black fruit and liquorice root. The finish is amazing in length, lasting over 5 minutes. A really very impressive and great wine and my wine of the night. Double decanted for 23 hours. 96/100.

[rich_n]

A bit of a muted nose. Slightly spiced red fruits. Red berries, salinity and pepper. Some caramel sweetness. I'm a bit underwhelmed by this, if I'm honest.

[flash_uk]

55% opacity, dark red. Jammy red fruit nose. Full, some heat, spice and red fruit.

[winesecretary]

A very pretty garnet. Pine needles on the nose. Bright cherry fruit. The pine needles reappear on the mid palate. A little hollow and hot, late?