Quinta do Noval Vintage Port Nacional 2022

100 points Jeb Dunnuck: "Movng to the 2022 Vintage Port Nacional, this comes from a tiny parcel in the estate vineyard planted to ungrafted vines and is a field blend of Touriga Francesa, Tinto Cão, Touriga Nacional, Sousão and Tinta Roriz that spent 18 months in barrel and larger chestnut casks. It's a dramatically different wine compared to the classic cuvée and is tight and inward, with an incredible sense of purity in its blue fruits, graphite, cedary herbs, tobacco, chocolate, and crushed stone-like minerality. Despite coming from a scorching hot year, this stays vibrant and fresh, with incredible precision in both its aromatics and on the palate. It has less residual sugar (85 grams per liter) than the classic cuvée, and it certainly tastes that way as well, with a more structured, reserved style, yet it brings phenomenal extract and concentration that's flawlessly balanced with ripe tannins, notable acidity, and one hell of a finish. Unquestionably, for drinking any time over the coming 20 years, the classic cuvée is where you'll want to go. However, this is a legend in the making. It needs 15-20 years to hit maturity, and I suspect it will provide 50, 60, 70 years or more of prime drinking. Drink: 2039-2074. (8/22/24)"

100 points/'Cellar Selection,' Wine Enthusiast: "[$1,500 list] Even better than the impressive 2021 Nacional, this is a magnificent Port. It comes from a small parcel of ungrafted vines on the Noval estate. Beautifully perfumed, ripe with sweetness balancing the massive structure, the wine is set to age for decades. It is a Port to treasure. Drink at the earliest from 2035. Alcohol 20%. (Dec 2024)"

99 points Ines Salpico (Decanter): "It's remarkable to see the equal amounts of muscle and elegance in this Vintage Port that could not be truer to the uniqueness of the Nacional site. Complex and layered with equal levels of concentration and focus. Infused cherries, plums, blueberries, plums (and prune) and honeyed figs weigh beautifully on the palate, which is otherwise lifted, with fragrant nuance, by sage, rose petals and wild oregano. The tannins are chiseled and mineral. A deep, earthy layer of garrigue, black olive and forest floor adds further depth of field. Serious longevity here but so tempting to drink now... Drinking Window: 2030-2065. (9/26/24)"

98 points Luis Gutiérrez (Wine Advocate): "The 2022 Vintage Port Nacional was produced with grapes from ungrafted vines, not pre-phylloxera, as you might read elsewhere, as these are relatively young vines from two vineyards planted with a field blend of Touriga Francesa, Tinto Cão, Touriga Nacional, Sousão (some 15% in the field blend) and Tinta Roriz. It's produced in exactly the same way as the other Vintage Port, in granite lagars and aged in old casks for 18 months. It has 19.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.67 and 86 grams of sugar, quite similar parameters to the regular Vintage Port from the same vintage, and it's quite low in sugar compared with other years. But the wine is more backward, with more detail, and it's more serious, with lots of complexity. The tannins and the sweetness compensate each other; there's a lot of depth, concentration and power but in a very harmonious way. I think this has better balance and more elegance than other recent vintages. It opens slowly in the glass to give classical notes of candied violets and rockrose and a lactic hint. It should age effortlessly for 50 years. 1,920 bottles were filled in May 2024. Drink: 2030-2070. (12/12/24)"

98 points Neal Martin (Vinous): "The 2022 Naçional Vintage Port comes from the usual field blend planted on their own roots in the 1920s. The fruit was trodden by foot in concrete lagares and aged for 18 months in oak and 2,500-liter chestnut vats. This has a broader, deeper bouquet than the regular Noval fortified, black plum and licorice, blueberry and Christmas cake, all delivered with fabulous delineation and freshness. The palate is stunning: lovely balance and tangible intensity, yet it is so light-footed and gentle in terms of grip with a spicier, more peppery finish than the Quinta do Noval. It's very long on the finish. This is a Naçional that will age gracefully over decades. Just 167 cases were produced. Drink: 2032-2075. (Jun 2024)"

98 points Jim Gordon (JamesSuckling.com): "With only 2,400 bottles made for the world, this is one of the rarest Ports, produced from a small plot of vines 100 years old and older growing on their own roots in a section of the Noval estate. Such finesse and elegance at first, then power and structure as the wine fills the palate with blackberry syrup, creme de cassis and cocoa. Long, lacy finish lasts for minutes. Best from 2037. (6/13/24)"

97 points Wine Spectator: "[$1,500 list] Dense and dark, with a burly edge as walnut husk, singed alder and warm earth accents peek out from a core of steeped black currant and blackberry reduction flavors. The finish leans to the frankly dry side, with espresso crema, licorice root, bay leaf, baker's chocolate and menthol accents adding to the impressive range and detail. Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Cão, Sousão and Tinta Roriz. Best from 2040 through 2065. 160 cases made, 10 cases imported. (11/13/24)"