Presentation
The Nacional parcel is a small area at the heart of the Quinta do Noval vineyard planted with ungrafted vines and untouched by phylloxera. The word "Nacional" refers to the fact that the vines are Portuguese vines growing in Portuguese soil with no foreign root stock, and are therefore "attached to the soil of the Nation". This great wine is a source of pride to the people of Portugal, and at its best the finest expression of the extraordinary terroir of Quinta do Noval.
The Nacional is a unique and extraordinary phenomenon. It does not necessarily follow the same rhythm as the rest of the Quinta do Noval. In some years a Nacional is produced when Noval does not even declare the Quinta do Noval Vintage. In others, Quinta do Noval makes a great Vintage Port, and the Nacional does not perform. More often, we are able to make both a Quinta do Noval Vintage and a Nacional Vintage. But when this happens, the wines are always profoundly different.
The vintage
The viticultural season of 2022/2023 was characterised by a warm and wet winter, an exceptionally hot and dry spring, and an average summer.
The vegetative cycle exhibited a delay in bud break compared to the average of recent years, then compensated by an advance of 5 to 10 days until the veraison stage due to the high temperatures recorded in spring.
The rainfall recorded at Quinta do Noval during the viticultural year (October 2022 to September 2023) was 838 mm, more than double the amount observed during the same period in 2022 (364 mm) and exceeding the 1970/2000 average by 198 mm. These precipitation data indicated a concentration of rainfall over the winter months.
Budbreak occurred during the first half of March.
Flowering took place between the second and third week of May, with some weather conditions conducive to healthy development.
Veraison was observed in Touriga Francesa and Tinta Roriz on June 19th and continued until July 7th. In Touriga Nacional and Syrah, veraison only occurred on July 13th.
Harvest
The Nacional plot was harvested on September 20th.
Blend
100% Field Blend
It is produced using several grape varieties and not just from Touriga Nacional, as its name might suggest. These varieties are some of the noblest to be found in the Douro valley: Touriga Francesa, Tinto Cão, Touriga Nacional, Sousão and Tinta Roriz.
Winemaking
The wine is made in the same way as all the other grapes from the Quinta do Noval vineyard. Grapes are trodden by foot to obtain the must, then during fermentation to obtain the best possible extraction in the lagares, the traditional stone vats from the Quinta.
Ageing
Quinta do Noval Nacional Vintage Port is aged for 18 months in oak and chestnut wood casks, with a capacity of 2500 litres.
Specifications
Alcohol content : 19,5 % vol.
Residual Sugar : 99 g/l
pH : 3.68
Total acidity : 4.3 g/l
Serving
15-17°C
Tasting
Carlos Agrellos - Technical Director - April 2025