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Quinta do Noval unveils second Terroir Series instalment

25 August 2023 By Louis Thomas

Acclaimed Port and table wine producer Quinta do Noval has unveiled Vinhas do Passadouro Douro 2020 – a field blend of more than 20 grape varieties harvested from 90-year-old vines.

Quinta do Noval Vinhas do Passadouro is a field blend originating from a 0.93 hectare parcel of old vines, dating back to 1930, largely planted on walled terraces on the left bank of the river Pinhão. The primarily schist soil has a high proportion of quartz, mica and fedspar.

The 2020 vintage in the Douro was marked by high levels of rainfall from winter to May, followed by a period of hot, dry conditions that reduced yields, but resulted in wines with great character. Due to this period of heat, the plot from which the fruit for Vinhas do Passadouro is sourced was hand harvested on 17 September, a notably earlier date than usual.

After the grapes were fermented in stainless steel at a temperature between 25°C and 27°C, malolactic conversion followed. The wine was age in French oak barrels of 225 litres for a year (90% new, 10% barrels of one vintage). The wine was then bottled in June 2022.

Providing his tasting notes, technical director Carlos Agrellos said: “This wine displays a deep and intense colour that reveals concentration and vitality. An abundance of aromas with intense notes of ripe fruits such as blackberry, black cherry, and plum. Spices like black pepper, cloves, and cinnamon add complexity. The tannins are firm and well-integrated, providing a solid and elegant structure. This wine is full-bodied with a velvety texture that fills the palate. It is complex and profound, unfolding aromatic expression as it evolves in the glass.”

Looking ahead to how it will perform in the cellar, Agrellos said: “It has a great ageing potential and will gain further aromatic complexity and smoothness in the tannins over time. While delightful already, its true essence will be revealed after a few years of cellaring.”

Production is limited to 1,115 bottles, 60 Magnums, and 30 Double-Magnums. A 75cl bottle will retail for around £215.

It is the first vintage of Quinta do Noval Vinhas do Passadouro, and second wine in its Terroir Series, after the release of the 2019 Vinhas da Marka.

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