Quinta do Noval Nacional Vintage Port 2024 – one of the world’s most legendary port wines

Quinta do Noval Nacional Vintage Port 2024 is one of the most sought-after and rare port wines produced. Nacional is a living legend in the world of port and is considered by many wine connoisseurs to be the ultimate Vintage Port. Every single release is followed with great interest by collectors and enthusiasts worldwide, and production is always extremely limited.

This iconic port comes from the famous Nacional vineyard, located in the heart of Quinta do Noval’s historic vineyards in the Douro Valley. Here, the vines continue to grow on their own roots, as they were never infested by phylloxera. This makes Nacional a unique piece of wine history, where the original Portuguese vines are still planted directly in Portuguese soil without foreign rootstocks.

The name “Nacional” refers precisely to this unique circumstance—Portuguese vines growing in Portuguese soil, just as they did before the phylloxera epidemic of the late 1800s. The result is a port with a truly distinctive identity and a terroir expression found nowhere else.

The 2024 vintage was produced under nearly ideal growing conditions. A rainy winter built up substantial water reserves in the soil, while a mild summer and cool nights in August and September allowed the grapes to ripen slowly and perfectly. The old vines made optimal use of the natural water reserves, resulting in small, concentrated grapes with lovely acidity, silky-smooth tannins, and impressive aromatic depth.

The grapes from the Nacional vineyard were harvested on September 30, 2024. Vinification follows Quinta do Noval’s classic tradition, in which the grapes are foot-treaded in the historic granite lagares. This method ensures maximum extraction of color, aroma, and tannins and remains a crucial part of the house’s production of its finest Vintage Ports.

The wine is produced as a classic field blend featuring a wide range of traditional Douro grape varieties, including Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Tinto Cão, Tinta Roriz, and Sousão. After fermentation, the port is aged for 18 months in large oak and chestnut barrels with a capacity of 2,500 liters before being bottled.

Production is extremely limited. In 2024, only 167 cases of Quinta do Noval Nacional Vintage Port were produced, making this vintage an obvious collector’s item with enormous aging potential spanning several decades.

Tasting Notes

The color is nearly opaque with a deep, dark intensity. The nose opens with ripe wild forest berries, black cherries, and juicy plums, accompanied by dark chocolate, licorice, and elegant spices. The palate is concentrated, precise, and impressively deep, with pure fruit, silky tannins, and a lively freshness that gives the wine both structure and balance. The finish is exceptionally long, elegant, and lingering. A Nacional with great authority and exceptional aging potential.

The History of Quinta do Noval

Quinta do Noval is one of the Douro Valley’s most iconic port houses, with a history dating back to 1715. For generations, the house has been known for its uncompromising quality and for producing some of the world’s most sought-after Vintage Ports. Nacional is the house’s absolute flagship and is produced only in years when the small Nacional vineyard meets the extremely high quality standards. Each release is therefore an event among collectors and port wine enthusiasts worldwide.

• Producer: Quinta do Noval
• Wine: Nacional Vintage Port
• Vintage: 2024
• Type: Vintage Port
• Country: Portugal
• Region: Douro
• Vineyard: Nacional
• Grapes: Field Blend including Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Tinto Cão, Tinta Roriz, and Sousão
• Harvest: September 30, 2024
• Vinification: Traditional foot-treading in granite lagares
• Aging: 18 months in 2,500-liter oak and chestnut barrels
• Production: Only 167 cases
• Aging potential: Several decades
• Serving temperature: 16–18 °C
• Volume: 75 cl
• Contains: Sulfites
• Alcohol: 19.5%