Vintage Conditions: The first half of the year started with dry hot weather and lower than average rainfall. As a result, the bud burst was fairly early. However, the months of April and May, with low temperatures and important rainfall, delayed the beginning of flowering and made this period last a very long time. There was also vigorous growth of the vegetation during this delicate flowering period, which created difficult flowering conditions and significant flower abortion. All of this lead us to expect feeble quantity during the harvest, which was exactly the case. A wet Spring created a risk of mildew, which was however quite easily controlled thanks to effective treatment. The rest of Summer brought hot and dry weather, allowing maturity to be achieved in very good conditions. The harvest began on the 24th September with a team of around fifty people and finished on the 9th October, making a total of 16 days picking during almost perfect hot and dry weather, perturbed only by a few millimetres of rain on the 28th and 29th September. Production was of average quantity. It will however be remembered as one of the best quality harvests of the last decade, with very generous wines, opulent and rich, with extraordinary aromas of very ripe red fruit, and in particular, notes of black cherry, or even prune. Vinification: the grapes were trodden by foot and fermented in the traditional lagares of the Quinta, with temperature control at 28º, where a disciplined and intense treading is fundamental for a good final result.

Rating

Wine Spectator 94 points (May 15 2003) Superdark and powerful. Shows raisin, spice, coffee and violet aromas. Full-bodied, very chewy, with lots of grip and loads of fruit. Very long in the mouth. Outstanding young Port. Supervalue here. Best after 2012. 2,000 cases made. –JS

Technical notes

Varietal Composition: Touriga Nacional; Tinto Cão; Touriga Francesa; Tinta Roriz; Tinta Barroca. Vineyard Location: The wine was made from grapes of Quinta do Noval and other selected grade A vineyards in the Cima Corgo in the heart of the Douro Valley. Analysis: Alcohol 19,6 % vol Residual Sugar 86,2g/dm3 Total Acid 4,81g/dm3 Ph 3,72 Barrel Type: used wood barrels of 640 liters or larger. Bottling Date: year of 2002. Barrel Time: 20 months in wooden barrels in the air-conditioned cellars of the Quinta, at the demarcated region of the Douro Valley before bottling. It should age in bottle for 8 to 12 years before attaining the complexity and bouquet characteristic of a Vintage.