Quinta do Noval Declares Three 2024 Vintage Ports

Quinta do Noval said on Wednesday that it had declared three 2024 vintage ports, including Quinta do Noval Nacional Vintage Port 2024, Quinta do Noval Vintage Port 2024 and Quinta do Passadouro Vintage Port 2024, after what the estate described as a growing season marked by favorable weather in Portugal’s Douro Valley.

Christian Seely, managing director of Quinta do Noval, said in a statement that a rainy winter and a spring with good water availability replenished soil reserves and encouraged an early budburst in March. He said the start of summer was cool, which delayed veraison until July and helped grapes ripen slowly and evenly. August was dry, he said, and some younger vines showed water stress, but older vines stayed in balance because of moisture retained in the soils. In September, mild conditions and cool nights helped preserve freshness, aromatic purity and balance.

The grapes were harvested in what the estate called perfect conditions and arrived at the lagares ripe, healthy and balanced, with pure fruit and good phenolic ripeness. The winery said several plots of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa and Sousão stood out in the vintage, along with the Nacional vineyard itself and several old mixed-variety parcels.

Quinta do Noval said the wines show purity of fruit, structure and aromatic depth, and that they are precise, refined and balanced. The estate said the ports are already expressive in youth but have the structure for long aging in bottle.

The declaration comes as producers in the Douro continue to assess how weather patterns are shaping recent vintages in one of Portugal’s most closely watched wine regions. Vintage port declarations are made only in selected years when houses believe the harvest has produced wines of sufficient quality and longevity. Quinta do Noval is part of AXA Millésimes Gestion and is based in the Douro Valley, where its vineyards include some of the region’s most recognized parcels.

The announcement was made in a press release dated April 29. The estate did not disclose pricing or release dates for the wines in the material provided.