The 2013 Vintage Port from Quinta do Noval is a "dangerous" fortified since every sip encourages another. Replete with blueberry, blackberry, allspice and dates on the nose, this is quite opulent and seductive. After 30 minutes it becomes more floral with scents of crushed violet, almost like a super-charged Margaux! The palate is similar: rounded and velvety in texture, not profoundly complex but my word, it slips down the throat easily. It does not carry the weight of a top flight Quinta do Noval, but it aims to charm and seduce thanks to that lovely pure damson fruit on the finish. Just delicious, but watch you don't get carried away. Tasted from a sample bottle at home.

The 2013 Vintage Port is part of our mini-vertical this issue. Still tight, intense and showing plenty of power to go with its finesse, this evolves beautifully with air. The firmness on the finish here is impressive, giving this a chance to continue developing beautifully. It is not as expressive as the 2012—it is a bit more backward—but it is a more serious wine in many ways. I'm still a believer in this, although it certainly seems a step behind the biggest winners in the mini-vertical. This has some questions to answer in the cellar, but I think they will be answered to the satisfaction of most.

The 2013 Vintage Port is a blend of 20% Touriga Nacional; 10% Tinta Roriz and 70% old vines (of which Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz predominated, the winery noted), and it was aged for 18 months in wood. It comes in at 94 grams per liter of residual sugar. This 2013 completes Noval's unusual trilogy of declared Vintage Ports in 2011-2013. The quality justifies the declarations. Showing more concentration than the fresh 2012, also reviewed, this is pointed, powerful and intense, with serious grip on the finish. The initial impression of lushness fades quickly, because this is all about the power just now. You shouldn't even think of approaching it now. This will need a consumer with a cellar and some patience. That patience should be rewarded in time. All that said, by the end of the week, after some six days open, it actually started becoming more approachable. It wasn't quite as intense as the 2011 or as open as the 2012. Falling in the middle, it will certainly need time to come into full balance and become more expressive. It will reward your patience.

Mark Squires (eRobertParker.com, Mar 2016)