Quinta do Noval, Late Bottled Vintage 2012
Douro, Portugal, Fortified, Cork, 19.5% abv(2019) Noval's LBV is a serious interpretation of the style, unfiltered so it will continue to develop in bottle, as indeed it has since my previous tasting around one year ago. Glorious nose, blueberry crumble straight from the oven, lovely floral high notes of violet, and underpinned by cocoa. The spirit is barely discernable. In the mouth it's more of the same: that ripe, creamy blue/black richness of fruit, alluring sweetness and those more ethereal, lifted kirsch notes, yet the chocolate and the dry weight of tannins give it power and structure to match up to that opulence. I suggest you decant before serving as is it will throw a sediment, but watch the video for more information and food-matching ideas.
Note: until 2nd January 2020 Ocado has this for £18.25, and the fabulous 2003 Colheita from Noval is £32.99 (£10 off) - that's a great price for a brilliant vintage tawny.