The 1997 Late Bottled Vintage Port is a blend of 40% Touriga Nacional, 30% Touriga Franca and 30% Tinta Roriz, aged in used Portuguese vats. It comes in at 90.9 grams per liter of residual sugar. Like its 1996 sibling reviewed this issue, 30% of the grapes came from "A" quality vineyards of Noval's suppliers rather than the Noval estate itself. It was bottled in July 2001. What a difference a year makes: compared to its 1996 sibling, also reviewed as part of Noval's vertical this issue, this is shockingly fresh and lively on opening with plenty of fine, rather rich fruit and reasonable concentration. Quite delicious, it finishes with a sweet rush of fruit and sugar. As it airs, it shows some mature nuances (that become more pronounced the next day). It has that complex, but still "prime-time" feel of gracefully maturing wine. The more I sat with this lovely, perfectly balanced Port, the more I liked it. I am very much attuned to older wines these days (and remember, LBVs have an accelerated aging curve due to how they are made). If you're not, move along. This doesn't awe you with its power, but the fine texture, complex flavors and seamless harmony make it wonderful. It may likely hold better than I suggest in the drinking windows, but I like to be conservative and as it ages opinions will begin to vary more on what "too old" means. It showed best around 58-60 degrees F.