Quinta do Noval is distinguished by the beauty of its terraces, its house, warehouse, and typical wine presses, which are still in current use. First mentioned in 1715, Quinta do Noval was acquired in 1894 by António José da Silva, who developed it over the following three decades. His descendants (most recently, the van Zeller family) maintained the estate until 1993, when it was acquired by AXA. In 1997, Quinta do Noval pioneered the centralization of all its activities in the Douro Valley, instead of Vila Nova de Gaia. Its vineyards and wine presses produced the Quinta do Noval Nacional 1963, chosen as one of the 12 best wines of the 20th century by the American publication Wine Spectator. Quinta do Noval 2009 Tinto is a combination of power and delicacy. It is an intense and concentrated wine, with a good tannic structure, distinguished by its delicacy, a characteristic of the Quinta do Noval style. It is the result of a rigorous selection of the best batches produced by Quinta do Noval in a given year. It is delicious when drunk young, but it is also worth keeping in a cellar to age.