I thought I would share some information on Touriga Nacional. Now, anyone who has tasted a wine from the Douro valley in Portugal has most likely tasted Touriga Nacional, but few are familiar with its name. Why? Because the wine you tasted was probably Port- and Port wine does not have to list the varietals used in its production.
However, if you’ve ever ventured into the Dão region situated just south of the Demarcated zone of the Douro Valley, you may have noticed the red wines are often composed of only Touriga Nacional.
Touriga Nacional is considered to be the finest of the grapes that are used to create the substantial and long-lived fortified wines known as Port. It has a thick skin and small clusters of berries which help to contribute to the colorful and tannic wine it creates.
In addition to the flowers, tannins and extract the Touriga Nacional brings to Port, the grape is an integral part of the blends of table red wines found in both the Duoro and Dão valleys, producing wines that are heavy in both red fruits and structure.
Almost all red wines in the Douro Valley contain Touriga Nacional. Including the most expensive wines.
Not surprisingly, this year’s Limited Edition Douro Tinto contains Touriga Nacional. As a result this wonderful blend is an intensely aromatic wine with an impressive depth of fruit and complexity. Deep purplish red in color, the nose reveals blue and black berries followed by floral notes of violets. In the mouth fine tannins with a medium acidity balance this wine. It remains soft and velvety in the mouth. Flavors of light spice, blueberries and that aromas of violets, with a long lingering finish.
The Douro Tinto is not like Merlot, Cabernet or Shiraz- it’s like no wine you’ve ever tried before.
I have a soft spot for Portuguese wines and I am truely looking forward to making a wine with the famous yet relatively unknown Touriga Nacional in it.
Click here to view a brief video about this year’s Limited Edition wines.
Cheers,
Victor, Manager (Winesense- McPhillips)
Filed under: General by Craig