Touriga Nacional

History

Best known as one of the five foundational grapes in Port wine in the Douro, Touriga Nacional is a newcomer to the Alentejo, and a very promising one at that! Here it is transformed by our own micro-climate to produce one of our most unique wines, outstanding in its bold, overpowering and highly aromatic fruit, and intensely flavored bouquet. Touriga Nacional is considered a low producing grape that can be identified by both its small berries and smaller bunches.

Current Vintage: 2005

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Click here for PDFs of past vintages: 2002, 2003, 2005

Vintage 2005

In the Alentejo, rainfall since October 2004 was the lowest for more than a century, recorded at 219 mm, down from our annual average of 600 mm. The winter was not only dry but cold, with morning frost and temperatures as low as –5 °. Not surprisingly, bud break was delayed by a fortnight and the growing season was shorter than usual. The ‘ideal’ September harvest weather, brought along cooler nights and warm, sunny, breezy weather during the days, just was what was needed for the phenolic ripening of the grapes, to preserve some good fruit acid and flavor.

Vinification

Made exclusively from selected Touriga Nacional grapes hand picked at optimum maturity from chosen sites in our own vineyards. Fermented without stems under temperature control, frequent delestage, followed by extended skin maceration to enhance varietal fruit characters, and to provide tannin structure and balance. Aged for 14 months in French oak barrels.

Tasting Notes

deep,dense, intense red, purple notes

- fragrant, lifted aroma of dark berry fruits, violets and cherry toasty oak.

- soft, nicely textured palate showing sweet, ripe seductive fruit with seamless integration of oak, silky tannins.

Appellation: Vinho Regional Alentejano

Varieties: 100% Touriga Nacional

Total Acids: 6.7

Final pH: 3.87

Residual Sugars: 4.0

Alcohol: 14 %

Barrel aging:14 months in French new oak

Grown, produced and bottled at the family estate.

Bottled unfined and unfiltered in July 2007

Total production: 3.750 bottles (75 cl)

Launch date: March 2009

Unique Code: AVIN8884207986501 [?]

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Awards

Portuguese Red Trophy – International Wine Challenge – London 2008

Alentejo Trophy – International Wine Challenge – London 2008

Gold Medal (BEST IN CLASS) – International Wine & Spirit Competition – UK 2008

Gold Medal – International Wine Challenge – London 2008

Grand Gold – Concours Mondial du Vin – Bruxelles 2008

Gold Medal – Challenge Intl. du Vin – Bordeaux 2008

Gold Medal – Mundus Vini – Germany 2008

Silver Medal – S.F. Intl Wine Competition – California 2008

Silver Medal – Decanter World Wine Awards – UK 2008

Silver Medal – Vinalies Internationales – France 2008

Grand Mention – Vinitaly 2008 Concorso Enologico Internazionale

Ratings

90 Parker

91 Wine Spectator 4/2005

Reviews

The 2005 TOURIGA NACIONAL is a very nice presentation of a Southern Portuguese Touriga Nacional. Aromatic and sweet, with nuances of blueberries and vanilla, this is quite delicious. As it airs out, it shows more and more Touriga and less oak, and proves it can be lively and sunny as well. There are some of those sweet ‘n’ sour plum nuances, but it is mostly sweet. There is a lot of up front fruit here. Tannins pop out on the finish, and provide considerable grip. Despite the power and the forward fruit, it is quite elegant, too. The heavy bottle declares this winery’s intent to do something more and different with this single varietal bottling, and they seem to have succeeded. The regular Syrah is overshadowed by the Incognito, and the Aragonez is in the middle. Elegant, flavorful and ageworthy, this is beautifully constructed and probably the best single varietal denominated wine I have yet had from Cortes de Cima. When it finally opened, it seemed like essence of Touriga Nacional. Drink 2009-2015. - Mark Squires – eRobertParker.com – Dec. 2007

Medium rich red. Creamy chocolate palate. Beautiful, integrated sweet fruit. Elegant yet powerful. - International Wine Challenge 2008

Deep dense black purple colour, extends to rim. Amazing intensity on the nose, flowers, autumn forest fruits, black stone fruits, grilled meat, fresh ground spice, vanilla, smoke, black earth, soy. Beautiful definition in the mouth, the earthy savoury characters underline the delicious weight of fruit. A memorable experience in a glass which shows the power and glory of Touriga Nacional. Superb. – IWSC2008