Tag Archives: Touriga Nacional

New Styles from Portugal

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The Dao wine region is a mountainous territory, mostly on a high-altitude plateau surrounded by the higher mountains of the Serra da Estrela, Serra do Caramulo and Serra da Nave. This helps the area maintain its temperate climate away from the effects of the nearby Atlantic Ocean. The region experiences abundant rainfall in the winter months and long, warm dry summers leading up to harvest. The region’s vineyards are planted on sandy well-drained soil on top of granite rock, and received DOC status in 1990.

The region is homeland to the Touriga Nacional grape widely used in Port and Douro wines, Tinta Roriz and Alfrocheiro are also important, for the reds while Encruzado is the primary grape for whites.

Our delight’s blend has all three: Touriga Nacional,Alfrocheiro,Tinta Roriz – giving deep, youthful blackberry scented characters, It has a fruity and juicy full Palate – good acidity and fine tannins.

Pinha do Ribeiro Santo Red 2020

13.5% Alcohol

Twas a dark and stormy night

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We started out with a traditional Pinot from Chile.  Then moved up the mountains in Argentina for a Malbec, and then hopped over to Portugal for a blend.


What a Week!


There was no pushing the food around on the plate. It was all inhaled. The meals were hearty fare that were built to fend off the damp Fall and bring out the moody mysteries of the wine.  I’m going to have to turn back the scales 5 kilos as well as the clocks.


The medium-bodied Pinot was silky with fresh red berries there to pick up the earthiness, Flashes of spice to perk up the acidity. 


PINOT NOIR – UNDURRAGA GRAN RESERVA SIBARIS LEYDA VALLEY

$15.99

14.0 % Alcohol

UPC:07804315304722

A rich, solid blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinto Roriz, Syrah and Alicante Bouschet.  It is bold, smooth, dry, and soft – spicy and toasty It has a fine balance between cool tannins and bold black fruits. 

ALENTEJANO – CASA SANTOS LIMA QUID PRO QUO

14.2% Alcohol

$15.99

UPC: 05604424433014

Today, Argentina is a world leader in high-altitude grape-growing and Malbec is thriving at 1,000 to 1,500 metres in elevation. The benefit of altitude is cooler nights and large temperature swings between day and night of the kind most winegrowers never experience. Grapes do much developing in the final four to six weeks of ripening where the temperature is the determinant of any single component of flavour or aroma.

Since varying flavours and aromas are produced at different temperatures, the best wines need a vineyard with a range of favourable temperatures to capture all the desirable flavours and aromas. A good start is a nighttime temperature in the low teens followed by daytime highs in the mid to high 20s.


MALBEC – LA LINDA PRIVATE SELECTION OLD VINES 2018

$17.49 regularly $19.99 

14.2 % alcohol

UPC:07791203001675

Nobel and Potent

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This is a potent wine – smooth and well balanced. It is  refreshing and has a luscious finish.


Authentically Douro. Named after the emblematic cedar tree that dominates the terrace of Quinta do Noval, Cedro do Noval is an authentic expression of the Douro. Principally made up of classic Portuguese varieties, it also contains a proportion of Syrah, which rounds out the fruit.


Cedro is typically a blend of several of the noble Portuguese varieties and some experimental plots. The 2017 vintage is composed of 55 % Touriga Nacional, 25 % Syrah, 15 % Touriga Franca, 5 % Tinto Cão.

The wine is vinified through pump overs in stainless steel vats. Aging is in French oak casks (12% new) for approximately 10 months.

Duriense Quinta Noval DURIENSE – QUINTA NOVAL CEDRO DO NOVAL 2016
$25.97  regularly $29.99

13.5 % alcohol

UPC: 05601064000231

Almost Seductive

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This one is for the modern stylists.  Nicely balanced.  Quite Fruity but with good structure and has a bright freshness about it.


A very pleasant wine – either by itself or paired with Continental cuisine – pasta, cheeses, and crusty breads.


The game changed in the early 1990s when international investment arrived with the opportunity to modernize and update.  New and old vintners alike found new markets to showcase their indigenous grapes.

The family of vintners has found that Touriga Nacional is the most flexible of grape varieties because it adapts so well to both dry and wet conditions. The vines are planted up and down the slope and patamares (terraces) with one or two rows of vines.

It is a lovely blend of 30% Tinta Roriz, 25% Touriga Franca, 35% Touriga Nacional and 10% Tinta Barroca

2018 Flor de Crasto

14% Alcohol

$17.99 

Happy with the Change Up

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Very little stayed the same from initial thought to what ended up on the plate.  

Everything changed around the lamb chops and we moved from a South African Cab Sav to Northern Portugal and a Touriga Nacional to go with it.


It all ended well and we very much enjoyed the wine. Expressive. Smooth and rich with just a touch of oakiness.


Serve it a little cooler than room temp and you’ll really experience the complexity.


When you’re looking for something to serve with spicy meats — this would be a great go to.


I’m going to look for some of the whites from Opta and it’s wine maker, Nuno Cancela de Abreu.  I like the style of their wines and the uniqueness of the grapes.


Dao Touriga Nacional by Opta.

13% alcohol

Regularly $24.99, on sale for $22.49 when the Goddess of WHine put it in the 3rd mystery case.

UPC: 05604816000633

A House Divided

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890283

DAO – Pedra Cancela Selecao 2016

Regularly $17.99  On Sale for $16.99

13% Alcohol

Northern Portugal – Dao Region


A blend of Touriga Nacional, Alfochiero, and Tinta Roriz.  They rested six months in oak barrels and three months in bottle prior to release.


Very diverse reactions to the first sip.  Bron’s comment was Not sure we would take that anywhere because I’m not sure how they would react to it.

Moi, on the other hand, loved it at first swirl.  It’s definitely a different blend of grapes which might not appeal to a lot of palates.

Decanter World quite likes it because they give it 96 points, and a Gold Medal Decanter World  Award.

Did it stand up during dinner?
You betcha. But, as Bron says, there’s definitely cherry in there


When I made the tzatziki – was very glad that I had sheep yogurt in the fridge.  The extra little zing helped bring out the flavours of both the wine and what I did to the Moroccan style meatballs using warm spices (cinnamon, cumin, coriander, ginger). Fresh lettuce from the grand daughter’s garden.   Thin Pita from our Persian Baker.


Frozen Yo(gurt) with Cloved Apricots for dessert.