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Touriga Nacional

Quinta dos Carvalhais Touriga Nacional

Tasting Notes

An opaque ruby-red color, this intense wine is both complex and elegant. Notes of well-ripened black and red fruit, delicate floral tones and fresh shrubby touches combine wonderfully in a wine that gains increased complexity from aging in oak barrels. On the palate, it is harmonious and balanced with smooth tannins adding both structure and body. Additional aromas of forest-floor combine with prominent fruity tones to reveal a long and persistent finish.

Varieties

100% Touriga Nacional

Technical Notes

The grapes destined for this wine were harvested in batches and subject to a rigorous selection process; each batch vinified separately. The grapes were unloaded in 20kg boxes and proceeded directly to destemming and soft-crushing, where they were drained gravitationally in small temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks with automatic 'pumping over'. In these tanks, the wine underwent alcoholic fermentation for a period of around 8 days at an average temperature of roughly 28ºC. A select batch of Touriga Nacional grapes subsequently underwent post-fermentative maceration for more than 20 days. After malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks, this wine aged for 12 months in fine-grain used and new French oak barrels sourced from 8 different cooperages. During the maturation phase, numerous tests were carried out to monitor the evolution of the wine, in preparation for the final blend. After the final blend, the wine underwent fining and filtration prior to being bottled.

Food Pairing

Very gastronomic and perfect for meal-times, this wine pairs wonderfully with dishes such as octopus "à lagareiro", oven-roasted pork and mushroom risotto.

Did you know fact

The start of the harvest year was very rainy, although winter itself was generally cold and dry. Spring was drier than in previous years, occasional rain replenishing the water levels in the soil. An arid summer followed with high temperatures in the day and cold nights; the evolution of the grapes through to maturation was both normal and balanced. The harvest itself was conducted a week earlier than in 2014, and produced wines of a very high standard.