Essence of Touriga Nacional
Portugal's most famous grape variety is Touriga Nacional. I really like it, but it is an angular grape that sometimes performs best as part of a blend. The two most successful regions for this variety are the Douro (on schist soils) and the Dao (on granite-based soils). Here's a brilliant - but angular - Dao version of Touriga Nacional, which captures the lovely floral signature of this variety.Falorca T-nac 2005 Dao, Portugal
This is a really good example of Dao Touriga Nacional from Quinta Vale das Escadinhas. It's just so typical of really good Touriga, even though it's a slightly edgy wine that won't be to everyone's taste. Lovely meaty, spicy, olivey, sweetly fruited nose with enticing floral notes that are so typical of this variety. The palate is concentrated with firm tannins and robust, spicy, meaty fruit backed up by good structure. Dense, firm and wild with lovely depth of flavour. 92/100 (£12.99 Castas.co.uk, also available from Armit)
This is a really good example of Dao Touriga Nacional from Quinta Vale das Escadinhas. It's just so typical of really good Touriga, even though it's a slightly edgy wine that won't be to everyone's taste. Lovely meaty, spicy, olivey, sweetly fruited nose with enticing floral notes that are so typical of this variety. The palate is concentrated with firm tannins and robust, spicy, meaty fruit backed up by good structure. Dense, firm and wild with lovely depth of flavour. 92/100 (£12.99 Castas.co.uk, also available from Armit)
Labels: Dao, Portugal, touriga nacional
posted by Jamie @ 10:08 AM
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6 Comments:
I wish this wine were available in the US. I love Touriga Nacional, especially the violet-herbal aroma it gives wine. Even real cheap Portuguese wines seem to get pungent herbal and orange zest notes from the Touriga.
I understand that most of the Touriga plantings are quite recent, so it should be interesting to see the quality and quantity from Portugal increase. Is it frequently referred to as T-Nac?
Touriga Nacional vineyards can have several decades of just few years. It depends of the regions, older in the north (Douro and Dao) and younger in south (like in Alentejo), but of course the old vineyards from Douro valley with more 100 years are not only Touriga ones and some times have tens of different grapes.
T-nac is a blend from Quinta Vale das Escadinhas, in Silgueiros, Viseu.
Right Jamie?
Yes
T-nac ( means touriga-nacional) is a touriga-nacional made by Falorca ( Quinta Vale das Escadinhas.
It's a varietal, not a blend, aged only in a steel vat. ( one month in 2nd year barril.
What I meant to ask in my question was: Is the term “T-nac” used frequently as an abbreviation for “Touriga Nacional” in either Portugal or the wider wine world? I was just curious, if anyone has experience enough to comment.
No, this is the only wine I've seen labelled T-nac
T-nac® is a QVE brand.
I regist this brand in 2006
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