TN: 2007 Quinta da Pedra Alta Touriga Nacional Douro red

[Rune EG]

My wife Emmy and I visited this quinta on a private tour in May 2009. Pedra Alta is located high up at the river Pinhao fairly close to Sabrosa and is yearly producing close to 1 million bottles. Mostly at medium level quality at good prices. For ports they make white, Reserve ruby, basic tawny and a decent LBV. However, they have this high quality Touriga Nacional Douro red. We tasted this wine at the quinta and later had it for lunch together with the owner, and we were both amazed by this Douro red. But it was not for sale at that time. Earlier this year it has been amongst the 4-5 best Touriga Nacional Douro reds in a couple of competitions in Portugal. A previous business colleague of mine helped me to find 6 bottles (apparently not easy) which we brought home from the FTLOP Harvest Tour 2011.

Tasting note after having consumed two bottles: 2 hrs decanting. Dark red with a light rim. Cool, a bit subdued, and pleasant aroma showing well integrated oak and berries. Taste being rich, balanced, powerful tannins, a bit dry. Medium body. Finish medium length. Not really at the level as we remembered back in May 2009, but still a very nice Touriga Nacional. Will let the remaining 4 btls stay in cellar for some time. 90 pts

[Andy Velebil]

Touriga Nacional is a tough beast to tame as a single varietal dry wine. IMO producers either do a very good job or not so good, there is generally not much in between. So while this isn't showing as well as you remember, 90 is still a respectable score. Do you think this is in a phase or starting to fade a bit as it ages?

[Rune EG]

I am not entirely sure what to answer you Andy!
If it had been a port I would have thought it had entered the socalled "closed phase".
The first was consumed just one week after return from FTLOP Harvest Tour, which is less days after air travel that many people suggest, so we decided to wait with the next test. But the second bottle was not showing much difference.

With the exception of the Crasto Touriga Nacionals, I have not much experience with TNs older than 5-6 years.
What is your (or any other Forum-members) experience with TNs when ageing?
Is it normal that they fade after 4 yrs, or is TN a product for the cellar (bearing in mind how important that grape is for vintage port)?

[Andy Velebil]

With the exception of the Crasto Touriga Nacionals, I have not much experience with TNs older than 5-6 years.
What is your (or any other Forum-members) experience with TNs when ageing?
Is it normal that they fade after 4 yrs, or is TN a product for the cellar (bearing in mind how important that grape is for vintage port)?

It's a tough call as not many people have been making a single varietal TN wine for very long, notable exception being Crasto. From what I've seen it is a grape, on it's own, that typically does better in the shorter term. I generally haven't been impressed with most of those I've had with age on them. So to be honest I wasn't surprised when you said it didn't show as well as it did almost 3 years later.

[Bob Parsons Alberta]

Encostas de Estremoz makes a TN of some stature.