How much overall impact does Touriga Nacional make on DOC wines?

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Roy Hersh
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How much overall impact does Touriga Nacional make on DOC wines?

Post by Roy Hersh »

Would Douro wines be the same if they had not Touriga Nacional to work with? Some producers use none at all, others try single grapes like Tinta Roriz or Tinta Cao or even Touriga Franca. However, I typically find that the addition of Touriga Nacional adds greater aromatics and depth to any blend of Douro grapes in a wine. But that is just me and I know plenty that think the best Touriga Nacional comes from the So. of Portugal. Your opinions appreciated.
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Mahmoud Ali
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Re: How much overall impact does Touriga Nacional make on DOC wines?

Post by Mahmoud Ali »

Since Touriga Nacional is an integral part of port I believe that it is an important part of any good Douro wine. No doubt there are excellent examples of single varietal wines made ot Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz but I can't help think that a blend of the traditional grapes of the Douro would make the better wine overall.

Let me use Bordeaux as an example. There are excellent Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot wines made all over the world and I'm sure that they could be made in Bordeaux as well. But the blend of Cabernet and Merlot, as well as Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot in some cases, makes Bordeaux the great wine that it is. And every year there is an interplay of vintage and the varying proportion of the different grapes in the blend.

Just as the different proportions of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Cao, Tinta Franca, and a whole host of other varieties, makes a good vintage port, so too will they add to the complexity and dimensions of a Douro wine.

Just my two cents,

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Moses Botbol
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Re: How much overall impact does Touriga Nacional make on DOC wines?

Post by Moses Botbol »

Touriga Nacional is what makes (maybe not solely) distinct from other wines and wine regions. It jumps out as saying "I am a Portuguese wine!"

For that reason its impact is big and important.
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Frederick Blais
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Re: How much overall impact does Touriga Nacional make on DOC wines?

Post by Frederick Blais »

Touriga Nacional is a victim of the varietal war for exposure on a label. Yes it has always played an important part in the blend of wine and Port but its proportion per volume was never dominant. Today, especially in dry wines, its the flagship grape of the country. Only because it is unique to Portugal or because of its better quality? There is obviously a trend for this grape that can easily makes highly concentrated and extracted wines.

Crasto are able to tame this grape and make a refreshing, spicy, complex wine that does not lack depth, unfortunately too few are achieving the same success, at least for my palate. I say yes to Touriga Nacional, but you need to control it either by putting as a minority in the blend or keeping it fresh.

It will also be interesting to withness in time if 100% Touriga Nacional wines can develop layers of complexity and integrate their big shoulders. Then only it will tag alog the most celebrated single varietal wines.
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