Richard Mayson's perfect case of Port
See which bottles would make up this dream dozen...
Touriga Nacional
Although not widely known as a varietal, this rare, small-berried, dark-skinned Portuguese variety is nevertheless the highest quality grape that goes into the Douro Valley melting pot.
Malvedos Douro harvest 2013
SEE ALSO: Douro winemaker Luis Sottomayor excited by Casa Ferreirinha Reserva Especial release | The Discovery of Douro Terroir
It is mainly blended with Touriga Francesa, Tinto Cão, Tinta Barroca and Tinta Roriz. Still in Portugal, it’ also one of the major grapes of Dão and is grown in Australia, where it’s known simply as Touriga.
Updated by Jeanne Thexton on the 12th of January 2016
-
-
Quinta do Noval: a decade of declarations
Tasting and rating wines from a recent vertical tasting of releases from 2010-2020...
-
Rare Museum Wines from Portuguese Icons
10 charismatic ‘works of time’ wines...
-
Which Ports should you drink this winter?
Richard Mayson picks his top Ports for drinking now...
-
Why is Touriga Nacional a rising star? Ask Decanter
Known for making darkly coloured, rich, tannic and complex wines...
-
Larkmead trial considers life after Cabernet in Napa Valley
Tempranillo and Touriga Nacional are among grape varieties chosen for a new research vineyard at Larkmead winery
-
Port 2017: Vintage guide and what to buy
Over 25 recommendations to buy from this top vintage...
-
Tasting Quinta do Noval's single-varietal wines
Bringing a bit of France to the Douro Valley...
-
Quinta do Noval Port: A look back in time
Including a world-cup year 1966 vintage Port and a pre-war colheita...
-
Revisiting vintage Port 1994: From the archive
Richard Mayson finds that the 1994s more than live up to their initial potential...
-
Barca Velha vertical: Superstar of the Douro
Steven Spurrier tastes 13 vintages of this Portuguese gem...
-
Hopes rise for 2015 Port wine harvest
-
Douro winemaker Luis Sottomayor excited by Casa Ferreirinha Reserva Especial release
At the London launch of Casa Ferreirinha’s Reserva Especial 2007, we caught up with Luis Sottomayor, the winemaker of both this renowned Douro wine and arguably Portugal’s most famous table wine, Barca Velha.
-
Cockburn’s 200th anniversary tasting
Decanter recently attended an event to mark the 200th anniversary of Cockburn's port, tasting not only the cask sample of the 2014, but also past vintages going back as far as 1863.
-
Jefford on Monday: What’s a perfect berry?
Is mixed ripeness – some grapes barely ripe, some almost over-ripe – desirable at harvest time?
-
The discovery of Douro terroir
The Douro’s soils were long seen as one and the same when it came to growing Port grapes, of whatever variety. But thanks to new approaches from the major shippers, the regional subtleties of terroir are now being appreciated. Margaret Rand reports
-
DWWA 2014 Regional Trophy: Port over £15
This year's Decanter World Wine Awards Regional Trophy for Port over £15 went to Ramos Pinto, RP., Late Bottle Vintage 2009 (19.5%)
-
Decanter travel guide: Alentejo, Portugal
Rural and rustic yet with style and substance, the Alentejo's warm and generous reds are much like its people, says Sarah Ahmed
-
Portugal: moving up in the world
Portuguese producers have a lot to shout about
-
National Pride: Port
-
Lesser known grapes: Touriga Nacional
In the first series of features on the world's lesser known grape varieties, JOHN DOWNES MW introduces the Jekyll and Hyde character of Touriga Nacional, Portugal's premier grape.
