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2018 Touriga Nacional

2018 Touriga Nacional
Wine Specs
Vintage
2018
Varietal
Touriga Nacional
Appellation
Monterey
Vineyard
Hames Valley
Harvest Date
September 18, 2018
pH
3.55
Aging
30% American oak, 27% Hungarian oak, 27% new oak, 18 months
Bottling Date
June 30, 2020
Alcohol %
13.2
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In Stock
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$36.00
 
SKU: 18SVITN7EMONH22

We have loved Touriga Nacional for years as an integral part of the blend for our Closing Bell but the possibilities of making a single varietal wine were just too tempting. Touriga Nacional has the opulent dark fruit, firm tannins, and aging potential of Cabernet Sauvignon, but is much more fun to pronounce (Tor-ee-gah Nah-see-un-nall)! The indigenous Portuguese variety is also renowned as one of that country’s finest grapes. A traditional component of the famed Douro Valley Port wines, it has been increasingly recognized as a superb dry table wine as well. The 2018 vintage has deep purple color and is loaded with aromas of blackberry, blueberry and cherry, followed by hints of hazel nut and toasty oak. This medium-bodied wine has soft and structured tannins that extend into a lingering finish with bright red fruit notes and sweet oak. With only 158 cases available, this notoriously low-yielding variety produces beautiful, ageworthy wines with intense flavors. We hope you agree that sweet or dry, Touriga Nacional is a wine worth your exploration as well!

Wine Specs
Vintage
2018
Varietal
Touriga Nacional
Appellation
Monterey
Vineyard
Hames Valley
Harvest Date
September 18, 2018
pH
3.55
Aging
30% American oak, 27% Hungarian oak, 27% new oak, 18 months
Bottling Date
June 30, 2020
Alcohol %
13.2
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Wine Profile
Vineyard
The grapes for our Touriga Nacional are grown on a small block on our estate Hames Valley Vineyard. Located in southern Monterey County, about 20 miles south of King City, Hames presents ideal conditions and rich soil for growing intense, concentrated wines. The climate is characterized by a high day-to-night temperature differential, with a variation of up to 50° quite common. While daytime highs are similar to that of Portugal’s Douro Valley, as the sun goes down on Hames Valley the temperatures drop significantly. The long, warm days allow the intense fruit flavors to develop, while the dramatic nighttime cooling preserves the balance of the fruit and maintains acidity.
Varietal Composition
100% Touriga Nacional
Winemaking
The grapes were handpicked into half-ton bins, destemmed and crushed warm into small fermentation bins. During fermentation, the cap was gently punched down three times per day and the juice was held on the skins for two weeks before pressing. At dryness the must was pressed to stainless steel tanks. After settling the heavy solids, the juice was racked clean to small oak barrels for secondary fermentation and aged for 18 months before bottling unfiltered to preserve the structure and tannins.
Cases Produced
158