Quinta do Noval Touriga Nacional 2018

Intense and concentrated, with a refined tannin structure, Touriga Nacional is distinguished by its delicacy, a characteristic of the Quinta do Noval style. It is the result of a strict selection of the best batches produced by our Quinta in a given year. HARVEST CHARACTERISTICS 2019 was marked by a mild winter and generally dry conditions, with almost no rain from May until the end of August. Whilst in many parts of Europe producers faced heat waves, and although we had sunny conditions, summer temperatures in the Douro were, thankfully, lower than usual this year, making the absence of rain easier to bear for the vines. Furthermore, the low humidity led to a low pressure of diseases in the vines and resulted in beautiful healthy grapes.
Harvesting began on September 9th for the red varieties. Harvest conditions were ideal, with moderate temperatures and generally dry weather. A small amount of rain on 21st/22nd September and later between 14th and 17th October helped.
Yields were slightly higher than our 10-year average and the musts showed great natural acidity and freshness.
We finished the harvest on the 18th of October after 6 weeks. This was a long harvest, but this is not unusual in the Douro, where the diversity of grape varieties, orientation and altitudes results in different harvest dates for each specific plot. This diversity represents a challenge for the technical team, but also an incredible richness, giving complexity and character to our Quinta do Noval wines.

TASTING NOTE: This wine has an intense color that immediately conveys its character. It is very expressive with intense aromas of wild berries associated with spicy notes. The wood notes from the barrels are very well integrated. A tannic structure of great firmness and balance runs through the wine.

VINIFICATION: This wine is fermented in stainless steel vats for 8 days, followed by malolactic fermentation for another three weeks.