2017 Howard's Folly Touriga Nacional
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Tasting notes
The 2017 Touriga Nacional Howard's Folly was aged for 10 months in new French oak and comes in at 14.3% alcohol. A somewhat unusual Touriga, this has many virtues. The question is whether there are enough of them. It is silky, bright and elegant, a perfect food wine with a refined feel. It has appealing mid-palate finesse. That's most of the good news. It has enough structure to have some grip on the finish, but I have my doubts as to whether it will truly age well. Then, we come to the aromatics and flavors. There is none of that Touriga exuberance. This has hints of game, and it is a bit subdued in terms of classic Touriga aromatics and flavors. It may well be closed and unevolved, but it needs to prove that it can justify its price level in the cellar. At this price level, expectations certainly change. I'm not sure this will meet them. Let's be conservative for the moment.
Critic scores
Mark Squires
About the producer
A joint project from British entrepreneur Howard Bilton and Australian winemaker David Baverstock, Howard’s Folly is a boutique wine producer in the Alentejo. Working with old vines and indigenous grapes largely in the cooler Portalegre, they craft fresh and modern expressions of the region.