2009 Quinta do Vallado Touriga Nacional
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Tasting notes
The 2009 Touriga Nacional is revisited this issue as part of the vertical presented. One of the lusher and bigger Tourigas in this report--2009 was a warm year--this seems full-bodied, relatively speaking, for this graceful bottling. Palate-coating, vigorous, vibrant and very youthful, this has a lot of stuff going on and it easily has the capacity to age well, meriting an extension in the drinking windows. The texture is velvety and very sensual. If I had a quibble here, the alcohol does seem a bit obvious here and there. It is only listed at 14.5%. That said, it still shows well and nothing is dramatically out of place. This doesn't project quite the same finesse that the 2008 does, its predecessor in this vertical, but its rich feel compensates well.
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Mark Squires
More reviews and scores
17 months in French oak, 73% new. Very dark. Lovely aroma of small dark berries and just a touch of Touriga Nacional's orange/bergamot but also clear minerality. Very savoury and lots of oak spice on the palate but even with such density there is a lightness of touch of old vines and good winemaking. Lovely juicy texture without juicy fruit flavours. Dark and coaly and delicious even though it is far too young to broach. With great mineral length and leaves your mouth feeling fresh.(JH)