Wine Concept

Touriga Nacional is a noble Portuguese grape variety. Produces intense, balanced wines with good ageing potential. This wine is from one of the oldest vineyards of Touriga Nacional in Alentejo – Badeco vineyard in Herdade do Esporão. It represents the singularity of the grape variety and the characteristics of the single vineyard combined with the experience of the ones who take care of the vineyard and the wine.

Awards

Wine Enthusiast

94 pts | Cellar Selection 2008

93 pts | Cellar Selection 2011

90 pts | 2015

 

Agriculture

Autumn and winter were colder and rainier than the previous year, with the highest rainfall and lowest temperatures occurring between November and February. Still, both temperature and precipitation fell within the 18-year average. Spring temperatures exceeded those of 2016, accelerating the growth stages. A hot, dry spring ensured healthy fruit growth. Summer temperatures began warmer than 2016 (+2.0ºC) and hastened the onset of ripening. Lower August and September temperatures further quickened ripening and increased sugar levels, resulting in full-bodied white wines with ripe fruit notes and rich and concentrated reds.

Vinha do Badeco Vineyard, parcel with 1,03 ha in Herdade do Esporão. Double Guyot pruning system, trained in vertical shoot positioning.

SOIL TYPE
Poor soil, brown colour. Derived from schist of a sandy to silty-loam texture.

VINEYARD AGE
One of the oldest vineyards of Touriga Nacional planted in the Alentejo in 1988.

Grape Varieties

Touriga Nacional

Vinification / Maturation

Hand-picked. Harvested on 12 September 2017.

In adega dos lagares, fermented in marble Lagares, foot-trodden. Then transferred to concrete tanks where it finishes the fermentation with controlled temperatures.

In new French oak barrels for one year, followed by minimum two years in bottle.

More Information

Its roots go back to Badeco Vineyard, at Herdade do Esporão, in 1988 and is probably the oldest vineyard with this grape in the Alentejo region.

It is a wine that is only produced in exceptional years and the outcome of intense experimentation and collaboration between the winemaking and viticulture teams at Herdade do Esporão. This involves the vinification of small blends of the same grape variety from different plots, in which the final goal is to understand and enhance the character of each grape associated with the type of soil and microclimate where it is grown.

The result of the continuous trials is the launch of such unique wines, each variety producing limited quantities.

Wine Makers

David Baverstock & Sandra Alves

Colour

Intense deep garnet.

Aroma

Notes of tobacco, licorice with hints of black plum and raisina.

Palate

Rich and opulent with notes of spices and smoke. Balanced and smooth tannins, a elegant and deep wine.

Sizes

750 ml

Bottling

24 July 2019

Alcohol/Volume

14.5 %

Total Acidity

6.65 g/l

pH

3.57

Reducing Sugar / Baumé

2.2 g/l