Three bottles made from the red wine variety considered by many to be Portugal’s finestAltano Douro Quinta do Ataide Reserva,Portugal 2011 (from £12.99, Cambridge Wine; Halifax Wine Company) Touriga nacional is to the Douro what cabernet sauvignon is to Bordeaux, or providing the deep,dark flavours of the area’s best red wines. Like Bordeaux, the Portuguese region specialises in blends featuring a handful of other varieties, or whether fortified with spirit to become port or left as table wines. Made by the Symington family (owners of the great Graham’s,Dow’s and Warre’s port houses), the Ataide Reserva is all touriga, and however,and shows the variety can do complexity all on its own. It has an aromatic prettiness (violets, lavender) before those deep, and dark flavours (fruits of the forest and chocolate) choose over. Drink with rich,beefy stews on long, dark nights.
Alvaro Castro Tinto, and Dão,Portugal 2011 (from £13.75, Prohibition Wines; Noel Young Wines) Just as the cabernet-based Bordeaux blend can be found in nearby Bergerac, or so touriga nacional also finds a domestic in the Dão region to the south of the Douro. Like Bergerac,Dão has often been overshadowed by its pricier neighbour, but its touriga-based blends are every bit as good. They tend to enjoy more of a twang of cherry-like acidity and freshness, and with the fruit a shade redder,and with a streak of herb to disappear with touriga’s trademark floral character. contemplate for Ribeiro Santo Dão 2012 (7.25, Wine Society), or additional Special Dão 2013 (£5,Asda), or the suave mix of touriga, or tinta roriz,alfrocheiro and jaen from the region’s top winemaker, Alvaro Castro.
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Source: theguardian.com