Once again a Churchill's Douro wine was in the Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of the Year. This time it was our recently launched Churchill Estates Touriga Nacional 2007.
I am delighted that the Wine Spectator panel selected this wine, as it comes from a vineyard we planted with Touriga Nacional at Quinta da Gricha shortly after we bought the property in 1999. We are now in the process of planting a further 15 hectares of Touriga Nacional at Gricha so it is good timing to recieve this acknowledgement and very rewarding to have our efforts appreciated.
Touriga Nacional has become such an emblematic grape variety for the "New Douro". It was always prized by Port producers but, being a low yielder, was never favoured by the farmers. Now that vineyard owners are marketing their own wines, Touriga Nacional is receiving the attention it deserves in the vineyard. These small, tightly-knit grapes are reminiscent of Cabernet Sauvignon and produce an intense violet coloured wine with a distinctive nose of sweet basil and a fine, well structured body.
Quinta da Gricha, with its North-facing vineyard produces a very vinous, fresh style of wine which is evident in this Churchill Estates Touriga Nacional 2007. It is a chunky wine with a soft velvety palate and plenty of natural acidity - very drinkable now but will age well for another few years.
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