Vineyard and winemaking
Tonnix Grande Reserva Tinto 2016 is a premium expression from Quinta de la Rosa, produced from the estate's finest vineyard sites, including the steep Vale do Inferno and Vinha Grande parcels. These Douro vineyards are planted on schist soils, with elevation and exposure helping to retain freshness and balance alongside the naturally concentrated fruit of the region.
The grapes are traditionally foot-trodden in granite lagares before fermentation in stainless-steel vats. The wine is then matured for approximately 20 months in used French oak barriques, allowing the powerful Douro fruit and tannins to soften while retaining the wine's freshness and individuality.
Tasting notes
Appearance
Deep, concentrated ruby with purple highlights and excellent depth of colour.
Nose
Powerful but refined, with ripe blackberry, black plum and blueberry complemented by violet, dark chocolate and finely integrated spice. As the wine opens, more savoury notes of graphite, liquorice and dried Mediterranean herbs emerge, giving the nose considerable depth.
Palate
Full-bodied and concentrated, yet remarkably composed. Dark plum, blackberry and black cherry provide the core of the palate, while firm but polished tannins give the wine impressive structure. Touriga Nacional brings floral intensity and dark-fruit depth, while Touriga Franca contributes aromatic lift and a more savoury, mineral character. Subtle cedar, cocoa and spice from the long oak maturation add complexity without masking the fruit. The finish is long, dry and persistent, with graphite, dark fruit and fine-grained tannins lingering.
Food pairing
A powerful and gastronomic red suited to roast lamb, venison, beef fillet, slow-cooked beef, duck and richly flavoured game dishes. It also works beautifully with Portuguese dishes such as roast suckling pig and hearty meat stews, as well as mature hard cheeses.
Background story
The Tonnix project originated from the collaboration between chefs Mitch Tonks and Mark Hix and Quinta de la Rosa, with the wines created around the chefs' shared interest in Portuguese food and wine. While the original Tonnix Branco was conceived as a seafood-friendly white, the Grande Reserva Tinto represents the structured side of the collaboration, drawing on Quinta de la Rosa's best red-wine vineyards.
Quinta de la Rosa is a family-owned estate located close to Pinhão in the Cima Corgo, with vineyards extending across the steep schist slopes of the Douro. The Grande Reserva is made only from the estate's highest-quality fruit and is intended to demonstrate the concentration, structure and ageing potential that can be achieved from the region's traditional varieties.
The 2016 vintage is particularly compelling: a structured yet fresh Douro red in which the concentration of Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca is balanced by the estate's elevation, schist terroir and careful extraction. It is a substantial wine, but the emphasis remains on balance, freshness and finely integrated tannins rather than sheer power.
