Vineyards and winemaking
This varietal Touriga Nacional comes from Quinta da Boa Esperança’s clay-limestone vineyards in Zibreira. Atlantic air and the nearby Montejunto range moderate the sunny Lisboa climate, helping Portugal’s flagship red grape retain its distinctive perfume and natural freshness.
The 2019 grapes were fully destemmed and cold-macerated at 8°C before fermentation in temperature-controlled lagares at 24°C. Around 10% of the wine aged in French oak for 18 months, with a further 12 months in bottle, adding discreet spice and polish to the variety’s firm structure.
Tasting notes
Appearance
Intense garnet-red, still vivid at the rim.
Nose
Violet and bergamot rise above blueberry, blackcurrant and sweet spice, with a light balsamic note underneath.
Palate
Fresh, concentrated and finely structured, with dark berry fruit wrapped in close-grained tannins. Floral and citrus-peel nuances give lift, while restrained oak contributes cocoa and spice to a long, harmonious finish.
Food pairing
Pair with roast lamb studded with garlic, duck with braised red cabbage, beef short ribs or a rich mushroom pithivier. The wine’s perfume and tannin also complement aged Gouda.
Background story
Artur and Eva Gama established Quinta da Boa Esperança in its present form at an ancestral family estate in 2014. The vineyards occupy a valley of different slopes and exposures near Zibreira, less than 20 kilometres from the Atlantic Ocean.
Touriga Nacional is celebrated for combining deep colour and structure with an unusually expressive floral perfume. Bottled on its own, it offers a clear view of both the grape and the estate’s Atlantic-influenced interpretation of Lisboa.
