Fitapreta 2022 'A Touriga Vai Nua' Touriga Nacional, Vinho Regional Alentejano

Terroir Notes: The Alentejo is a large region in southeastern central Portugal, which is one of the agricultural centers of the country. The climate is Atlantic-Mediterranean, with significant diurnal-nocturnal temperature differences. This temperature range produces fruit with a natural combination of maturity and freshness. The Alentejo sees 3,000 hours of annual sunshine and 600mm of annual rainfall, less than 15% of which falls during the growing season.

Winemaking Notes: A Touriga Vai Nua is an expression of Portugal’s most well-known grape, Touriga Naçional, that manages to be both evocative of the terroir of the Alentejo and a uniquely fresh take on the “king of Portugal.” It is sustainably grown on vines averaging 30 years old. The wine undergoes a 30 day maceration period with spontaneous wild yeast fermentation. It's then cold stabilized and racked to stainless steel tanks for three months. The final wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Tasting Notes: Dark purple. On the nose fresh boysenberry, blackberry, plum and blueberry are commingled with a ferrous mineral note and wild notes of beef blood, anise and rose petals. On the palate it's intense and lush, but light on its feet. The blue and black fruit are framed beautifully by fresh flowers and slate-tinged minerals. It finishes long, with a whiff of white pepper.

Pairing Notes: This is a versatile wine. The lush fruit profile pairs very well with roasted and grilled meats, but the low alcohol levels and lack of oak tannin make it a fine pair for lighter fare like charcuterie and cheese, but also fun with strong flavors like in southeast Asian fare.