T A S t I N G NO T E S
St Hallett 2009 Touriga Nacional Barossa Valley, South Australia 14.0% v/v - screwcap RRP$25.00/bottle Deep ruby in colour with a slight brown hue. A floral/ spice lift on the nose, which features stressed red fruits, melon, Turkish delight and savoury accents. A voluptuous, well-weighted palate with coating tannins, sweet fruit, savoury/earthy notes, chocolate, secondary oak and a white cherry drive. Excellent length. ‘Very European in style,’ said one taster.
Mansfield Wines 2009 Touriga Nacional Mudgee, New South Wales 13.5% v/v - cork RRP$18.00/bottle Dark garnet in colour with a slight brown tint. Intense, complex nose with savoury and roast meat characters, pepper, spice, dark fruits, forest fruits, fresh herbs and a hint of vanilla and pencil shavings underlying some citrus notes. Excellent flavour weight with a refined tannin backbone. ‘Not particularly varietal, but an excellent wine,’ said one taster.
Quattro Mano 2011 Duende Pinta
919 Wines 2011 Touriga Nacional
(50% Touriga Nacional, 32% Tinta Cao, 18% Tinta Amarela) Barossa Valley, South Australia 12.5% v/v – screwcap RRP$18.00/bottle
Riverland, South Australia 13.5% v/v – screwcap RRP$38.00/bottle
Magenta in colour. Very intense, complex nose with earthy, forest floor characters, dark berries. Very supple, voluptuous palate that delivers a mouthfull of fruits and some green herbal notes. Typical of an Iberian-style wine. A powerful wine but still elegant, possibly due to the fine tannins.
Sevenhill Cellars 2010 Four Buckets Touriga Nacional/ Shiraz/Malbec Clare Valley, South Australia 14.5% v/v – screwcap RRP$20.00/bottle (cellar door only) Deep red in colour with garnet hues. Subtle, pretty nose with characters of Earl Grey tea, Turkish delight, confectionary, musk stick and mixed berries with a floral and spice lift. Round, voluptuous and good-structured palate, which has a toasty French oak influence. Finelayered tannins and a very long finish. One taster didn’t think the nose quite lived up to its promise. V2 7N 4
Deep crimson red. Quite intense nose with subtle florals, spice, mocha, butter menthol and blackberry jam. Grainy, coating tannins on the palate – acid a bit overt.
Quattro Mano 2010 La Morada (53% Touriga Nacional, 30% Tinta Amarela, 17% Tinta Cao) Barossa Valley, South Australia 13.0% v/v - screwcap RRP$26.00/bottle Deep ruby in colour with a pink, watery rim. Highly intense nose featuring pretty florals, bergamot, sweet red fruits, blackberries, and a hint of game and forest fruits. Earthy, savoury style palate, which is very European in structure. Creamy red berry drive in the mouth. A balanced wine with good length and velvet, coating tannins.
Tscharke 2010 Matching Socks Touriga Nacional Barossa Valley, South Australia 13.5% v/v – screwcap RRP$21.00/bottle Deep red in colour with a crimson hue. Florals, black fruits, ripe peach, Earl Grey tea, dried orange peel and savoury notes on the nose. Mid-full bodied. Round, soft, rolling palate with fine, coating tannins. Good flavour weight. Lovely oak influence. Very good length. A classic varietal Touriga Nacional – a very interesting wine.
Tscharke 2012 Matching Socks Touriga Nacional (barrel sample)
Coates Wines 2010 Touriga Nacional
Barossa Valley, South Australia 13.00% v/v – screwcap RRP$21.00/bottle
Langhorne Creek, South Australia 12.5% v/v – screwcap RRP$35.00/bottle
Deep ruby red in colour with a purple rim. Delicate, slightly perfumed nose with lifted florals, blackberry fruits, and varietal characters of Early Grey tea/ bergamot. Medium to full-bodied, soft and voluptuous palate which is clean, fresh and zesty. Hint of citrus peel and blackberry/liquorice. Nice oak integration. Good length of fruit. Will age nicely. Quintessential Touriga Nacional.
Inky magenta in colour. Intense nose with black and red fruits, roast parsnip, toffee/caramel, peat, bitumen and a sweet oak lift. Bold palate with velvety, grainy tannins and a slight butter menthol character. Good structure. Lots of toasty wood. Perhaps a little short and firm on acidity.
W i n e & Viticultur e Jo ur na l JULY/A UGUST 2012
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