Quinta do Noval
Touriga Nacional 2021
Douro DOC
Quinta do Noval Touriga Nacional represents a focused exploration of Portugal’s most celebrated indigenous grape, crafted to showcase its varietal character through the lens of a single, historic estate. Within the Douro category, this wine stands as a reference for pure Touriga Nacional, offering an alternative to blended Douro reds by emphasizing clarity, structure, and aromatic depth. Sourced from select estate parcels ideally suited to the variety, it reflects Noval’s long-standing leadership in matching grape to site.
Touriga Nacional thrives in Noval’s schist-based soils and steep, sun-exposed slopes, where naturally low yields concentrate flavor while preserving freshness. The estate’s viticultural approach prioritizes balance over excess, allowing the grape’s natural intensity to unfold with precision rather than weight. This positioning aligns with broader market trends toward varietal transparency and premium Portuguese reds that deliver complexity and aging potential without overt heaviness.
In the cellar, the wine is made with a restrained hand, favoring techniques that respect fruit purity and textural finesse. Extraction is carefully managed to highlight Touriga Nacional’s hallmark aromatics and firm but polished tannins. The result is a wine that communicates both power and poise, reinforcing Quinta do Noval’s reputation for disciplined craftsmanship.
Stylistically, the wine bridges tradition and modernity, offering depth and structure suited to fine dining while remaining approachable for consumers seeking a distinctive expression of Portuguese terroir. As a single-varietal Touriga Nacional from one of the Douro’s most revered estates, it occupies a leadership position within its category, demonstrating the grape’s capacity for elegance, longevity, and unmistakable regional identity.
VINEYARD
The Touriga Nacional vines are planted on steep, terraced slopes within Quinta do Noval’s estate in the Cima Corgo subregion of the Douro Valley. Parcels are selected for optimal exposure and elevation, promoting even ripening while preserving natural acidity. The vineyards are rooted in predominantly schist soils, a defining feature of the Douro, which encourage deep root systems and contribute to the wine’s structure and mineral tension. Vines are managed at low yields to enhance concentration and varietal definition. Traditional terracing helps mitigate erosion and maximize sunlight interception on the dramatic hillsides. Vineyard work is largely manual due to slope gradients, allowing for precise canopy management and selective harvesting. Sustainable practices focus on soil health, biodiversity, and long-term vineyard resilience, ensuring consistent quality and expression year after year.
WINEMAKING
Grapes are harvested by hand and sorted before fermentation to ensure only the highest-quality fruit is used. Fermentation takes place under controlled temperatures to preserve aromatic intensity and manage extraction. Gentle handling techniques are employed to refine tannin structure and maintain balance. Following fermentation, the wine is aged to integrate structure and enhance complexity while respecting the purity of Touriga Nacional.
VINTAGE
A dry winter replenished water reserves, followed by a cool, wet spring that delayed budbreak and reduced yields through increased disease pressure. Summer remained moderate with limited heat spikes, preserving acidity and extending ripening. Harvest conditions were largely favorable, allowing for precise picking decisions. The resulting wines show notable freshness, refined tannins, and moderate alcohol, emphasizing balance, aromatic clarity, and site expression over power.
TASTING NOTE
Intense aromas of violet, dark cherry, and black plum; hints of spice and graphite. Concentrated palate with firm, finely grained tannins; fresh acidity and layered dark fruit carry through to a long, focused finish.
FOOD PAIRING
Grilled lamb, roasted pork, beef stews, game meats, aged sheep’s milk cheeses, mushroom-based dishes
Color
Red
Blend %
100% Douro Red Blend
Appellation
Douro DOC
Alcohol
15%
Suggested Retail Price
$58.99
Reviews
Wine Advocate - December 12, 2024 "The unfortified varietal red 2021 Touriga Nacional has controlled ripeness and 14% alcohol with balancing freshness and acidity, reflecting a cooler (or less warm) vintage in the Douro. It has some varietal notes of violets, and the oak feels quite integrated, only making a comeback in the aftertaste. The palate is harmonious and the tannins are fine."
Trade Materials
Other Wines by this Producer
Douro Reserva
Douro Valley, Portugal
Very powerful and structured, it is outstanding for its finesse, a delicate character typical of the Quinta do Noval style. It is derived from a strict selection of the best batches of the Quinta's various indigenous grape varieties. This wine is delicious when young and ages well in the cellar.
Fine White Port
Douro Valley, Portugal
A white port made with traditional white grape varietals from the Douro Valley. It is a blend of wines aged between 2 and 3 years to create a wine that is fruity, fine, sweet, unctuous, with a good aromatic persistence.
Branco Reserva
Douro Valley, Portugal
An authentic white wine with the ambitious to represent the best white wine produced in the Douro Valley. It is derived from a strict selection of the best batches of the Quinta's various indigenous grape varieties. Rich and structured, it is outstanding for its finesse and intensity
Vinhas da Marka
Douro Valley
Vinhas da Marka is the very first edition of a new exciting project called ‘Terroir Series’. Every edition will focus on one specific terroir that was identified that year as exceptional. A few years ago, Quinta do Noval concluded an agreement with the Agrellos family for the long term lease of the vineyard of Quinta da Marka, which we had identified as having terroir of exceptional potential. This potential was revealed by the outstanding red wines produced in the 2019 vintage. It was so remarkable, that the Noval team has decided to release a very limited volume of that wine. Only 200 bottles was brought into the US.
Fine Ruby Port
Douro Valley, Portugal
This is a deep-colored lively, peppery wine full of fresh fruit flavors it is bottled after three years in cask. An ideal Port for informal drinking.
Late Bottled Vintage Single Vineyard Port
Douro Valley, Portugal
This wine is a remarkable example of the Noval style. Treated exactly like a Vintage Port with only noble grape varieties that sourced exclusively from estate vineyards, trodden by foot and unfiltered. This expression differs in its extended aging, seeing five years in casks instead of the typical two years for Vintage Ports. Definitely an LBV with a difference, this wine has fine structured tannins, great freshness and purity of fruit. It is delicious to drink today, but will age beautifully in its bottle.
Tawny 40 Year Old Port
Douro Valley, Portugal
Noval was the first port house to introduce blended tawnies with an indication of average age. Their eldest offering, the Noval Tawny 40 Year Old Port, is a remarkable representation of the quintessence of the Noval Tawny style: a profoundly concentrated and complex old wine, the memory of the house.
Cedro do Noval Branco
Douro Valley, Portugal
Named after the emblematic cedar tree that dominates Quinta do Noval's terrace, Cedro do Noval is an authentic expression of the Douro. It is made at Quinta do Noval using carefully selected grapes 100 % grown on the highest steeply terraced vineyards of Quinta do Noval, in the heart of the Douro Valley, in Northern Portugal.
Colheita
Douro Valley
Colheita is a Vintage Tawny Port. Wheras Tawnies with an indication of age show the house style, Vintage Tawnies show the personality of the vintage year. Colheita spends its entire life in barrel until the moment of bottling. On the nose they are fresh, powerful and fruit-forward, with balanced acidity. On the palate they have a nutty, oxidized character with a seductively smooth finish.
