At Arnot-Roberts (pronounced “are-nit” since it’s Scottish, Duncan confirmed, not French), the luminescent 2011 rosé from Touriga nacional really has ebullient fruit, crackling acidity, and 12.4% It’s the time of year when distributors and/or importers have annual (or semi-annual) portfolio tastings. Quite fun.

I'll start this post out by saying I know nothing about Touriga Nacional, a native grape of Portugal. Not expensive at all, at least when I found this 2009 Aveleda Follies Touriga Nacional / Cabernet Sauvignon for only ( $10 ). Portuguese Touriga NacionalSurprise, Surprise!! Awesome! Very highly recommended.

The wines were very good, and it was interesting to see how Touriga Nacional was used. Fun party at Pichon-Longueville on Monday night here at Vine Expo. 27 producers of Douro Wines set up tables in the vat room of this storybook chateau to showcase the wines of the region.

The first features the native grape, Touriga Nacional. The next wine is a blend of Touriga Nacional and Cabernet Sauvignon (60/40). qiomta dp Casa Cadaval casa samtps ;o lisbon pmte d portugal quinta da alorna quinta de santa ana quinta do monte d'orio quinta do pinto sanguinhal Touriga Nacional vale d'algares

blend of Touriga Nacional, Merlot and Tinta Roriz (tempranillo) Winemaker's Notes: "The reserve is a very deep black ruby in colour. One of the most difficult time's I have on a short vacation is waiting for the train to take me home. This past week-end was one of those days and that great deal was in a wine shop. Great Buy!

Wine is very popular these days and Nero d'Avola is enjoying the spotlight with other formerly ignored varieties like Mencia from Spain and Touriga Nacional from Po rtugal. From the south I chose to wax on wax off about the Nero d'Avola. Five years ago Sicily was not even close to being seen as a legit wine-producing region.

There was a lovely rosé, the 2006 Quinta da Alorna Touriga National Rosé from Ribatejo DOC, a large flat valley in the south-central part of Portugal. 2006 Quinta da Alorna Touriga National Rosé, Ribatejo 3. 2005 Quinta dos Roques Touriga Nacional, Dao 5. Smooth and powerful, yes. But not my cup of tea. At 13.5%

But hey, you tried and now you are the person who brings the eclectic wines to the yard so next time people will expect you to bring something wacky like a Greek rose or a Touriga Nacional from Portugal. Well I must say the dinner pretty much worked out. It is so awesome how the simplest of things can turn out so wonderfully. Cheers

Thanks to the boys over at redteeth.com there has been some more in depth info discovered about the touriga nacional that I had written about recently. Pardon me as I wipe my brow but, phew. This wine was hard to research. always love a challenge but this one was a doosey. And if you get a chance checkout redteeth.com. Thanks guys

What I do know is this: The wine is made from one hundred percent touriga nacional, which is one of the almost five hundred indigenous varietals or castas in Portugal. Something else interesting is that touriga nacional is not known for making regular red wine (vinho tinto). am no expert. Which one do I try? Not yet.