Quinta do Crasto Touriga Nacional 2020

The exuberant, showy, perfumed and floral 2020 Touriga Nacional is a textbook example of the modern interpretation of the variety. It’s ripe (14.5% alcohol), generous and combines freshness with power, mixing grapes from north and south expositions. They selected the best grapes, from two plots planted in 1985, and fermented them destemmed with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks. It matured in French oak barrels for 18 months. It’s juicy, has a velvety palate, a soft mouthfeel and round, elegant tannins, tasty and long. This is the most famous grape from Portugal at the moment. It’s approachable but has the ingredients and the balance between them to age gracefully. It was bottled in February 2023. Drink date: 2024-2035. Score – 94. (Luis Gutiérrez, robertparker.com, April 4, 2024)