Quinta do Vallado Touriga Nacional Douro 2010

Professional Ratings

• 92 Wine Enthusiast
  This is an impressive, powerful and age-worthy wine, with dense tannins that are layered with black fruit and cut with acidity. The 16-month wood-aging regimen shows in the wine's rounded character. Age for 2–3 years.
• 91 Wine Spectator
  This rich and fruity red shows ample violet notes, with touches of cinnamon and spice to the red plum, cherry and ripe melon flavors. Smoke and tar linger on the chewy finish.
• 90 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
  The 2010 Touriga Nacional, sourced from the winery's 1994 plantings, was aged in French oak for 16 months, only 30% new, however. This has become one of Douro's nicer monovarietal bottlings from year-to-year. In the occasionally difficult 2010 vintage, it shows surprisingly well, crisp, bright and mouthwatering on the finish, with solidity in the mid-palate and power on the end. It was a little disjointed in its youth and not quite as aromatic when I first retasted it in the USA compared to how it showed in Douro. Ninety minutes of aeration changed that, allowing it to express its Touriga Nacional character well. It does finish a bit tart, but I loved the mouthwatering finish. For best results, give this a year or two to settle down. It has room to improve. Drink 2014-2024.