Casa da Passarela Villa Oliveira Touriga Nacional 2009

The 2009 Touriga Nacional Villa Oliveira was aged for 18 months in French barriques, only one-third new. This comes from a single vineyard with old vines (80 years). To me, this graceful wine says Dao in so many ways, from the refined mid-palate to the crisp, bright finish and the subtlety. It is a Burgundy lover's Touriga. There is no 'wow.' It is merely lovely, elegant, caressing and focused. It is also beautifully integrated, with promises of more harmony in the future. It has a serious backbone, but there is never a doubt as to its ability to come into balance with a little cellaring. It should age gracefully, acquiring some earthy notes and complexity along the way. It should be a great food wine, too. It is not at peak yet, although approachable. Give it a couple of years to settle down for better results, though. There were 2,500 bottles produced. Drink now-2024. Score - 93. (Mark Squires, erobertparker.com, Feb. 2013)