News & Events

DECANTER  December 2007

BEST WINES OF THE YEAR 2007 

Quinta dos Roques

* * * *Encruzado 2005 Collector’s Release 

“The oak merges wonderfully with the fruit, while the Encruzado grape brings an exotic quality – a taste of something different.”

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Quinta dos Roques Touriga Nacional 2005 (Collector’s Release) wins three Gold Medals at the prestigious 2007 INTERNATIONAL WINE CHALLENGE in London. The first gold medal was awarded for the quality of the wine itself against all contenders from all countries. The second gold Trophy medal for being the best red wine of Portugal’s Dão wine region, and the third Trophy gold medal for being the best red wine of Portugal! Wineworth plans to have this fabulous Touriga Nacional available in the Fall of 2007, but supply will be highly allocated since only 400 cases were produced, from which the USA has to share with other markets around the world.Roques Touriga Nacional Collector’s Release continues to lead the rave for this varietal from Portugal, with it’s Gold Medal from Decanter magazine for the 2003 vintage and starting with its first release of the 1996 vintage that was rated among the 10 best wines of the last century by the Quarterly Review of Wines.

Touriga Nacional is one of the most challenging varietals - for an entire crop can easily be lost to adverse weather and growing conditions. It is only fitting that Roques dominates the producers of the best Touriga Nacional, since the varietal originated in the Dão, although much more is produced in the Porto e Douro wine region, where it is the leading varietal for Port wine as well as Douro wine. In recent years, it has become the most sought after varietal in Portugal with producers throughout Portugal making fine single varietals and blends. A major California producer has also planted Portuguese cuttings of Touriga Nacional from the Dão.