Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo Reserva Terroir Blend 2022

Pure, sophisticated, and simply brilliant, the 2022 Quinta Nova Reserva Terroir Blend (equal parts Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, and Tinto Cão) is a tour de force in winemaking from Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo. The wine’s deep ruby/purple robe sets the tone, while the wine’s entrancing bouquet begins to work real magic. Blueberry, cassis, and woodland berry scents and flavors mingled with intriguing floral and spice tones underscore this wine’s complexity and sophistication. We could go on forever about the 2022 Quinta Nova Reserva Terroir Blend, but why not get a second opinion. Decanter, who awarded it 96 Points and a Gold Medal in their 2024 World Wine Awards) writes “Glistening with red fruits, blue florals, and a touch of spice. Exquisitely fresh and grippy with pomegranate pith acidity and striking menthol zing at the end.” Make no mistake, the muscular, complex 2022 Quinta Nova Reserva Terroir Blend is an absolutely delicious expression of the Douro and its indigenous grape varieties. For optimal enjoyment, afford this polished Portuguese red 30 minutes or more of aeration before serving it at cool room temperature (no more than 58°-62° F). Even better, lay several bottle aside to age; you won’t be disappointed. The 2022 Quinta Nova Reserva Terroir Blend will continue to improve in bottle, paying tremendous dividends to savvy consumers. Anticipated maturity: 2026-2035. Bom apetite!

Portuguese reds make great companions to the rich heady dishes which the Portuguese love to devour in copious quantities. Consequently, one need not be afraid of overpowering the youthful 2022 Quinta Nova Reserva Terroir Blend. One traditional accompaniment is Portuguese Bean Soup, a heady concoction of beans, sausage, potatoes, carrots, and almost anything else you care to put in. It makes a wonderful one pot dish and offers a tasty accompaniment to Quinta Nova’s 2022 Reserva Terroir Blend. However, a Crown Roast of Pork or Lamb Chops marinated in good Portuguese red wine, onion, garlic, bay leaves, and more provide even more compelling companions. Take note, when the Portuguese talk about marinating, they truly mean marinating – two to three days is hardly off the charts, but we’ll let you decide when enough is enough. If more familiar dishes suit you, consider pairing Quinta Nova’s exemplary 2022 Reserva Terroir Blend with a perfectly grilled Ribeye or Tomahawk steak. Wild boar and game make fine companions, too. Simpler fare such as Beef and Pulled Pork Sliders with melted Cheddar cheese and red onion also warrant two thumbs up as will most meat, vegetable, and cheese dishes. Enjoy!

Quinta Nova embodies the history and extreme beauty of the Douro, Portugal’s most iconic wine region and home to Port as well as the country’s most renowned unfortified red wines. Quinta Nova was owned by the Portuguese royal family until 1725 when it became Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo (New Estate of Our Lady of Mount Carmel) when two estates merged. It has been recognized as a bona fide Douro estate since the first demarcation of the Douro in 1756. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, several Portuguese families contributed to the growth and importance of the property by giving life to the vineyards, fruit orchards, and olive grove as well as to the property’s historic chapel, winery, and manor house, all of which are integrated into the estate’s hills. Since 1999, four generations of the Amorim family have been the owners and guardians of this formidable estate.

Quinta Nova’s 120 hectares (296 acres) of vines climb the steep hillsides above the swiftly running Douro River to bask in the sun and brilliant light that reflects off the river. As one expects from the Douro, red wines account for most of Quinta Nova’s production. Quinta Nova’s Reserva Terroir Blend (this month’s feature) is a traditional blend of Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, and Tinto Cão. It is also the estate’s most seductive wine and one of Portugal’s top rated unfortified red wines. Quinta Nova fashions several other exceptional red wines, including Pomares (a delicious medium-bodied red blend) and Mirabilis (a very dense long-lived red). Quinta Nova also fashions small quantities of Pomares Branco, a splendid Douro white wine from indigenous Portuguese varietals. And, of course, Quinta Nova crafts an exceptional portfolio of Ports.

Touriga Franca is the most widely cultivated grape in the Douro and is one of the five recommended grape varieties for Port. It is a deeply colored, highly perfumed, and richly fruity grape that lends both flavor and elegance to the Douro’s wines. It is often blended with other Portuguese grape varieties, most notably Tinta Roriz and Touriga Nacional.

Touriga Nacional is a distinctive Portuguese varietal that many consider to be Portugal’s most important grape. It produces a very full-bodied red wine with long ageing potential, which makes it a favorite among the Port houses. It is also increasingly being blended with Portugal’s other indigenous varietals, especially in the Douro and Dão regions where it also accounts for many of Portugal’s finest unfortified red wines.

Tinta Roriz, also known as Aragones, is Portugal’s name for Tempranillo, the Iberian Peninsula’s most prized red grape variety. Tinta Roriz, like its Spanish sibling, thrives on the hills above the mighty Douro River in both Portugal and Spain where the Douro goes by the name of Duero. Tinta Roriz/Tempranillo also figures significantly in the finest wines of Spain’s Rioja and Castilla y León.

Tinto Cão is an ancient Portuguese red grape variety valued for its fragrant aroma and intense color. It is a low yielding varietal of superior quality whose grapes find their way into the finest Ports and dry red wines of Portugal’s Douro and Dão regions.