The Wine Knows

How much Touriga Nacional do you drink? More than you think, especially if you like to sip Port (not the domestic sweet red dessert wines, but those from Portugal).

But how many dry Touriga's have you had? OK, how many from the Northwest? I don't think I've had a single one, but I will now.

I just got my new shipment from the Barnard Griffin Wine Club, and in it was a bottle of 2004 Touriga Nacional, made from grapes grown at Lonesome Springs Vineyard near Red Mountain.

I have never seen Touriga bottled as its own variety in the Northwest. I have seen a few rows of Touriga vines in various vineyards around the region, typically planted so a winemaker can use the traditional grapes to make a Port-style wine.

In his notes, winemaker Rob Griffin describes his Touriga as "powerful" with characteristics that might take some getting used to.

Intrigue!

He made just 55 cases of the wine, which is just over two barrels. I suspect most - if not all - of it already has gone to wine club members.

This is one of the great reasons to be in a wine club. You might end up with a winemaker who just can't stand to blend something away, so instead he or she will bottle it up and send it out.