Carlos Raposo Impecavel 2022 (Touriga Nacional)

Description

Carlos Raposo Impecavel 2022 (Touriga Nacional)

This wine lives up to its bold name, "Impecável" (Impeccable), offering a masterclass in the elegance that the Dão region can produce. It is a single-varietal expression comprising 100% Touriga Nacional, Portugal's most prestigious grape, sourced from vines aged between 30 and 50 years. Unlike many powerful, jammy iterations of this varietal found elsewhere, this bottling focuses on the grape's floral and mineral distinctiveness, channeling the "Burgundy of Portugal" reputation that the Dão region proudly holds.

The 2022 vintage in Portugal was marked by extreme heat and drought conditions, yet the unique terroir of the Serra da Estrela sub-region played a critical protective role. Located at high altitudes with granitic soils, these vineyards benefited from cooler nights that preserved vital acidity despite the warm growing season. The result is a wine that defies the heat of the vintage, maintaining freshness and tension rather than succumbing to over-ripeness. The granite soils impart a distinct mineral backbone that anchors the wine's structure, providing a cool, stony counterpoint to the fruit.

In the glass, the wine displays a vibrant, deep ruby hue with a dark, concentrated core. The nose is exceptionally expressive and complex, leading with high-toned floral aromatics of crushed violets and bergamot flower, interwoven with fresh pine needles and a balsamic lift. Underneath these top notes lies a core of ripe morello cherry and black fruit, accented by savory hints of scorched earth and subtle leather. On the palate, this is a medium-bodied wine that is bone-dry and remarkably precise. It avoids heavy extraction, offering a texture that is smooth and velvety with soft, well-integrated tannins. The finish is long, driven by a refreshing salinity and granite-infused minerality that cleanses the palate.

Winemaker Carlos Raposo, a rising star who honed his skills at the legendary Niepoort estate and in Bordeaux, approaches this wine with a philosophy of absolute transparency. Farming is conducted using organic practices, ensuring the biodiversity of the vineyard is respected. In the cellar, Raposo eschews oak entirely for this cuvée, opting to ferment and age the wine solely in stainless steel tanks. This decision allows the pure varietal character and the granite terroir to shine without the masking influence of wood spices, resulting in a wine of purity and finesse.

For food pairings, this wine's bright acidity and savory depth make it an excellent companion for classic American comfort foods. It pairs beautifully with a New York-style pepperoni pizza, where the wine's herbal notes complement the oregano and tomato sauce while cutting through the cheese's richness. Alternatively, try it with a slow-roasted pork loin with a cranberry glaze; the wine's red fruit profile and lack of aggressive tannins will harmonize with the sweet-tart elements of the dish without overpowering the white meat.

This vintage has garnered significant praise, securing a score of 93 points from James Suckling and a notable 17/20 from Jancis Robinson. These scores highlight its exceptional quality-to-price ratio, positioning it as a smart buy for enthusiasts looking for world-class structure and elegance at an accessible price point. It is a wine that punches well above its weight class, offering a sophisticated experience often found in bottles costing twice as much.