Allesverloren Touriga Nacional 2016
I’ve been a fan of Allesverloren since way back when we could still label local fortified wines Port. I spotted this bottle on a chilly night immediately made me think of a soul warming port.
I was slightly embarrassed that I didn’t know that Allesverloren made a Touriga Nacional. It’s not often that you see this variety, being 1 of only 11 producers in SA...to the best of my knowledge. Ergo, I had to try it.
Cassis, dark cherries, a little dark chocolate and oak on the nose. Loads of dark fruits, tobacco and white pepper on the palate. Fuller bodied, smoother after some time decanting, with long lingering flavours of plummy dried fruits. The big tannins seem to dominate the fruit...but not in a bad way. A lovely pairing with the dukka rubbed lamb chops and herbed veggies that I scoffed for dinner.
Allesverloren is the oldest Swartland wine estate, dating back to 1702 but only producing wines a century later. The farm was given to a widow by the governor of the Cape (he was just handing these out left right and centre!) and I can only marvel at this brave woman trekking to this stark landscape. The name originated from the settlers who, on return from a supply mission to Stellenbosch by wagon, discovered their buildings had been destroyed by a fire. Allesverloren translates to ‘all is lost’. There’s something hauntingly beautiful about this name.
