In the glass
What it pairs with
-
Roast lamb
Find roast lamb on TableJourney →
Structure and herbs with lamb. -
Grilled beef
Find grilled beef on TableJourney →
Fine tannins carry red meat. -
Aged cheese
Concentration for cheese.
How to serve Quinta Nova Referencia Grande Reserva
Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Roast lamb, Grilled beef, Aged cheese. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Referencia is Quinta Nova's prestige old-vine red.
- 2008 — First Referencia vintage
Facts
- Producer
- Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo
- Grapes
- Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz
- Classification
- DOC Douro
- Oak
- Aged around 18 months in new French oak
- ABV
- 14.5%
- Price
- EUR 50 to 80 at retail
- Drinking window
- 6 to 20 from vintage
- First vintage
- 2008
Scores
- Wine Advocate 93 (2017 vintage, reviewed 2020)
Frequently asked about Quinta Nova Referencia Grande Reserva
What does Quinta Nova Referencia Grande Reserva taste like?
Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a long finish. Quinta Nova's top old-vine red, dense and mineral with cedar and graphite, made only in the best years.
When should I drink Quinta Nova Referencia Grande Reserva?
Drink 6 to 20 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Quinta Nova Referencia Grande Reserva?
Roast lamb is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Grilled beef and Aged cheese. Structure and herbs with lamb.
Is Quinta Nova Referencia Grande Reserva vegan?
No: the producer uses traditional animal-derived fining agents (typically egg whites or isinglass) during clarification, so the wine is not vegan.
What grapes are in Quinta Nova Referencia Grande Reserva?
The blend is Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz. The wine is classified as DOC Douro.