2011 Julia Kemper Touriga Nacional Dao Portugal 750 ml

Rare, Perfectly Cellared Dão Red

The Dão region of central Portugal is one of the best-kept secrets for age-worthy reds in all of Europe, offering savvy drinkers the power and complexity of Spain and Italy’s best reds at half the price. Today’s 2011 Julia Kemper Touriga Nacional does exactly that, in a red Wine Enthusiast swooned over, saying, “this is a serious wine, showing the grapes from the hard soils of the Dão at their best,” adding on that it still has “considerable power.”  

At less than $30—the best price in the nation—this rich, savory red is a rare opportunity for lovers of Old World reds like Rioja and Brunello, which normally command double the price. With only 77 cases left in the entire United States, it’s worth snapping up as quickly as possible. If you’re not familiar with Portuguese wines, Julia Kemper’s multilayered Touriga Nacional is a perfect introduction. 

After staying out of the family business and making her own way—the family has been working the soil in the region for centuries—Julia Kemper left her position as a lawyer in Lisbon in 2000 and came back to the land of her ancestors. She has taken her attorney’s eye for detail and transformed the winery into one of the most critically lauded in the entire region, rebuilding the original 1850 cellar into a thoroughly modern one, and transforming the estate into a lush, healthy ecosystem that grows wines of elegance, longevity, and freshness. 

Portugal, despite a millennia-long history of grape growing, remains a beacon of value for sommeliers and savvy drinkers, and no region delivers more than Dão. Located south of the Douro Valley, Dão is surrounded by mountains, which act as a shield from the more challenging weather patterns that can affect neighboring regions. Here, Kemper’s vineyards are perfectly situated: Wet, chilly winters allow the vines all the time they need to rest, and dry, hot summers mean that, in great years like 2011, the fruit achieves perfect ripeness. Nighttime temperatures drop, especially above 1,000 feet where her grapes are planted, which expresses itself in the wine's freshness and vibrancy after all these years.

The result of Julia’s labor, the 2011 Touriga Nacional, is hitting its peak right now. It’s been a long time coming: Centuries of accumulated family knowledge and eight years of bottle age have given birth to this gorgeous wine. It’s a classic not just of Dão, but of Portugal itself.