
Portugal’s Alentejo wine region has seen something of a renaissance in the last few decades, thanks in part to impressive white wines coming out of it. A perfect example is this 2019 branco, or white wine. There’s a bright clean acidity that supports mild citrus, and honeysuckle flavors. There are additional nuances of guava, apricot, and white peach, without the Chardonnay-like qualities and certainly not Sauvignon Blanc. Fermented in steel, then aged briefly in oak, there is a light creaminess o this, while the minerality and acidity are pronounced. Therefore there is a better range of foods to pair with this given more of the mineral note that it offers. Comprised of arinto and 25% verdelho this demonstrates appreciably how good white wines from Portugal can be. Over the years I have seen firsthand how this particular wine has steadily become a strong player.
ORIGIN: Portugal
ALCOHOL: 14.7%
PRICE: $25 (750 ml)
SCORE: 92 POINTS