Cheers to the Underdog!

Yes! A White Wine won OVERALL at the Wines of Portugal tasting – BEATING 1,400 other wines!

 

Recently I have really been appreciating the huge diversity of white wine styles and grapes offered by this relatively small country. The UK is 2.5 times the size!

 

Most people think of light, cheap, spritzy wines from the Vinho Verde when they think of Portuguese white wine. Yet even this region can surprise you with full bodied yet elegant wines made from  Alvarinho  (not Albarino!) or the Avesso grape.

 

The winning wine however was made from Encruzado. I have only been a recent admirer of this fleshy grape but boy do I want to make up for lost time!  Think of it as an interesting Chardonnay equivalent as they tend to be full bodied,  brilliant unoaked or with a bit of barrel aging, ageworthy , capable of opulent fruit  and have a thrilling acidity. It really is a truly gastronomic grape. I am now wafting off into a haze of codfish, sea food dishes and Portuguese sheep cheese.

 

OK BACK WITH THE PROGRAMME:

 

The winning wine was:

Casa de Santar Vinha dos Amores Encruzado  available from Delicias for £31.99

I awarded this wine a 91 /100 which qualifies it for gold. It received 92 points overall I was able to spot a goodie!

 

Another strong contender in the competition was:

Villa Oliveira Encruzado available from Portugal Vineyards for £38

 I just adored the nutty, salty nougat thing it had going on..

 

For those who love that complexity in their white wine:

Dona Sancha Dao Encuzado  available from Wines and Co for £35

It just has that green apple wrapped up in salted caramel/ cindered toffee which I find divine!

 

Finally, I will end with a super elegant, leaner style of the grape which bursts with green apple but has a gorgeous saline tang on the finish.

 

Quinta Dos Carvalhais 2020 available at Quality Wines for £21

 

I had this wine with salmon tartare on a seaweed crisp and I am still living off the memory..

 

Full disclosure:  In the picture I am actually holding a glass of Fernao Pires from Quinta da Lapa available from  Portugal Vineyards for less than £8!  Fernao Pires is another awesome native grape which I think is one for the New World  Sauvignon Blanc fans with its bright acidity, tropical pineapple / summer fruit nuances and floral aromas. More on that another time..

 

I hope this gives you plenty of Portuguese wine and food for thought this Tuesday!

 

Saude!