New in at Apolónia are some wines from a producer by the name of Casa Romana Vini made at the vineyard located near the historic town of Óbidos to the north of Lisbon. There are three varietals available at Apolónia and I will concentrate here on the two made from foreign grape varieties – Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc, the other one being from the Portuguese variety Arinto.
The name “Página” meaning page refers to a word from Roman scripts meaning a parcel of land dedicated to vines, the Roman connection being the location of the owner family’s historic home alongside a Roman bridge near Óbidos. The Pinot Noir is a real cracker of a wine and outstanding value for money at €14.95, a delicate and beautifully textured Pinot with tell-tale notes of the variety such mature cherries and leather on the nose. The wine is still young and fresh, being from the 2019 vintage but it is already drinking very well with soft and supple tannins.
I was surprised to see that the Sauvignon Blanc currently on sale is a couple of years older, from the 2017 vintage, but this is a white that has clearly benefited from ageing. Partially fermented in French oak it is a very classy Sauvignon Blanc, intense tropical fruit and green grass notes on the nose with very well-integrated oak, full and flavoursome in the mouth with solid acidity, excellent value for money again at €13.95.
