Any regular reader of my column will know that I am a die-hard fan of the Dão region. And if any one grape comes to mind when talking of Dão, it has to be Encruzado.
This white grape is symbolic of the region and can make superb whites that, in many ways, remind us of good white Burgundy.
Much like Chardonnay, it is a white grape that loves oak and is capable of producing topflight whites with great ageing potential. But it also produces some very good unoaked whites such as this one from award-winning Dão winemaker Hugo Chaves.
Little information is available online about this wine, but it seems to be the result of the resurrection of an old wine farm at an altitude of 1,400 metres.
Recently arrived at Apolónia costing €12.95, this is an elegant wine with notes of white flowers and pear on the nose, considerable texture in the mouth from ageing on the fine lees and well-balanced acidity.
All in all, this is a high quality white Dão that is well worth the price.
