If, like me, you love Dão and if thereby you appreciate elegant reds with a nice dry finish, then I suggest you try this wine which is on special offer at Apolónia until the end of May – if they don’t sell out in the meantime.
The wine is made by João Cabral de Almeida, a winemaker who is best known for his “Camaleão” brand of varietal whites made in the Minho region from Alvarinho and Sauvignon Blanc, the chameleon on the funky label changing colour when the wine is cold.
But there is no gimmickry with the label on this wine or indeed with the wine itself. Musgo (meaning ‘moss’) is made by João Cabral de Almeida in the Dão region, in the foothills of Serra da Estrela where the rocks are often covered in moss.
The wine currently on offer at Apolónia is from the 2015 vintage and is made from a field blend of old wines, aged in used oak.
The additional six years in the bottle has no doubt helped to give this wine the finesse it currently has.
The nose is quite restrained with hints of mature forest fruits and spices. Medium-to-full bodied, there is a nice freshness on the palate and a long dry finish. Good value at the usual price and a bargain at the moment priced at €11.95 after the 20% discount.
