I’ve yet to try any of the premium labels from this large Alentejo winery but my first experience of their sauvignon blanc varietal and their rosé blend, both priced at €5.99 in Apolónia, was encouraging. They are both decent quality, easy-drinking wines offering good value for money. The sauvignon blanc is far from the best wine that I have tasted made from this variety in Portugal but, that said, it is a good few euros cheaper than most.
It has notes of green grass and tropical fruits on the nose and a soft mouth-feel, perhaps lacking a little in acidity but with a smooth and fresh finish – all in all a very easy-drinking wine that will appeal to most tastes.
The rosé is perhaps the more interesting of the two; pale red in colour it is a dry and elegant wine made from Touriga Nacional and Syrah, with fresh red fruit notes on the nose and a creamy texture in the mouth.
By PATRICK STUART [email protected]
