Here is a very full bodied and unoaked white, not a quaffing wine but something to enjoy with food to replace a red.
It’s not easy to find whites that fit this profile and are priced under €10, but this one just makes it at €9.95 (Apolónia).
Vale da Mata comes from vineyards near the Serra D’Aire hills to the north of Lisbon, close to the coast, and this white is made from a blend of Arinto, Vital and Viosinho grapes, fermented and aged on the lees.
In the glass, it is a straw yellow colour with a sophisticated bouquet of lemon peel and white fruits with tropical undertones. Full and flavoursome in the mouth, with a steely dryness, great acidity and a firm finish. This is a wine that will just keep on improving in the bottle, so well worth laying up for a few years.
By Patrick Stuart
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