This wine is new in at Apolónia supermarkets in the Algarve, priced at €11.49. Having already tried the red reserva and been impressed, I was curious to try this white reserva, made from a blend of the traditional Douro varieties Viosinho, Malvasia Fina and Rabigato.
It states on the rear label that the wine is aged in French and Hungarian 300-litre oak barrels, with bâtonnage, so I was expecting something along the lines of a rich and complex Douro white that would normally cost considerably more and would most likely be too oaky for my own taste.
But it turns out that the oak-ageing is just for six months in used barrels, so the oak has minimal influence here. In fact, there is no sign of oak on the nose at all, with citric fruit and peach coming to the front along with subtle floral notes.
Fresh and clean in the mouth, the wine is beautifully balanced with good acidity. This is a white with enough texture and body to pair well with white meats, but light and fresh enough to enjoy on its own. Unusually good value for money (in this day and age) for a high-quality Douro white.
By Patrick Stuart
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