Only rarely do I dedicate this column to a wine made by one of Portugal’s mass producers, but occasionally I find it is worth revisiting some of the big names.
Cabriz is, by a long way, the biggest producer in the Dão region. In fact, their entry level wine is the biggest selling of all Dão wines and it is part of a company called Global Wines that makes over seven million bottles a year in Portugal.
So, what we have here in the white reserva wine made from the Encruzado grape is one of the premium offerings from this producer, which is widely available at supermarkets, usually priced at around €9 or €10.
The Encruzado grape is emblematic of the Dão region, and it is a variety that is known to benefit from oak ageing, which is exactly what we have here. This is a wine for those who appreciate an oaky white to be enjoyed with food, perhaps to replace a red at the table and pair with roast poultry or a nice cheese board, but without breaking the bank.
On the nose, there are toasty aromas along with floral and grapefruit notes. In the mouth, tropical fruit flavours come to the front with good acidity giving the wine a surprisingly fresh finish. Outstanding vale for money.
By Patrick Stuart
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