Not your typical winemaker. Not your typical Chardonnay. Anibal Coutinho hops around Portugal in his spacesuit making amazingly interesting and affordable wines, and this brand new Chardonnay is no exception. Minimal oak, lots of character and versatility. Smells like a basket of fresh-picked pears wrapped in a fresh morning breeze and tastes like a lemon tart wrapped in a custard cream.
Pairs well with: melanzane a la parmigiana, a pan-seared salmon fillet or a juicy pork tenderloin with fig and apple.
A masquerade. A make-believe. A ruse. A fruity white wine from select batches of Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheiro and Tinta Roriz grapes. The winemaker is having us on, teasing us with a liquid almost as clear as water yet when opened fills our nose with canteloupe and strawberry, and delights our palette with texture and balance and a deep long finish. Only 4,000 bottles of this limited edition ‘blanc de noir’ were produced.
Pairs well with: a fatty fish, clams swimming in butter white wine broth, or a hearty veggie soup.
Pure and poetic in a Charles Bukowski kind of way, like being slappped on the face with a dusty metaphor of cork trees, ripe plums and a rusting old tractor while a barefoot kid steals your wallet. Fresh and deep and happy when washing down a Qeijo de Nisa or a grilled chouriço.
Pairs well with: a local charcuterie board, a nice fatty, grilled chouriço or steak, or a rich, creamy pasta carbonara.
