Alvarinho, Loureiro
75cl 12% ABV * Monção & Melgaço, Vinho Verde, Portugal
Quinta de Santiago has been in the Santiago family since 1899, farming the alluvial terraces of Monção & Melgaço - the Vinho Verde sub-region most celebrated for Alvarinho. For most of that century, grapes were sold to local négociants - until 2009, when Grandma "Mariazinha", then 86, challenged her family to stop selling grapes and start making their own wine.
The face of the project is her granddaughter Joana Santiago, a lawyer for fifteen years before taking over the domaine at its first vintage in 2012. The estate's 7.5 hectares sit at 70–100 metres altitude in a unique microclimate that produces Alvarinho of rare aromatic intensity and freshness. Working exclusively with estate-grown grapes, Joana farms sustainably and keeps intervention in the cellar to a minimum, always with the aim of letting the terroir speak.
This is a wine with beautiful texture and a hint of oiliness giving a mouth-coating feel to the palate. Fresh, citrus fruit flavours with nectarine, jasmine and menthol notes. The acidity perfectly balances the richness of the wine and the mineral notes give complexity.
A brilliant choice when searching out a wine to match with oysters, mussels, scallops and other seafood, fish and Asian cuisine.
This is not a wine to serve too chilled. Bring out of the fridge around 20 minutes before serving to achieve a temperature of around 10-12°C.