The 2010 Herdade Da Comporta White is a blend of 65% Arinto and 35% Antão Vaz grapes grown on Comporta Estate Vineyards in the Peninsula de Setubal region of Portugal. Arinto and Antão Vaz are two of the main indigenous White grapes of Portugal, they are often blended together, Antão Vaz gives the wine good body and tropical fruit flavors, while Arinto brings the wine light but persistent acidity. A Portuguese winemaker once told me that in Portugal they drink wine with every meal, breakfast, lunch and dinner, but when they go out at night, the last thing they want is more wine, so in Portugal all wine is food wine. The alcohol content is 13.5%.
The color is extra virgin olive oil yellow with a touch of pickle green. The nose is an enticing mix of lemon chiffon and tropical fruit along with pear and dried apples. There is a crisp and slightly oily mouthfeel and this is a wine that does not taste like any White wine I have sampled recently. It starts with a combination of lemon and peach, candied pineapple slices (not the sugar sweetness) and fleshy papaya. The mid palate brings a light slap of minerality, a soft green stick flavor and Anjou pear. This wine, like all good food wines has an excellent dose of acidity running thru the body of the wine. The acidity will have you smacking your lips on the finish and it allows the mineral and pear finish last until your next sip.
The flavors and textures of the Herdade Da Comporta White will have cooks searching thru their recipe file looking for the perfect match. The flavors are bold, yet balanced and unique, this is not the same old Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay. With Portuguese wines you don’t get Portugal’s take on Merlot or Riesling, you get Portuguese indigenous grapes made in the Portuguese style. You may not be familiar with the grapes they use to produce their wines, but you will have no trouble identifying the quality and the delicious flavors in the bottle.
