Alvarinho – Reguengo de Melgaço – 2006 – Vinho Verde DOC – Sub-região de Monção – Produced by Hotel do Reguengo de Melgaço – Alc. 12.5%. (Approx. € 10).
C: Quite pale with a suspicion of a bubble.
N: Freshly floral and aromatic with melon, pear, citrus and grape notes.
P: Good freshness and very aromatic with soft mouth-feel and good “gras” showing white fruit with grapey notes more marked than on the nose and attractively bitter hints towards the finish.
This is quite different from the Spanish Albariño from Castro Martin on which I wrote a note some months ago. That wine was bracing and zesty and a suitable substitute for Muscadet with oysters and shellfish, in a slightly more aromatic and complex vein. This one, whilst not short of freshness and acidity, is softer and more generous and much more aromatic. No longer ideal for shellfish, like its Spanish cousin, but probably good with crustaceans and excellent with sea fish, like the swordfish with which we consumed it; 15.5/20.
The producer is a hotel which looks very attractive in this link - http://www.hoteldoreguengo.pt/idefault.htm .