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Anthony Gismondi on Wine
Meãndro do Vale Meão Douro Brancotext
88POINTS
16/20

Meãndro do Vale Meão Douro Branco 2016

Douro Superior, Douro Valley, Northern Portugal, PortugalLike most white wines produced at 'red' wine wineries, there comes a point when the owners get tired of pouring someone else’s white wine at special events. It was Francisco Javier de Olazabal who made the decision to plant rabigato and arinto to blend into a fresh white to begin the meal. The 2016 is the fourth such release. It’s not an altitude wine but one adopted to its site. The 50/50 mix of rabigato (planted on schist) and arinto (planted on alluvial soils) are fermented separately; the fruit is barely crushed and then cooled before pressing in a traditional vertical press, after which the separate grapes age on their lees in stainless steel for ten months prior to blending. About six percent of the blend is stored in a single barrique. The result is a serious white with bright freshness, a core of citrus, white peach fruit, a touch of mid-palate weight and a twist of savoury dried herbs. The Portuguese call it a gastronomy wine and we agree. It is perfect for chicken or seafood. Production is approximately 10,000 bottles.Tasted: 22 February 2018Tasted by: Anthony GismondiPrices:
BC$0.00750mlprivate wine shops
Producer: Quinta do Vale MeãoDistributors: Trialto Wine Group
Blend: Arinto - RabigatoUPC: 5607425360020