If it's a Q we must be back in Portugal.
I had tried to find a Sauvignon Blanc from Quincy, an AOC in the central vineyards of the Loire, where wines similar in style to Sancerre and Pouilly Fume are made, but failed. I also failed to find a Quarts de Chaume, a sweet dessert wine from further East along the same river made in small quantities from Chenin Blanc.
Week Q (2013) was a red week, and that was difficult to deal with until I resorted to Portugal. That week I went to the Lisbon area and found a Quinta (estate) making wines with some of the many Port grapes. This week we are further North in the Vinho Verde region, right up by the Spanish border.
The estate in question for this week is Quinta de Azevedo, owned by Sogrape, Portugal's biggest producer who are responsible for that 1970's classic; Mateus Rose (must find out how to add accents), amongst many others and the wine is:
Week Q (2014) Quinta de Azevedo, Vinho Verde, DOC 2013. £8.29 Waitrose.
Vinho Verde is famous for producing light, fresh white wines, and some reds, with a slight spritz. This is a very typical example. It is 11% abv, has a light, appley nose and a lively, refreshing, dry citrus taste. The fruity flavours linger reasonably well, but this is an ideal warm summer's afternoon or early evening drink and nothing more serious.
The bubbles that form on pouring don't last very long, but there is still a prickly sensation that hits the tongue with each return to the glass.
It is a blend of Loureiro, which featured in week L (2013) in another Vinho Verde, and Arinto, a high acid wine responsible for the lemon notes.
The quinta was bought by Sogrape in 1980 and apart from this wine they also produce 5 million litres of their brand 'Gazela' (Gazelle) Vinho Verde, which is sweeter and more sparkling and definitely aimed at the everyday wine market.
Our wine gets good reviews and is supplied not only by Waitrose, but also The Wine Society, Majestic, what's left of Oddbins and various other outlets. I guess this means there is a sufficient number of wine buyers who believe this is will sell well that it hits its target market on the button.
It is perfectly pleasant and, just as with the earlier Loureiro, I think a few bottles put by for a summer barbeque would not be a bad investment.
I had tried to find a Sauvignon Blanc from Quincy, an AOC in the central vineyards of the Loire, where wines similar in style to Sancerre and Pouilly Fume are made, but failed. I also failed to find a Quarts de Chaume, a sweet dessert wine from further East along the same river made in small quantities from Chenin Blanc.
Week Q (2013) was a red week, and that was difficult to deal with until I resorted to Portugal. That week I went to the Lisbon area and found a Quinta (estate) making wines with some of the many Port grapes. This week we are further North in the Vinho Verde region, right up by the Spanish border.
The estate in question for this week is Quinta de Azevedo, owned by Sogrape, Portugal's biggest producer who are responsible for that 1970's classic; Mateus Rose (must find out how to add accents), amongst many others and the wine is:
Week Q (2014) Quinta de Azevedo, Vinho Verde, DOC 2013. £8.29 Waitrose.Vinho Verde is famous for producing light, fresh white wines, and some reds, with a slight spritz. This is a very typical example. It is 11% abv, has a light, appley nose and a lively, refreshing, dry citrus taste. The fruity flavours linger reasonably well, but this is an ideal warm summer's afternoon or early evening drink and nothing more serious.
The bubbles that form on pouring don't last very long, but there is still a prickly sensation that hits the tongue with each return to the glass.
It is a blend of Loureiro, which featured in week L (2013) in another Vinho Verde, and Arinto, a high acid wine responsible for the lemon notes.
The quinta was bought by Sogrape in 1980 and apart from this wine they also produce 5 million litres of their brand 'Gazela' (Gazelle) Vinho Verde, which is sweeter and more sparkling and definitely aimed at the everyday wine market.
Our wine gets good reviews and is supplied not only by Waitrose, but also The Wine Society, Majestic, what's left of Oddbins and various other outlets. I guess this means there is a sufficient number of wine buyers who believe this is will sell well that it hits its target market on the button.
It is perfectly pleasant and, just as with the earlier Loureiro, I think a few bottles put by for a summer barbeque would not be a bad investment.
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