Broadbent Vinho Verde

How have you been fairing with all the heat we’ve had lately?  It’s been miserable out there and you might say it’s not been good wine drinking weather.  Well, that depends on what wine you’re talking about.

Some wines just don’t hit the spot on a hot summer day.  But others are just right.  I tend to go for really light white wines on a hot day, and one of my favorite summertime wines is Vinho Verde.  They are typically crisp, lightly-fruity wines with a touch of bubbles and low alcohol levels — this one is only 9%.

Vinho Verde translates literally to “green wine” but actually means “young wine.”  These wines are meant to be consumed in their youth, not aged.  They come from the Vinho Verde DOC in northwest Portugal.

If you taste this wine and are working on your Wine Century Club application, you may be in luck with a few new varieties to add to your list.  This wine is made from Loureiro, Trajadura and Pedernã (also called Arinto).

Soft aromas of apple, melon, mineral and yeasty bread give this wine refreshing and calming characteristics. The palate has a touch of frizzante and sufficient acidity to give it a nice mouthfeel.  The flavors are subtle, or delicate may be a better word.  It offers green apple, white peach and melon up front with a salty mineral on the finish.  This is a refreshing and delicious Vinho Verde.

After tasting this wine I shared with some friends at a party and it was a hit!  One friend commented said, “it’s almost like a Champagne.”  I’d say that’s a little bit of a stretch, but I get what he was saying.  It’s not as bubbly, yeasty or crisp as I’d expect from a Champagne.  But it’s still awfully good.

Wine: Broadbent Vinho Verde
Variety: Vinho Verde
Vintage: non-vintage
Alcohol: 9%
Rating: 88
Price: $9.00
Disclosure: This wine was received as a media sample.

Find Broadbent Vinho Verde with Snooth