Review: Esporão Reserva White

Antão Vaz, Arinto and Rouperio may be unfamiliar names to many wine consumers in the US, but those are three of the main white wine grapes in the Alentejo region of Portugal. These three grapes together make a classic white blend from Alentejo, known for resulting in crisp, bright white wines. They are also the three grapes in this wine from Esporão.

The Esporão Reserva White is the signature white wine from Esporão, capturing the essence of what white wines from this region are all about. And it’s a great example of why I’m such a fan of Portuguese wines.

The nose of this wine is slightly restrained but complex and delightful, offering melon, almond, lemon and pear aromas. The mouthfeel is amazingly luscious. It’s delicious too, with rich lemon, melon and nutty flavors. The acidity is nice and bright. It has a nice long finish too.

While this wine is a classic representation of an Alentejo white wine, it’s just a glimpse of the wines produced by Esporão. They grow 40 different grape varieties and produce over a dozen different wines. I can’t wait to try more of them!

Wine: Esporão Reserva White
Varieties: Antão Vaz, Arinto & Rouperio
Vintage: 2017
Alcohol: 14.5%
Rating: 88
Average price: $20.00
Disclosure: This wine was received as a media sample.