Anta da Serra (Portugal) Vinho Branco 2006
I have to say I loved this brilliant example of modern Portuguese white wine making, with its terrific zest and abundant fruit that has been coaxed from all indigenous grapes. It has a vibrant, punchy nose, crammed with ripe stone fruit aromas of yellow plum and pear, but also hints of melon and nectarine, with a just a background hint of something herbal. On the palate it is medium-bodied but quite silky, and the punch and crunch of the fruit comes through powerfully, with all the fruit sweetness tempered by crisp, taut acidity and a refreshing minerality. Portugal is increasingly looking like a source of some cracking dry whites, just as it has been one to watch for reds over the past few years. Delightful stuff this. £6.16, Laithwaites.
