Santos da Casa, Reserva, Monção & Melgaço, Vinho Verde, Portugal 2019 Veiga da Princesa, Rías Baixas, Galicia, Spain 2019

SJE 95 SA 97 BW 95 £29

Marta Vine

Santos & Seixo was founded in 2010 by two friends wishing to produce high-quality wines in different regions of Portugal. This reserva Alvarinho is an unoaked wine matured for six months in stainless steel vats.

SJE Leesy, creamy, honeyed aromas. The palate is equally honeysuckle and barley water. Really sructured wine.

SA Gingery, powerful, cinnamon accents, firm backbone of acidity, linear, young, focused, pure pear and gingery lemon. Wonderful precision and focus.

BW Very perfumed, aromatic and lemony. Very serious structure and intense, lovely fruit character coupled with great acidity and ageability.

Drink 2021-2035 Alc 13%

SJE 96 SA 96 BW 96 £14.95

The Northern Wine & Beer Co Veiga da Princesa only produces wine from grapes grown in its own vineyards. The producer is located in the Rías Baixas sub-region Condado de Tea, inland along the Minho river, at about 150m elevation on sandy granitic soils.

SJE Floral, with primrose and honeysuckle. Rich, impressive Albariño, layered with bright acidity, lemon curd, cream and basil. Long, rolling, rounded finish ending with a saline note.

SA Apple-and-pear nose, a bit swimming pool/chlorine too, pear skins, some spice/white pepper, clean, clear as a bell finish. Interesting, different, with a focus and clarity and resonance; some geranium/ orange peel. Lovely structure.

BW Super-fresh with a very attractive sweet finish. Lime and elderflower, touch of fresh mango. Long and intense but with perfectly balanced freshness. Typical (good!) bitterness on the finish.

Drink 2021-2026 Alc 13.5% ▶