2010 Follies Alvarinho Loureiro has one of the hardest vintage labels I’ve ever seen.  It nearly inspired another discussion of the issues with non-vintage wine.  Thankfully though, it’s instead inspiring a discussion of how two underrepresented but phenomenal grapes are being combined to form new and interesting wines.  While Alvarinho, aka Albariño, has been sky rocketing toward popularity thanks to its Spanish success, Loureiro, has remained behind playing second fiddle in Vinho Verde.  This is a real shame, since as part of the blend for Vinho Verde, Loureiro contributes something very significant to the punchy, raw acidic white that creates incredible experiences.  Can 2010 Follies Alvarinho Loureiro play up the best of both grapes contrasts and similarities, or do they need a bit more time to work it out?  

Sight:  Golden green, a bit on the deeper side of gold.

Smell:  There’s a strong dragonfruit / passion fruit aroma to this wine, as well as a light wet stone and lemon flavor.  There’s also a firm kiwi backdrop to the wine.

Sip:  The mouth feel is simultaneously very acidic and creamy, the sensation beautifully balanced.  There’s a good amount of kiwi, passion fruit, and lemon.  There’s a lot of mineral as well.  Such as sea salt spray.  [A.B.V. 11.5%]

Savor:  There’s a lot of bright lemon, kiwi, and minerality.

Overall, 2010 Follies Alvarinho Loureiro a very interesting wine as a sum of it’s parts. Thanks to the strong acidic nature of both grapes, and the embellishment of terroir from northern Portugal, there’s plenty of powerful and subtle tropical flavors at play.  The balance also provides a strong textural component, keeping the wine entertaining and smooth.  The flavor profiles mix fruit with earth, and create a clean contrast and harmony between old and new world.  Without a doubt this is a wine worth trying at least once.

Verdict:  Portuguese throwing knife
Price: $7.99
Portugal
Blend:  50% Alvarinho / 50% Loureiro
http://www.aveleda.pt/