Joao Portugal Ramos Loureiro Vinho Verde 750ml

The 2019 Loureiro is dry at four grams of residual sugar and seven of total acidity (plus, the pH remains pretty low at 3.10). It also has about 10% Alvarinho in it. There is no fizz and it comes in at 12% alcohol. This is a fairly big Loureiro in every sense. It has good depth (relative to the grape and region, of course) and some tension on the finish, despite that modest bit of sugar balancing the acidity. It’s not the most expressive or aromatic Loureiro-that is perhaps the trade-off, and of course, it is not 100% Loureiro.

It will be interesting to see how this evolves, whether it acquires more expressive fruit, which is the only issue just now. It handles the structure part of the equation very well. For now, though, it seems like it might become the best yet in the brand (granting that they are not all here together), and it should age pretty well. No matter what, it is a fine bargain. It is worth leaning up on it for the moment. It will be a refreshing and tasty summer white. You don’t have to drink it by this summer.