Review: Muralhas Vinho Verde

Vinho Verde is both a region (far northwest in Portugal) and a style of wine. Literally translated, it means “green wine”; a wine meant to be consumed while young and some can even have a little spritz added to them. 

In Ontario, the prices typically range from $12-$20 and in that range, as long as you understand the style, you’ll usually find something acceptable.

In its lighter, fresher expressions, the wines tend to have lower alcohol with a clean minerality and fruit of green apple, lime and asian pear. A zippy, bright, palate-cleansing wine ideal on a hot day.

The Muralhas is a different animal altogether. The alcohol is a little higher and the mouthfeel, a little richer. While there are notes of grapefruit I found the character to be more in the yellow fruit spectrum of pear, melon and quince with delicate aromas of white flowers and honeysuckle.

The flavour profile is even more remarkable considering how little sugar this wine has. This suggests to me that the fruit was of good quality in this vintage.

It’s a pretty wine that will pair well with seafood of all sorts but also a mild to medium piri piri roast chicken. If you can afford it, buy a half dozen and drink them over the next year as this bottle is not meant for aging.