Megan's love of white wine also challenges me to reach out for new wines and push the red wine till later in the evening. Why do I tell you this... because I have a LOVELY white wine just added to our portfolio that is going to knock your socks off.
Last year I became aware through a mutual friend about a group of winemakers in Portugal that have teamed together to start a worldwide export group... that group is called Saven and more information can be found about them by checking out http://www.winesandwinemakers.com/. Marquee has only started with one wine from this group, but it is a knockout wine and a real treat to bring to the US market.
Our first wine imported to the US from Saven is called "Clemen" and is a Vinho Verde made from two differnent grapes, Tradjadura and Alvarhino. This wine is crafted by winemaker Anselmo Menedes and has a bright acidity and rich palate that is hard to find in un-oaked white wine. Mr. Menedes has taken to using Alvarhino from this Northern Portuguese region as the backbone for an outstanding set of wines. Just last month from the heart of Spain (the location of Albarinho which happens to be the same grape as Alvarhino), the famous wine writer Jose Penin of Sibaritas Magazine was praising what Anselmo has been doing with Alvarhino in Portugal. Penin wrote that "Anselmo was crafting from Alvarinho, wines of superior quality to most of the Albarinio from the Rias Bias region in Spain" (simply put one heck of a compliment)!
This wine is absolutely refreshing, has a long and complex finish, and is one wine that will leave you wanting to go on your own quest to Portugal. We received a few hundred cases of the 2007 vintage which has already "sold out" worldwide and are getting in line for our allocation of the 2008 vintage.
Check out the Clemen Vinho Verde if you are ready to impress your white wine drinking fans; I know that Megan was impressed!
Cheers!
Christopher J. Cribb, CSW
GM - Marquee Artisan Wines
cjcribb@marquee.com
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