Dao Branco 2023, Quinta dos Roques

Quinta dos Roques is a unique family-owned estate in the northern Dão region that has long been both a pioneer and champion of local grape varieties. They were the first to bottle a varietal Encruzado back in 1998, overturning the regional commissions insistence that Dão DOC whites had to be blends of different grapes. This is a lovely textural blend of Encruzado and Malvasia Fina, lots of ripe pear and some grassy, fresh herbal notes.