First taste: Churchill’s Estates Branco 2011 (Douro)

Churchill’s Estates’ wonderfully muscular, sinewy and mineral top red, Quinta da Gricha 2009  won a gold medal and trophy at this year’s Decanter World Wine Awards. With plenty of heft, it’s most definitely a wine for the cellar however, I do have a recommendation for now – the latest release of their white wine, which is well worth a look. In fact, focusing on looks alone, don’t you just love the fingerprint-like contours of the vineyards depicted on the label plus what you can’t see in my pic – the discrete screwcap closure!

Churchill’s Estates Branco 2011 (Douro)

This super-flavoursome salty white reveals tangy green olive and cool citric lemon and grapefruit notes to nose and textured but well-focused palate. A hint of floral talc lift too. It finishes long and lemony with a saline, mineral undertow. Oak lends structure rather than flavour, letting the fruit and minerals do the talking. Good palate presence; very well done. 13%

And back to Decanter World Wine Awards, don’t forget you can taste a selection of medal winners this Wednesday – click here for details.