cork'd tasting: herdade do esporao

Last night's Cork'd Tasting held at the très chic Apiary in the East Village featured Portuguese wines from Herdade do Esporao. The oh so charming winemaker, David Baverstock (incidentally an Australian native with dual citizenship), was on hand and sipping alongside us too. Portugal has been on the radar as of late for producing some serious wines at seriously value-driven price points, making it a wildly attractive region to this frugal wine lover. And wouldn't you know, the wine that flushed my cheeks and flipped me on like a light switch was the 2009 Herdade do Esporao Monte Velho. And it rolls in at around $8 retail. You're looking at my new House White.

"90/100 serious concentration of peach followed up by lemon meringue. hints of vanilla and white flowers are popping up too. absolutely gorgeous nose. no joke, i'm head over heels in love with this nose. in the mouth, i'm floored by the acidity. lemons and limes with a stone component which is interesting. this should come home with me."

Winemaker David Baverstock

The other wines we tasted our way through:
2008 Herdade do Esporao Vinha da Defesa white
2008 Esporao Reserva white
2009 Herdade do Esporao Monte Velho red
2008 Herdade do Esporao Vinha da Defesa
2007 Esporao Reserva Red

Herdade do Esporao wines can be found at the following downtown NYC wine shops: Pop the Cork, Chelsea Wine Country, and Sea Grape Wine Shop.