Aphros Vinhão 2018

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Which best way can there be to know a wine grape you don't know than to drink a mono-varietal?

I have to confess that I can not control a certain sort of anxiety when I come across a new grape I have never heard of.

In this case, it was Vinhão.  After reading a couple of articles about it, I soon realized that I may have tried it in some Douro blends, but never in a significant proportion that I could make my mind about it.

The opportunity came with this Aphros 2018, produced by Vasco Croft, one of the main promoters of biodynamic wine in Portugal.

In their website, there's quite some useful informations about the philosophy developed by Rudolf Steiner applied to agriculture.

Being a vinho verde, it was not a surprise to feel some great fruity tastes, incredibly fresh in the palate and slightly sparkling.  It was also pretty interesting to notice how the wine has developed throughout the days that I had it opened, getting a bit more consistent and solid, revealing a great maturation process.

It is definitely a gastronomic wine which can also match some stronger dishes such as a lamb stew.

To finish this post, I would like to share Steiner's morning verse, which is daily said by Waldorf students all over the world:




I look into the world
Wherein there shines the sun
Wherein there gleam the stars
Wherein there lie the stones.
The plants they live and grow.
The beasts they feel and live.
And humankind to spirit gives
A dwelling in the soul.
I look into the soul.
That living dwells in me
God’s spirit lives and weaves
In sunlight and in soul-light
In heights of worlds without
In depths of soul within
To thee O spirit of God,
I seeking turn myself
That strength and grace and skill
For learning and for work
In me may live and grow.





16 / 20

Country: Portugal
Region: Vinho Verde
Grapes: Vinhão
12%
Winemaker: Tiago Sampaio and Miguel Viseu
Website:https://aphros-wine.com/en/wines/red/aphros-vinhao-2018-2/

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