2025 Freire Lobo Vigno Branco

Grapes: 50% Encruzado; 35% Bical; 15% Cerceal
Region: Dão D.O.C., Portugal
Cost: $15

Tasting Notes:

Appearance: Brilliant, clear pale lemon with subtle straw reflections.

Nose: Delicate and aromatic. Clean scents of fresh Asian pear, white peach, and green apple, complemented by soft white floral lift (orange blossom/jasmine). Beneath the fruit lies a distinct wet-stone mineral quality typical of high-elevation Dão granite soils.

Palate: Medium-bodied with a silky, mouth-coating texture provided by lees contact. Encruzado gives structure and weight, Bical brings round orchard fruit flavors, and Cerceal supplies a bright, crisp streak of citrus acidity (lemon zest and grapefruit pith).

Finish: Crisp, dry, and mineral-driven. Concludes with lingering fresh herbal nuances, subtle salinity, and a clean, refreshing lift.

Pairs excellently with grilled octopus, sardines, or pan-seared sea bass; herbal roasted chicken; goat cheese; or fresh summer salads with citrus vinaigrettes.

My Review: While it may be October as I’m writing this, here in North Carolina it’s also well into the 80s as I type, too. So, even though I long for stews and the red wines that I will pair with them, we’re still firmly in crisp white wine season here. So, after sitting on the patio at my local wine shop (The Raleigh Wine Shop) with my wife sipping on a glass, I grabbed a bottle of the 2025 Freire Lobo Vigno Branco to bring home and enjoy.

It didn’t take long to open it along with a roasted chicken and vegetables.

In the glass the wine was bright and clear yellow. On the nose I got green apple and floral notes with just a hint of wet stone as it warmed up in my hand—an aroma I love in my crisp white wines.

In the mouth the wine was crisp and refreshing. Driven my mineral flavors, the back palate gave salinity and herbal notes with just a touch of citrus to provide the bit of acid I desired; not enough to make my teeth hurt like some of the Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand, but enough to give it balance and to compliment the food we paired it with.

Speaking of food, we paired this with a whole chicken that I first smoked to add a little flavor and then finished in the oven. Along with some roasted vegetables, the crisp notes of the wine were a perfect balance. While certainly enjoyable on its own (I’d happily share a bottle of this with friends on a warm patio), it paired well with our dinner, and I could definitely see it pairing well with salty cheeses and sardines (both more to my liking than to my wife’s).

For the price ($15) this wine is a steal, and I definitely need to run back to my local shop and grab a few more bottles while they still have it in stock. This was another great reminder of how much good wine is being made in Portugal (and how much I need to go back and explore their wine regions).