By way of background: Fado - Portugues for "destiny" or "fate" - also refers to plaintive songs sung in Portugal, generally by one solo singer and a guitar, over the course of an evening to diners. After my first experience with the melancholy, almost melodramatic songs, I did find myself looking forward to a return engagement. Let's see if my experience with the wine will create a similar longing.
Fado - the wine - is a blend of two very little-known Portugues grapes - 85% antao vaz and 15% roupeiro. They hail from the upper Alentejo region in the south of Portugal. Since you probably wouldn't know this already, I'll tell you straight out: these are white wine grapes. After pressing and fermentation, the white wine was aged on its lees for three months before bottling. It finished at 13.5% alcohol, plenty potent by dry white wine standards.In the glass: Fado is completely transparent in the middle of the glass, with glints of yellow, green and gold coming through at the edges.
On the nose: Aromas are bright, gleaming steel, followed on by elements of sweet grasses. Quite bold, perfumed and pervasive.
On the palate: The first element of the sip is an even, sweet middle - more genteel than the powerful aromas. Sweet acids coat your palate evenly, bringing simple starfruit to each corner of your mouth.
And the finish: Finishes with a light, sweet tang, just a bit of sugar cloy at the very end.
In summary: All together, a really friendly, fun, simple, light summer romp. Not the plaintive, emotive cry that the name would suggest. Let's go with three stars though, since I would find my way back again. In that respect, the wine does have something in common with its namesake songs.
At three stars and its modest price, Fado from Portugal is a definite best value.
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Updated review, two and a half years later, May, 2012: Clear light yellow throughout. Definitely deeper than when young. Soft aromas of hay and sweet fruit. Not the crystal steel from years back. On the palate, soft, round butterscotch coats your palate. It is not dry; it is not sweet either. It is delicately poised butterscotch! Finishing quite clean with a little acid lift. This has held up remarkably well to the cellar and is drinking wonderfully now.
Find Fado White pricing and retail availability.
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