The wines of Quinta do Ameal, Minho, Portugal

Pedro Araújo, Lugar de Nogueira, 4990-707 Ponte de Lima, Portugal
Tel/Fax: +351 258 947 172
E-mail: quintadoameal@hotmail.com Website: www.quintadoameal.com

Pedro Araújo’s Ameal is a fairly serious interpretation of Vinho Verde. His focus is on quality, in a region more commonly associated with cheap and cheerful glugging whites, made with searing acidity in large quantities for washing down food with. His yields are around 6 tons per hectare while the average for the region is closer to 15, and this shows in the added concentration and poise of the wines produced from this estate. These vineyards are in the north of the Minho region in terroirs best suited to the Loureiro grape variety. The Escolha is fermented and aged for 6 months in French oak, while the Louriero is matured in inox vats. The 2002 Escolha wasn’t showing terribly well, but the other three wines were really impressive.  

Quinta do Ameal Escolha 2001 Minho
Lovely fresh nose with subtle herby complexity. Lovely concentration on the palate. Quite structured and mineralic, with the oak hardly obvious. High acidity. Very good/excellent 90/100

Quinta do Ameal Escolha 2002 Minho
Slightly yeasty nose is quite youthful and a bit unusual. Palate shows lovely richness with crisp lemony fruit. Unusual and savoury. Very good+ 86/100

Quinta do Ameal Loureiro 2001 Minho
Expressive fresh lemony nose with a gently herby edge. Good concentration on the palate, with herbal characters and good acidity. Refreshing yet quite serious, in a bold style. Very good+ 89/100

Quinta do Ameal Loureiro 2002 Minho
Expressive, fresh herby nose with some floral notes. Delicate yet concentrated palate is very expressive with crisp pure fruit and high acidity. Very good/excellent 90/100

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