D'Alfonso-Curran Loureiro 2018
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Wilfred
Wong
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Pale straw-green in color. Fresh aromas of citrus rind, pippin apple and tropical flowers with nuances of ocean air, white pepper and freshly picked bay leaves. This wine has great mineralty and maintains its vibrant acidity throughout its long finish. Pair with Oysters, Shellfish, Sushi, Ceviche and Fish en Papillote.
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Winemakers Bruno D’Alfonso and Kris Curran are mum on the source of this rarely seen white grape originally from Portugal, but there’s no secret that it’s a refreshing wine. Intoxicating aromas of Key lime, honeysuckle, plumeria and coconut oil are reminiscent of Hawaii, while the palate zings with pear, pluot, tangerine peel and gin-like botanicals.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2018 D'Alfonso-Curran Loureiro is a tantalizing wine showing Old World reverence. TASTING NOTES: This wine is fresh, active, dry, and crisp. Its aromas and flavors of savory spices, chalk, earth, and mineral make a natural mate with a plate of raw oysters. (Tasted: August 9, 2019, San Francisco, CA)
Dating back to the late 18th century, Loureiro is native to Iberian Peninsula, grown mostly within the Minho region, though has flourished currently into neighboring Galicia. It produces a dry, high-toned, crisp white wine, redolent with aromas of white flowers and bay leaves. The grape is essential to the production of Portugeuse Vinho Verde and white blends of the Spanish region Rias Baixas. Somm Secret—The word Loureiro means “laurel” in Portugeuse, conveying the wine’s bay leaf aromatics.
With a dry and mild climate cooled significantly by moist ocean fog and breezes, Santa Barbara County is a grape-grower’s dream. Part of the larger Central Coast appellation, Santa Barbara is home to Santa Maria Valley and Santa Ynez Valley. The conditions here provide an opportunity for nearly effortless production of high-quality cool-climate Central Coast wines. This is also the site of the 2004 film Sideways, which caused Pinot Noir’s popularity to skyrocket and brought new acclaim to the region.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the stars of Santa Barbara, producing wines marked by racy acidity. Crisp Sauvignon Blanc and savory Syrah are also important. The region is home to many young and enthusiastic winemakers eager to experiment with less common varieties including Chenin Blanc, Grüner Veltliner, Trousseau Gris, Gamay and Cabernet Franc, making it an exciting area to watch.