Titular Dão White 2014

"“We leave in our lands stories of generations which give us back the hope that wine will again be the bearer of many good news.”"-Paulo Santos

Caminhos Cruzados’ 2014 Titular Dão White or Branco (40% Encruzado, 40% Malvasia Fina, and 20% Bical) has quickly become a staple among our tasting panel members. Light, fresh, and highly aromatic, this tasty white wine makes for a wonderful anytime quaff. Pale straw in color with an enticing bouquet, redolent with orange and lime blossoms and a soft gentle minerality, the 2014 Titular Dão White makes an extremely favorable first impression, which follows through on the palate. Fresh and lively in the mouth, this wine’s magical combination of citrus, crisp acidity and pinpoint minerality quickly seal the deal. Drink Titular’s exceptionally bright, cheerful Dão White often with a moderate chill (40° F). Enjoy!

The 2014 Titular Dão White offers the ideal anytime white wine, either as an aperitif or the companion to salads, seafood, sliders, tapas, and Asian stir fries. As an opening act, consider serving the 2014 Titular Dão White with an Orange and Radicchio Salad with an Oregano Vinaigrette. Jumbo Shrimp stuffed with crab meat and flash fried make for a tasty accompaniment, too, especially when served with Poblano Aioli. Grilled Ahi Tuna served with a pineapple salsa and Ponzu dipping sauce offers another fine complement to this wine. Sashimi, sushi, pork sliders and fresh Thai Spring Rolls, stuffed with shrimp, cabbage and fennel also make splendid accompaniments with which to wash down a few glasses of Caminhos Cruzados’ invigorating 2014 Titular Dão White. Bom apetite!

Titular is the signature brand of Paulo Santos’ Caminhos Cruzados estate. Located in the Beira Alta area of the renowned viticultural region of Dão in northern Portugal, Caminhos Cruzados cultivates Dão’s indigenous grape varietals from which winemakers Carlos Magalhães and Manuel Vieira fashion exquisite white and red wines. Sheltered by the mountains of Caramulo, Montemuro, Buçaco, and Estrela, Caminhos Cruzados’ Beira Alta provides the ideal conditions for the cultivation of the Dão’s unique grape varieties.

Caminhos Cruzados cultivates most of the Dão’s indigenous grape varieties: Encruzado, Malvasia Fina, Bical, Cercial and Verdelho for white Dão wines and Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheiro, Tinta Roriz, and Jaen for red Dão. All Caminhos Cruzados wines, including Titular, are hand harvested and emanate from estate-grown grapes and as well as from select Dão growers recognized for their quality and excellence.

Located in the north/central area of Portugal, the Dão is surrounded on all sides by mountains, which shelter the area from severe weather and provide ideal conditions for the cultivation of Portugal’s mostly unsung indigenous grape varietals. The region’s high altitude vineyards grow on granite and schist soils up to nearly 3,500 feet. The Dão’s high altitude makes for cool nights, slow ripening, and the propensity to produce highly aromatic wines of superior elegance and longevity.

The Dão is known for both red and white wines. Dão’s signature white grape is Encruzado, a grape renowned for producing tasty white wines in a myriad of styles that can range from fresh, light and supremely elegant white wines to rich barrel-aged versions. Encruzado is often blended with Malvasia Fina, Bical, Cercial, Rabo de Ovela, or Verdelho. The region’s star red grape variety is Touriga Nacional, which also stars as the most important grape variety in Port, Portugal’s most celebrated wine. Tinta Roriz (also known as Aragonez or Tempranillo), Jaen, Baga, Bastardo and Tinta Pinheira also figure prominently in the production of red Dão.