In the glass
Aroma: lemon curd, white peach, bay leaf, wet stone
Palate: citrus oil, stone fruit, lees weight, mineral close
The Ameal Escolha selection: a step up from the Classico, extended lees ageing brings lemon curd and lees weight over the bay-leaf Loureiro frame.
What it pairs with
-
Bacalhau com natas
Salt cod with cream gratin meets Loureiro's lemon-curd register and lees weight; high acidity cuts the cream. -
Poached cod with broa
Atlantic white fish and corn-bread crust pair the wine's stone fruit and mineral close. -
Camarao da costa with garlic
Atlantic shrimp and garlic butter meet citrus oil and stone fruit; high acidity balances the butter. -
Fresh cheese with quince paste
Lemon-curd register partners fresh Portuguese cheese and the marmelada sweetness; lees weight balances the dish.
History
Escolha (Selection) is the Ameal mid-tier Loureiro, extending lees contact beyond the entry-level Classico but staying in stainless steel rather than barrel. Pedro Araujo's middle-ground Loureiro since the mid-1990s.
- 1995 — Quinta do Ameal Escolha launched as the extended-lees Loureiro
Facts
- Producer
- Quinta do Ameal (Esporão)
- Grapes
- Loureiro (100%)
- Classification
- DOC Vinho Verde
- Oak
- Stainless steel; six to eight months on lees
- ABV
- 12.5%
- Price
- EUR 16 to 22 at retail
- Drinking window
- 2-8 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1995
- Organic
- ORGANIC CERTIFIED
- Vegan
- Yes (no animal-derived fining)
Frequently asked about Quinta do Ameal Escolha
What does Quinta do Ameal Escolha taste like?
Lemon curd, white peach, bay leaf and wet stone on the nose; citrus oil, stone fruit, lees weight and a mineral close on the palate. Medium-bodied with high acidity and a long mineral finish.
When should I drink Escolha?
Drink between 2 and 8 years from vintage. The extended lees contact gives more medium-term depth than the Classico without the structure of the barrel-fermented Solo.
How does Escolha compare to the Ameal Classico?
Escolha is a step-up selection with extended lees ageing in stainless steel, building lemon-curd register and lees weight over the bay-leaf frame. Still unoaked, but more textured than the Classico Loureiro.
What food pairs with Escolha?
Bacalhau com natas, poached cod with broa, shrimp with garlic and fresh cheese with quince paste. The lees weight suits dishes with cream, butter or richer textures.