18 Dec Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Kelman Family Vineyard 2017 Encruzado, Dao, Portugal

There is a vast world of white wines and one white grape that has stolen my heart is Encruzado. An indigenous grape from the Dão region in the heart of Portugal, Encruzado is capable of producing exceptional white wines. One of these wines is the Kelman Family Vineyards 2017 Encruzado, Dão, Portugal, the Please The Palate wine of the week. Kelman Family Vineyards is a family business owned by Juliana Kelman and her husband Rafael. For the Encruzado, the grapes are hand harvested, sorted and crushed into stainless steel tanks. Fermentation starts in the tanks and finishes in French barrels where frequent batonnage occurs. After fermentation, the wine is aged for 10 months in new French barrels and one month in stainless steel tanks. It is then held in the bottle for at least one year before release. The Kelman 2017 Dão Encruzado is a light gold color with intense aromas of citrus, tropical fruit, crisp apple and white peaches. On the palate, the wine is full bodied but also crisp and refreshing on the palate. The wine has good acidity and a mineral finish. This is a wine that I enjoyed with grilled fish but would also pair with chicken and soft, creamy cheeses.  The Kelman 2017 Dão Encruzado is vegan-friendly and retails for $19. The wine can be ordered directly from the importer Diniz Cellars.