Match #2 TVF World Cup of Wine: Portugal v. itself

Ah Group G, the only group in the first round of the World Cup that does not have two countries producing wine that is readily available in California. Portugal was not a problem, but Brazil, Cote d'Ivoire, and Korea DPR are just not offering up the grape juice in my immediate area. So Portugal gets a win by forfeit. That does not indicate that today's match between Portugal and Cote d'Ivoire will not be exciting. Africa, besides hosting this year, is also out to prove that their rise in the international soccer arena is legitimate, and they might just be able to beat the inconsistent Portugese team.

To represent the Portugese I selected a JM Fonseca Twin Vines Vinho Verde 2008. This bottle retails for around $7 (what, I gotta save money when it is an automatic win) and is only 9.5% abv. Made of the traditional louriero, and trajadura grapes, this wine was a very pale green, almost looking completely transparent in the bottle. It did not offer much on the nose, maybe a hint of apple, and something reminiscent of a lemon sweet tart. The palette was very light and crisp, slightly effervescent, with just faint citrus flavors, a bit of apple juice, and a tart minerally finish. Any flavors the wine did offer up were incredibly delicate and faint, and the wine almost came across as soda water with a splash of lime.

It was not an unpleasant wine by any means but it was remarkably unremarkable. I did not enjoy the wine any more than I might enjoy a Perrier on a hot day. Vinho verdes are meant to be drunk young, and their hints of fruit and freshness are what make them attractive and refreshing wines, but this one lacked flavor in a big way. The wine gets a score of 2.5/5 and is a complete pass as far as I'm concerned. In the end Portugal is quite lucky to be in Group G where there is no competition for them in the World Cup of Wine. Let's see whether this is also true for them in today's match.