Taboadella 1255 Villae (Branco) Review

Portugal is among the most underrated wine regions of the world, especially when looking for great wines at affordable prices. Dão is an up-and-coming region punching above its weight.

Wine review by: Jessyca Frederick

Villae (Branco)
Villae (Branco): front of bottle with wine in glass

FYI: I find great wine deals so you don’t have to. To keep me on the hunt, I earn a commission when you buy wine based on my recommendations.

About this Wine

Wine: 2021 Villae (Branco)
Blend: 40% Encruzado (Salgueirinho), 40% Bical (Borrado das Moscas), 20% Cerceal
Region: Dão, Portugal
I consumed it: September 2022
My source: The Premier Series by International Wine of the Month Club

Discover More

From this wine club: The Premier Series by International Wine of the Month Club

From this winery: Taboadella 1255

Region: Portugal

Wine color/style: White wine

Grape variety or blend: White blends

Tasting notes: Bright, Stone fruit, Apricot, Peach, Minerality

Other characteristics: Food friendly

Villae (Branco): What I think

Portugal is among the most underrated wine regions of the world, especially when looking for great wines at affordable prices. It’s an “old world” region so in general their costs are much lower (land, labor, and raw materials). Within Portugal there are more than a dozen major wine regions, with Porto & Douro being the most well known. Dão is an up-and-coming region punching above its weight.

This food-friendly white wine (branco is white in Portuguese) was light and refreshing. Int'l Wine Club’s description included “bracing acidity” but I found the acidity to be well-tempered. The grapes in the blend each contribute an important aspect: Encruzado contributes a unique “waxy” mouthfeel, Bical contributes stone fruit flavors like apricot and peach, and the Portuguese native Cerceal adds minerality and acidity.

Last updated: March 21, 2023

Notice: I hold no formal wine credentials. I am a wine geek who has consumed 1000+ of bottles from 100+ different wine clubs and 1000s more bottles that didn’t come from those wine clubs. I do not accept payment for wine reviews, and I do not accept payments to influence my opinions. I happily accept free wine (and I buy wine).

Why read my wine reviews: Wine taste is subjective. What I like may not be what you like. I try to leave room for you to form your own opinions, so I don’t provide a score or a rating. I do point out wines that are an incredible value or truly not worth the money. I note flaws, wines that don’t have typicity (because this matters if you are buying wine without having tasted it yourself), when wines are out of balance, and when wines lack appropriate body.

I don’t like wasting money (or anything for that matter). I’m careful about where I spend my money and my mindset as a reviewer is to be careful about where you spend yours. I don’t believe a high price tag equals quality and I know for sure there are wines of very good quality that are also a great value.

Learn more about me or get in touch.