2023 Anselmo Mendes Muros Antigos Alvarinho

This is of course one of Anselmo Mendes' showpieces, the 100% alvarinho from Monção e Melgaço. The special thing about this part of Vinho Verde is that it is surrounded by fairly high mountains, making it more sheltered from Atlantic influences. This warmth and less rain are ideal for the alvarinho to ripen perfectly. The grapes for this wine are planted on the best soils, on sunny slopes with poor soil of weathered granite. This produces a mineral wine, with body and power, but at the same time a beautiful freshness.

The wine is made by direct pressing of the destemmed grapes. This is followed by a long fermentation at a temperature between 14 ºC to 20 ºC. It gains extra richness and structure by maturing for at least six months on the fine lees, the dead yeast cells, which provide extra flavor compounds to the wine. In the glass the wine is bright straw yellow. On the nose, this Alvarinho by Anselmo Mendes has beautiful notes of tropical fruit, mango, flowers and apple, a hint of grapefruit. In the mouth the wine is soft and tasty, lush and stimulating, yellow plums, beautiful acidity, powerful, fresh and minerally. Give this wine some time. It is certainly ready to drink but will become even more balanced with some years. Really recommended value for money in the wine cellar.