2025 Anselmo Mendes Muros Antigos Alvarinho

This is, of course, one of Anselmo Mendes' showpieces: the 100% Alvarinho from Monção e Melgaço. The unique aspect of this part of Vinho Verde is that it is surrounded by fairly high mountains, providing it with more shelter from Atlantic influences. This warmth and reduced rainfall are ideal for allowing the Alvarinho to ripen perfectly. The grapes for this wine are planted on the best soils, on sunny slopes with poor soil composed of weathered granite. This results in a mineral wine with body and power, yet simultaneously possessing 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 and 20 °C. It gains extra richness and structure by aging for at least another six months on the fine lees (dead yeast cells), which impart additional flavor compounds to the wine. In the glass, the wine is a clear straw yellow. On the nose, this Alvarinho from Anselmo Mendes has beautiful notes of tropical fruit, mango, flowers, and apple, with a hint of grapefruit. On the palate, the wine is soft and flavorful, lush and invigorating, with yellow plums, lovely acidity, powerful, fresh, and mineral. Give this wine some time. It is certainly ready to drink but will become even more balanced with a few years. A real value-for-money recommendation for the wine cellar.