Anselmo Mendes: Portuguese whites that deserve your attention!

Anselmo Mendes

Portuguese whites that deserve your attention!

Portugal’s Vinho Verde is a treasure trove of good quality whites. These are ‘underappreciated bargains that we should all be drinking a lot more of,’ writes Emily Percival of JancisRobinson.com. Some of the best examples belong to Anselmo Mendes, aka ‘Mr Alvarinho’. Anselmo is one of the greatest proponents of the region and an integral part of the Portuguese wine revolution. From his 95-point Parcela Única 2019 to the smashable Escholha 2021 at R160, he produces versatile wines for every occasion.

Anselmo Mendes: Portuguese whites that deserve your attention!

In the north of Vinho Verde, Alvarinho flourishes alongside Loureiro. Load up on the Muros Antigos range – a trio of crisp, pure-fruited, flavourful wines that are perfect for summer and the ultimate seafood partners.

The Muros Antigos Alvarinho 2021 overdelivers on rich yellow fruit and structure. Whilst similar, the Loureiro 2021 boasts beautiful white citrus and orchard fruit, floral notes, and minerality. The Escholha 2021 is 40% Loureiro, 40% Avesso and 20% Alvarinho – it’s utterly delicious and a must-buy.

Ever innovative, Anselmo Mendes has been using skin contact, large vessels, spontaneous fermentation, lees ageing, old vines and single vineyards since the ’90s. Explore the terroir diversity that the Monção e Melgaço region has to offer, captured by the single-vineyard cuvées.

Anselmo Mendes: Portuguese whites that deserve your attention!

The 2019 Parcela Única Alvarinho is aged for nine months in oak. It’s ‘gripping’ and seemingly ‘Burgundian in character’, notes the Wine Advocate, while the 24-hour skin-fermented Alvarinho Curtimenta 2019 is complex and textured with dried fruit and spiced nuance. Completing the trio of upper-level wines, the Alvarinho Expressões 2019 will delight Chablis lovers. It impresses with citric austerity and minerality along with a persistent, elegant finish.

View the full Anselmo Mendes range.

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