2023 Anselmo Mendes, Alvarinho “Contacto” Mendes-Symington, Monção and Melgaço, Vinho Verde DOC, Portugal.
The Anselmo Mendes Alvarinho “Contacto” is a delicious and bone dry white that a big step up on most Vinho Verde offerings with expressive green apple, mixed citrus, white peach and subtle tropical fruit, along with a touch herb, wet stones, sea shore notes, delicate florals and almond.This is mineral intense and zesty stuff that is best enjoyed with sea foods and lots of sunshine. Contacto, which stands for the short skin contact Mendes employs here that adds to the depth, complexity and texture inThe Contacto whites, coming from all organic vines, see the grapes being 100% de-stemmed, cold soaked on the skins, maybe a few hours, fermented cool and then vat aged on the lees for 3 or so months with some batonage (stirring) before being bottled, adding depth, but preserving the wine’s vibrancy. Again, a big thank you to Eric Fountain, who works for the Symington family here in California, who showed this wine, and a tasty new set of Blandy’s Madeira(s), to a small gathering of wine industry professionals here in Carmel.
The Symington family, as noted in my prior reviews, decided, as they note, to strengthen their long-running relationship with the legendary Vinho Verde producer Anselmo Mendes by forming the Mendes & Symington partnership in 2023. This joint venture between the two families aims to develop premium wines from the prestigious Monção and Melgaço sub-region of the Vinho Verde DOC in northern Portugal, especially important in this is the Symington’s marketing power and worldwide reach to customers.The company first acquired the renowned Alvarinho wine, Contacto, (produced by Anselmo Mendes), seen here, which has seen remarkable success in Portugal and now internationally, and which both families believe has great potential for further development, which can be seen with the new addition of the Loureiro, that I reviewed recently. The Vinho Verde region, sometimes mistaken for a type of grape or a singular style, is a cool climate zone in Northern Portugal with a wet Atlantic influence and granite based sandy soils, which brings out the mine mineral tones and loads of natural acidity, as seen here. I highly recommend searching out these Contacto offerings, in particular this nicely balanced and exciting Alvarinho.
($22 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive