VINHO VERDE
94 Anselmo Mendes 2019 Curtimenta (Vinho Verde). Partial skin contact and then wood aging for nine months has produced a rich, smoothly textured Alvarinho. This wine is luscious, with a smoky edge from the wood and mature white fruits that sing with ripe flavors. Drink the wine now. Grape2Glass. —R.V.
abv: 13% Price: $38
94 Anselmo Mendes 2019 Parcela Unica (Vinho Verde). This single-vineyard Alvarinho, rich and concentrated from old vines, is powerful and balanced. Remnants of the initial freshness have now mellowed into a riper, smoother character. Drink now. Grape2Glass. —R.V.
abv: 13% Price: $40
93 Anselmo Mendes 2021 Alvarinho Contacto (Vinho Verde). Skin contact gives this wine extra intensity and richness. The full texture brings in spice and vanilla flavors as well as beautiful acidity and freshness. The wine is young, so drink from 2023. Grape2Glass. —R.V.
abv: 12.5% Price: $22
93 Anselmo Mendes 2021 Muros de Melgaço (Vinho Verde). This Alvarinho comes from the Monção and Melgaço region in the north of Vinho Verde. The wine is rich, with wood aging imparting touches of spice without masking the fruits. Drink from 2023. Grape2Glass. —R.V.
abv: 12.5% Price: $30
93 Anselmo Mendes 2019 Expressões (Vinho Verde). This rich Alvarinho from the Minho Valley is shot through with great acidity and touches of spice. The wine shows the grape’s creamy side as well as its mineral-driven texture. Drink the wine now. Grape2Glass. —R.V.
abv: 12.5% Price: $38
92 Anselmo Mendes 2021 Muros Antigos Alvarinho (Vinho Verde). A dense wine from the Minho Valley, this delivers swathes of white-fruit flavors. The wine has great acidity, bright fruitiness and potential richness as it matures. Drink from 2023. Skurnik Wines, Inc. —R.V.
abv: 12.5% Price: $12
92 Anselmo Mendes 2021 Passaros Alvarinho Loureiro (Vinho Verde). A blend of Vinho Verde’s two finest grapes, this is beautifully fruity. Green fruit and citrus flavors come together in a ripe wine. It is densely textured and still young. Drink this wine from 2023. Grape2Glass. —R.V.
abv: 12.5% Price: $15
92 Anselmo Mendes 2020 Loureiro Private (Vinho Verde). Light and well balanced, this wine is now at its youthful peak. It is tangy and textured, with a line of minerality plus apple and kiwi flavors. Ready to drink for its buoyant freshness, the wine also has aging potential at least until 2025. Grape2Glass. —R.V.
abv: 12% Price: $36
92 Casa de Vilacetinho 2017 Grande Reserva (Vinho Verde). Matured in wood for a year, this rich wine is impressive. Mature, ripe creamed-apple and honey flavors are intense, offering an experience that is rare and memorable. Santa Maria Imports. —R.V.
abv: 14% Price: $40
Made from old vines, this wine shows the aging potential of Alvarinho. The wine. —R.V.
