Muros Antigos Alvarinho White 2022

Anselmo Mendes studied agronomy and oenology for several years in Lisbon, and then returned to his hometown to produce his first wine in the Vinho Verde region and try his hand at a native grape variety that he was so passionate about: Alvarinho. His passion for this local white grape variety led him to experiment with many winemaking techniques that were unknown in the region. He was the first to age this queen grape variety in French oak barrels, to bring roundness and complexity to his wines. The international press considers him to be the most innovative winemaker in Vinho Verde. These wines are regularly praised by critics from all over the world and we were delighted with this pure, modern and subtle style of whites that definitely belong to the greatest cuvées in the country!

The Wine Advocate
RP 91

Luis Gutiérrez: The Muros Antigos Alvarinho 2024 varietal is the winery's entry-level reference, linked to the Melgaço sub-region, originating from slopes with a greater presence of granite and a lower proportion of alluvial materials, such as silt and clay, located at high altitudes and with shallow soils. In dry years, the vineyards tend to suffer more, which did not occur in 2024. This wine presents austerity, a vibrant palate, is serious and elegant, with a floral and perfumed profile, expressing the varietal typicality with restraint. It has 12.5% alcohol content, a pH of 3.14 and 5.9 g/L of total acidity, resulting in harmony and balance. Production totaled 150,000 bottles, with bottling taking place in January 2025.

I had the opportunity to spend an enriching hour and a half with Anselmo Mendes, between Porto and his Quinta da Torre in Melgaço, where I greatly deepened my knowledge of Vinho Verde, Alvarinho and Loureiro.

In 2023, the harvest took place at the end of August, but in 2024, the Alvarinho harvest began 15 days later, around mid-September, which represented a significant change. The highlight was the thermal amplitude in September (difference between day and night temperatures), which provided a longer ripening cycle, favoring greater aromatic and flavor development of the grapes.