Medium straw color; lemon, orange, pear, peach, green apple, pineapple, almond, jasmine, white pepper, saline, minerality on the nose and palate.
Dry; no tannins; excellent fresh acidity (3.38 pH). Lively, balanced. Medium body. Touch of classic bitterness on the finish, which adds to its food-friendly character, especially with fish and seafood. Grapes were hand-picked into small boxes and immediately carried to the nearby winery. There was total de-stemming with a short maceration. Cold clarification followed, then temperature-controlled fermentation. Wines aged a minimum of three months on fine lees with regular bâtonnage (stirring or agitating lees—dead yeast cells—and grape residue that settles at the bottom of wine barrels or tanks during fermentation and aging; the process enhances complexity, improves texture, preserves color).
This wine is the immediate result of a partnership between the Symington family—giants in Portuguese wine—and Anselmo Mendes, a giant in vinho verde. The website notes: “Our family decided to strengthen our long-running relationship with the legendary Vinho Verde producer Anselmo Mendes by forming the Mendes & Symington partnership in 2023. This joint venture between our two families aims to develop premium wines from the prestigious Monção and Melgaço sub-region of the Vinho Verde DOC in northern Portugal.
“The company acquired the renowned Alvarinho wine, Contacto, (produced by Anselmo Mendes) which has seen remarkable success in Portugal and internationally, and which both families believe has great potential for further development.”
The Monção e Melgaço location is a special subregion along the Minho River, Portugal’s northwestern border with Spain. It has a temperate climate surrounded by mountains on the Spanish border. The website notes: “For the production of this wine, vineyards were selected near the river with granite soils of sandy loam texture. Located at low altitude, with alluvium and fluvial terraces well present, offering the wine complexity, minerality and bitterness typical of the variety.”
Mendes & Symington Monção e Melgaço Contacto Alvarinho Vinho Verde DOC 2023 is bright, refreshing, great minerality, outstanding quality. Alvarinho-vinho verde are among the world’s greatest fish wines—and food wines in general. Salinity from nearby Atlantic and minerality make this a distinctive pleasure in a sharp white. Superb value. Pair with grilled fish—sea bass, tilapia, halibut; shellfish—oysters, clams, mussels, scallops; shrimp, crab, lobster, crayfish, prawns; grilled octopus, calamari, cuttlefish. Light meats—white meat chicken, pork. Spanish tapas. Vegetarian fare—green salads, vegan ceviche stuffed avocado, raw vegetables (broccoli, carrots, cauliflower). Cheese—burrata, mozzarella, manchego, gouda, feta; goat cheeses in general. $22-27
Mendes & Symington Monção e Melgaço Contacto Alvarinho Vinho Verde DOC 2023