October Premium Six Pack 2023 - Iberian Premium Whites

Anselmo Mendes is one of the most important names in the Vinho Verde region - indeed in Portuguese wine. As well as his own labels, he is a consultant to many of the leading quintas of the Minho and beyond. He calls himself a 'student' of Alvarinho and represents the 3rd generation of Alvarinho producers. Obtaining his Masters of Oenology in Bordeaux, Anselmo brings knowledge and experience with skin contact and barrel use from his time in France. Anslemo is a massive proponent of letting the vineyard tell the story but his guiding hand lifts the fruit to a stunning level. In terms of range and price, these are the best value Vinho Verde wines in Portugal.he most premium of the Vinho Verde varieties.

Anselmo sources his Alvarinho from 2 quite different vineyard locations for this wine. A portion comes from a higher altitude, older vine vineyard

Officially classified as a 100% 'A' grade vineyard and is an icon Douro producer. The estate covers 130 hectares of predominantly south facing slope extending from the banks of the river up to an altitude of nearly 600 meters. The vineyards are planted on terraces carved from schist, the characteristic slate-like bedrock of the Douro that forces the vine roots deep in search of water. Owned by the same family for over a century they later planted an amazing 120 ha vineyard in the higher Douro Superior. This vineyard, Quinta da Cabreira, has taken the Crasto wines to new heights. Crasto wines feature every year in 50 Greatest Portuguese Wines list

Pretty, bright and lifted. Floral aromatics with citrus and tropical notes. Clean, crisp and mineral

The 20 year old vineyards sit 15 kilometers distance from the mouth of the Miño River in the subzone of O Rosal, Pontevedra, on the banks of the Miño River. Manual harvest and careful selection of the grapes, cold pre-fermentation maceration with their skins for 10 hours. Finally, it moves to Casa Rojo to age in new French oak barrels for an additional 5 months. During the alcoholic (22 degrees) and malolactic fermentation in the French wood foudres of 11,000 kilos, and later for 4 more months until stabilization prior to bottling.

Apple skin, pear, fresh summer peach with pithy lemon rind, and chalky citrus notes make for an enticing and beguiling nose. Wonderful focus and drive with that tell-tale salinity from its proximity to the coastal shores punctuating the juicy fruit with every sip. Its racy, vibrant, and fresh with punchy fruit. Tangy and crisp with plenty of zip. Lovely, lovely wine!

El Muelle is named for a pier which used to serve fishing boats in Sanlúcar de Barrameda. It's 'nominally' a Vino de Pasto, a wine with some bodega ageing development, but short of the requirements for Fino. In the case of 'el Muelle', it's a Vino de Pasto very lightly touched by ageing.

El Muelle is a structured, detailed rich and savoury wine, part of which is given a brief soleo. It's fermented and aged in a mix of stainless steel (80-90%) and bota. Only a small portion develops flor. Both portions spend 6 months in tank to unify. The wine is naturally acidified with addition of a light 'green wine' fermented from the green harvest in July.
Somewhat tropical fruit, with peach, apple, and pear. After release, this fruit resolves into citrus and chalk. There's a touch of plumpness, then toast, cereal, and floral aspects in balance, with the false sweetness of chalk filling out the flowers. Savoury and long, with the feel of chalk and lovely structural definition

I loved the poise and elegance of the white 2020 Costumbres Blanco, a classical wine from the zone with 13.4% alcohol and a pH of 3.3, meaning moderate ripeness and very good freshness through a blend of 40% Viura, 30% Calagraño, 20% Garnacha Roya and 10% Tempranillo Blanco. The palate is serious and austere, with some spicy and smoky flavors from the 11 months the wine spent in oak. It feels clean and very classical, with balance and a supple, dry finish. 1,450 bottles were filled in July 2021. LUIS GUITIERREZ, The Wine Advocate

'Costumbres Blanco' is Carlos' only white wine. It is made with Viura, some Garnacha Gris and a little of the almost disappeared native variety called Pasera. They are grapes from vines over 60 years old located in the areas of Las Planas and Yasa de las Cuevas-Montote. The wine was matured in top quality, used French oak barrels for 8 months, adding volume and texture. It has a lively presence with subtle fruity notes of citrus and white fruit, and hints of mountain herbs such as chamomile, anise and rosemary. It is a stately white wine of rare power and honesty. 1350 bottles made.

90 year old vines are grown in Oimbra on a mix of sand, schist and silty-clay soils. The Godello is de-stemmed, cold macerated for a few hours and fermented cool and quiet in stainless steel. A lively golden yellow and nice and bright in the glass, Minius smells clearly of Monterrei's granitic sand soils and the golden orchard fruits one expects from Godello. There are hints of fennel, citrus and subtle florals too, and the palate is a beautifully balanced rich-round style typical Godello golden oil is cut with delicate herbal bitterness and there is excellent freshness to finish.