Muros de Melgaço Alvarinho 2018

The 2018 Alvarinho Muros de Melgaço, one of Mendes's first brands, in the oversize Moscato-like flute, is an Alvarinho aged for six months in used French oak. It comes in at 13% alcohol. Bright, fresh and gripping on the finish, this has fine depth to go with that big finish. This should age well, probably better than I typically predict. Anselmo said he just tasted a 2002 (a far inferior vintage) in fine shape. I've been typically conservative, but this is built to age, especially this year, thanks to its fine freshness and balance. Let's expand the drinking window a bit. - Mark Squires.