Muros de Melgaço Alvarinho 2011

17 / 20

Producer: Anselmo Mendes Vinhos

Region:Minho

Country:Portugal

Very subtle bouquet, with a strong mineral side, along with some lovely flowery impressions and a drop of an herbaceous, more vegetable note. In the nose, the overall feel is one of austerity and balance.

Impressive in the mouth, feeling very soft at first but quickly building up to a full, long and persistent wine. It's fresh but the acidity is very controlled, there are some more fruit notes than in the nose, but the main drive is the mineral, wet stones side. The oak has been masterfully used here, almost not apparent in the bouquet or in the flavors but giving a great deal of complexity to the wine.

Really good Alvarinho and a great buy at under 20€.

Soalheiro Primeiras Vinhas 2011

17 / 20

Producer: Quinta do Soalheiro

Region:Minho

Country:Portugal

From one of the best - to my view - Alvarinho producers in Minho (and Portugal), this wine is made from the oldest vines in their farm and is a close match to their Reserva - maybe just lacks some of the aging potential the Reserva has, but still great value for the price.

Orange blossom and a slight tropical feel in the nose, complemented by a strong mineral background and some vegetable bitterness - extremely elegant and inviting.

Nicely structured in the palate, intense and long, it shows a very good acidity, with gentle tropical notes mingled with stronger citrus and mineral notes. Finishes very long with the citrus notes to the foreground. Really good balance between structure and freshness results in a very rewarding wine.

Aveleda Alvarinho 2011

15.5 / 20

Producer: Aveleda

Region: Minho

Country: Portugal

Really lightly colored, almost fully transparent with some green tinges, this Alvarinho has a nicely fresh and intense bouquet, mixing flowery notes - orange blossom - with some tropical fruits - grapefruits and passionfruit.

Light in the palate, although showing some presence, this has a nice fresh feel to it, dry and showing a nicely tuned citrus feel that cleans and refreshes the palate, while showing sweeter tropical fruit. Good, average length finale that enhances even further the citrus, dry approach.

Good Vinho Verde and quite a bargain for its current price.

Tasted on 2012-07-14

Quinta da Lixa 2010

15.5 / 20

Producer: Quinta da Lixa

Region: Minho

Country: Portugal

Straw colored, this Vinho Verde has lots of tropical fruits in the nose (lychees, for instance), flowers and a hint of vegetable. A very fresh, very enticing bouquet.

Quite dry on the palate, revealing several layers of not so sweet tropical fruit, green grass and flowers. A touch of gas keeps it very light, along with a crisp, fresh acidity. Typical dry, acid finish leaving a sense of freshness in the aftertaste. A definite summer wine for a very reasonable price.

Tasted on 2011-10-15

O Tal Vinho da Lixa 2010

14.5 / 20

Producer: Quinta da Lixa

Region: Minho

Country: Portugal

A very light Vinho Verde, this has a discreet flowery nose, fresh and simple.

In the palate, a very light bodied wine, slightly bubbly, very fresh and showing some citrus and vegetable notes. Short lived ending.

The freshness and the low alcohol make it a very nice wine to have on its own during the afternoon.

Tasted on 2011-09-18

Conceito Alvarinho 2010

16.0 / 20

Producer: Rita Ferreira Marques

Region: Minho

Country: Portugal

Another new experience by the winemaker at Conceito, Rita Marques, this is a 100% Alvarinho from the Minho.

The bouquet starts in a subdued fashion, hinting at some mineral notes, maybe some citrus in the background. As it warms up and breathes, some flowers also appear in the nose, but always in a discreet, low profile approach.

In the mouth, the wine is much more mineral, decently structure and with the high acidity typical in Vinho Verde. It comes along as an austere wine, keeping the more tropical/flowery side of Alvarinho hidden while favoring the more mineral/citrus approach. Half-dry finish with a good deal of acidity and lemony notes.

Will be interesting to see how this evolves in the next two or three years.

Tasted on 2011-08-30

Casa de Santa Eulália Superior Avesso 2010

15.5 / 20

Producer: Casa de Santa Eulália

Region: Minho

Country: Portugal

Although Alvarinho is undoubtedly the most hyped grape type when it comes to Vinho Verde, other types are also widely used in blends -Loureiro, trajadura and avesso being the most common. It is not as common finding these grapes being used by themselves. This wine does exactly that, presenting an 100% Avesso.

Straw colored, the nose is very expressive, with citrus notes, sweet tropical fruit and some vegetable impressions forming an enticing and rich bouquet.

First impression on the palate is of sweetness, which is later balanced by a crisp acidity. Light bodied and fruit driven, it turns dry at the finish, leaving nice fruit and citrus notes in the aftertaste.

Uncomplicated but very attractive, this is a good starting point to discover vinhos verdes beyond Alvarinho. And a very good summer wine, as well.

Tasted on 2011-08-27

Dorado Superior 2009

16.0 / 20

Producer: Quinta do Feital

Region: Minho

Country: Portugal

According to the producer, this is an Alvarinho made for aging, having staged in oak for one and a half years. Based on the structure of the wine, I would definitely keep a couple of bottles to open in some years.

Very fresh and intense in the nose, with lots of flowery notes, some citrus and some pineapple on the background.

Good structure in the palate, showing a complex, textured and filling wine. It has a buttery, heavier side which is very well balanced by a crisp, dry feel and a decent acidity. Medium long finish wraps the taste.

A very nice example of an oak staged Alvarinho, this will go along nicely with heavier meals and colder weather.

Tasted on 2011-08-01

Pouco Comum Alvarinho 2010

15.0 / 20

Producer: Quinta da Lixa

Region: Minho

Country: Portugal

Light straw in the glass, the nose brings to mind pineapples and other tropical fruits, a citrus feel and a faint background of flowers.

To the taste, a delicate, soft wine where the fruit notes are well balanced with the fresh acidity. Ends in a light, fresh way leaving dry citrus notes in the palate.

An honest, pleasurable wine which will go down nicely in a relaxed setting or at a party.

Tasted on 2011-07-19

Soalheiro Primeiras Vinhas 2007

16.5 / 20

Producer: Quinta do Soalheiro

Region: Minho

Country: Portugal

A portuguese Alvarinho from old vines and fermented in wood, this is a really good Alvarinho, easily one of my favorites from the Minho.

Pale yellow with green tinges, the wine aromas open up to sweet tropical fruit after starting with some more discreet mineral notes. Overall, a sleek, balanced nose.

The mouth is equally impressive, with mouth-filling acidity balanced by mineral notes, the wood perfectly integrated with the whole set leaving just some toasted notes in the palate. The finish is impressively long.

Quinta do Soalheiro are renowned for making impressive, capable to age Alvarinhos. This one sure seemed like it could grow some more years in the bottle. Track down the Reserva which l've been told is also a great wine.

Tasted on 2010-08-10

Alvarinho Anselmo Mendes Curtimenta 2007

15.5 / 20

Producer: Anselmo Mendes

Region: Minho

Country: Portugal

I must say I was a bit disappointed with this wine, an alvarinho from a renowned producer, Anselmo Mendes. On first approach, it was very closed, with some dried fruits and vanilla in the nose. As it opens, it has some tropical fruit and some mineral notes but it never fully opens. On the mouth, again it does not show fruit, being a very average wine. Maybe I misunderstood it or I did not give it enough time to breathe, but I was expecting more from this.