Anselmo Mendes Pardusco Vinho Verde 2022
This is both obscure and delicious. It's understated in red berried aromatics with a little earthy touch. It's light in tannin with crunch and a dry finish. Made from native Portugese varieties Alvarelhão, Pedral and Cainho (we did mention it was obscure), it's just perfect served chilled. You might know Vinho Verde as the spritzy, quaffy white white of northern Portugal, but rather than being a variety or wine style, Vinho Verde is actually a growing area. Anselmo Mendes has been instrumental in exploring a wider range of wine styles from this Atlantic influenced region, including this tasty red.
Having grown up in Monção in the north of Portugal, Anselmo Mendes studied agronomy, soon to specialise in winegrowing. After a successful career consulting to other wineries, in 1998 he established his own estate in the region he grew up in. He is one of Portugal’s most celebrated wine producers, and has brought to light just what the DOC of Vinho Verde is capable of.