Anselmo Mendes Loureiro Private
Anselmo Mendes Loureiro Private comes from the Lima valley and is made only in stainless steel. It is a wine with impressive purity of fruit, delicate floral, lemon, lime and citrus zest. The precision is remarkable, in an incisive profile where the acidity supports the fruit without overpowering it. Elegant, full of soul, it shows that the barrel is not a condition for achieving excellence.
Tasting notes: Very delicate floral aroma with hints of aromatic herbs (peppermint, sage) along with some discreet notes of kerosene/oil. On the palate it is unctuous with floral notes and a very frank and assertive acidity.
Winemaking: Grapes are harvested by hand with a large selection in the vineyard, in small boxes and transported to the winery in a short space of time. Very gentle pressing of destemmed whole grapes. Long cold clarification. Fermentation in stainless steel tanks. Ageing in the same tank for 9 months with regular bâtonnage. Aged for 1 year in bottle.
Grape Variety: 100% Loureiro
This has aromas of sea shells, crushed stones, lemons and grapefruit pith. Fresh, mineral and saline, with plenty of texture, too. Medium body. Long, racy and mineral finish. Drink now.
The 2020 Loureiro Private is one of the PRVT or "Private" wines in which Mendes narrows in on a particular terroir. This is a single-plot wine from the parcel Encosta do Pombal. It is unoaked and comes in at something less than 1.5 grams of residual sugar, 6.4 of total acidity and 12.2% alcohol (that number seems to crop up a lot in this report). Wow. This seems deeper and more powerful than any of the other Loureiros in this report. The concentration is simply impressive. This is a style that avoids the light-and-aromatic demeanor Loureiro tends to have and turns it into a serious table wine that has the stuffing and structure to hold up to a wider variety of foods.
Light and well balanced, this wine is now at its youthful peak. It is tangy and textured, with a line of minerality plus apple and kiwi flavors. Ready to drink for its buoyant freshness, the wine also has aging potential at least until 2025.
Fermented and aged in stainless steel. Beautiful aroma, all centered around an austere vegetal profile, mint and spearmint, pure lemon. Very precise in the mouth, mineral and fresh, excellent structure without losing lightness, a vibrant, long and captivating finish. A great Loureiro, elegant and sophisticated, mirroring the talent and knowledge of Anselmo Mendes.
