Mendes & Symington "Contacto" Alvarinho 2023

"Contacto" -- the state or condition of physical touching. The wine’s name refers to the practice of leaving the grape skins in contact with the must to add layers of flavor and complexity to the finished wine.

This floral wine, with its jasmine and bitter orange aromas, is ripe and full of rich potential. It is fresh with density and an edge of structure from the skin contact during fermentation. Contacto possesses a high aromatic concentration, and its minerality makes for an elegant and complex wine. Prevalent citrus notes and complexity on the palate are the key when tasting this wine.

100% Alvarinho (Albariño). Alvarinho is a short-cycle grape variety, with a low yield in must due to the large amount of seeds and thick skin, which is rich in aromatic compounds. The vineyard is located in Monção and Melgaço, Portugal.

The grapes are handpicked into small boxes and transported to the winery in a short period of time. At the winery, the grapes are fully destemmed with slight skin maceration, followed by clarification at 54°F and fermentation at controlled speed and temperature. The wine then ages for a minimum of 3 months in stainless steel on fine lees and with frequent bâtonnage. Ready to drink but has good aging potential (~10 years).