Muros Antigos Alvarinho 2024 Magnum
Region: Vinho Verde
Producer: Anselmo Mendes
Why we chose this wine
We were there when Anselmo launched the first wines with its name on the market. He had already made a name for himself as a consultant in many estates, but in the early 2000s he focused on his home region.
Melgaço has always been recognised as one of the best places to produce Alvarinho, but very few quality estates were still active.
Anselmo played an important role in the rebirth of the region and is now recognised as one of Portugal's leading white wine producers.
The Alvarinho grape variety plays the main role here, but Anselmo also values other local varieties such as Loureiro, Avesso and Vinhão. Its wines are distinguished by their freshness and minerality. The granitic soils, the proximity of the ocean and its location in the north of Portugal play a decisive role.
The grapes are grown only in Monção and Melgaço, the vines grow on sunny slopes on poor granite soils, this gives very mineral wines with body and structure while retaining a lot of freshness.
Melgaço has always been recognised as one of the best places to produce Alvarinho, but very few quality estates were still active.
Anselmo played an important role in the rebirth of the region and is now recognised as one of Portugal's leading white wine producers.
The Alvarinho grape variety plays the main role here, but Anselmo also values other local varieties such as Loureiro, Avesso and Vinhão. Its wines are distinguished by their freshness and minerality. The granitic soils, the proximity of the ocean and its location in the north of Portugal play a decisive role.
The grapes are grown only in Monção and Melgaço, the vines grow on sunny slopes on poor granite soils, this gives very mineral wines with body and structure while retaining a lot of freshness.
| Volume | 150.0 cl. |
| Grape Variety | Alvarinho |
| Drinking window | 2025-2030 |
| Alc. | 12.5% |
| Vinification | in stainless steel |
| Ripening | in stainless steel |
Waar serveer je ’m bij?
The Alvarinho that earned Anselmo Mendes his nickname — king Alvarinho — and by now the reference for fresh, mineral white wine in Portugal. All in steel, so nothing stands between the grape and the glass: peach, lime zest and a saline, mineral finish. What makes this bottle special is that it does not have to be drunk young: the good vintages actually become more interesting after a few years in bottle, with a waxy layer that carries the freshness.
Drie gerechten die werken
Mussels with ginger and spring onion
Grilled prawns with chilli and preserved lemon
Scallop carpaccio with lime
Grilled prawns with chilli and preserved lemon
Scallop carpaccio with lime
Vegetarisch
Deep-fried courgette in tempura with mint yoghurt
Minder geschikt bij
Cream and butter sauces, and roasted meat: it has not got the volume to balance those. With spicy food it does work, because its alcohol stays low.
Voor de Portugees geïnspireerde kok
Camarões à guilho — prawns in the pan with plenty of garlic, piri-piri and coriander
Serveren op 8–10 °C
What the critics say
JancisRobinson.com
16,5/ 20
Tasted 11-05-2026
Drink: 2026–2028
Drink: 2026–2028
Ripe green fruits and fresh pears. Inviting and distinctively Alvarinho from the sunniest part of the region. Grainy texture, fresh acidity, deep fruit and a sustained finish. Benchmark.
— Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com
Robert Parker Wine Advocate
91/ 100
Published 27-03-2025
Drink: 2025–2030
Drink: 2025–2030
“The varietal 2024 Muros Antigos Alvarinho is their entry-level Alvarinho, linked to Melgaço, from slopes where there's more granite and less alluvial elements, silt and clay, higher altitude vineyards and shallower soils. In drier years, the vines suffer more, but that's not the case in 2024. This has some austerity and a vibrant palate, serious, still elegant, floral and perfumed, varietal with restraint. It comes in at 12.5% alcohol, with a pH of 3.14 and 5.9 grams of acidity, which means harmony and balance. 150,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2025.”
— Luis Gutiérrez, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
The producer
Anselmo Mendes
We were there when Anselmo launched his first wines under his own name and we are still following him. Meanwhile, he grew to become 'mister Alvarinho'.
More about Anselmo Mendes →