Anselmo Mendes Parcela Unica 2020

The 2020 Parcela Única is an Alvarinho aged for nine months in new, 500-liter French barrels. It comes in at 12.9% alcohol, which seems to be a broken record here, with less than 1.5 grams of residual sugar and 6.3 of total acidity. As with its siblings, this has a gentle, polished and refined feel to it. Unlike its siblings in this report, this projects a bit more depth and then it adds a slight sweet edge from the wood. The wood is well integrated this year, though, at least at this stage of the wine's life, already a couple of vintages down the road. In some years, this projects more power, but this is a year that feels full-bodied for the region yet gentle. It is rather understated. It's a perfect food wine but subtle enough to drink on its own as well (some of them haven't been as balanced, with the oak being the major culprit). I'm less sure that it is a truly great Parcela Única, but let's lean up for the moment. It does need to show some development over the next few years to justify my enthusiasm. Meanwhile, open this blind at the table with some mild fish and you'll fool a lot of people who won't be thinking of Vinho Verde.