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Mark Squires - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2015 Loureiro Pássaros is unoaked and dry, coming in at 12% alcohol. Sourced from the Lima sub-region (from which the grape is most famous), this is a marvelous value in Loureiro, classic in feel, amazingly graceful and very aromatic. Transparent and refined, it is also juicy and intensely flavorful on the finish, yet always remarkably debonair and elegant--that's great Loureiro, by definition. This is firing on all cylinders in its youth. It should hold rather well, too, but there is no reason to wait and it is irresistible just now.
Anselmo Mendes is one of the region's top names. These are made like real table wines--dry, no fizz. Just good expressions of fruit. At the lower end, the bargains are often remarkable, especially this year for the 2015 releases. Back up the truck and you'll be happy this summer and for a while. They tend to always exceed regional stereotypes for aging potential. On the other hand, market conditions do not always mirror what I see in the winery and there is no law that says you have to age them. Most drink great when they are young, too.