Hugo Mendes - Tejo Branco Fernão Pires

Known as the chief winemaker of the biodymanic Bucelas producer Quinta da Murta (available in BC), Hugo Mendes launched his crowd-funded micro-negociant label in 2016. A step was taken in 2019 to leave Quinta da Murta to fully push this project to the next level. The range hails from Lisboa, Tejo and Alentejo. Hugo likes to work with local varieties and weaves his magic on Lisboa’s traditional work horse varieties - Fernão Pires and Vital – as well as noble Arinto. In Tejo, he is busy elevating Castelão. In Alentejo, Hugo has produced an accomplished talha wine for his ‘Underdog’ cooperation label with XXVI Talhas.
He is now considered as one of the country’s most pioneering and cutting-edge winemakers.

Organic. The winemaking process is minimalist: the grapes are completely destemmed, fermented in a sealed tank with wild yeasts, and pumped over regularly. An early pressing ensures the focus remains on the fruit character, avoiding the extraction of harsh tannins. Malolactic fermentation occurs naturally, and roughly 20% of the wine sees a short aging in barrels to soften the fruit further.

Mid purplish crimson, so bright it is almost luminous! Fragrant with small, wild, dark-red berries with a touch of something really tangy like cranberry but not as tart as that. Pure and scented with lovely, primary fruit but not sweet-smelling. Dry, chalky-textured and captivating. Like Pinot Noir but nothing like Pinot Noir! The tannins are completely different but it is already starting to show a real silkiness and there’s long fragrant finish. Scented start to finish without being floral. A light touch but not a lightweight wine. A very pure approach to Castelão.

17 Jancis Robinson

◊ Producer's page ◊ Tech sheet ◊

Country Portugal

Sub-Category: Tejo

Market BC

Product Category: White wine

Producer: Hugo Mendes

SKU BC: 264666

Case format: 12 bottles

Volume: 750ml

Accolades: 17 JR