2021 The Messenger Albariño, Vinho Verde, Portugal
Tasting Notes
Grown along the River Minho in northern Portugal where it is known as Alvarinho, this crisp, romantic and refreshing white wine is bursting with complex fruit flavors. The freshness of this wine is enhanced by the wonderful silky texture. Joyous while young, this wine will develop wonderful complexities if allowed to age in the bottle for a few years. Your choice!
The Messenger
Like words, wine can convey many meanings. The complexity of our wine comes from embracing the art of blending… layering vintages, vineyards & varietals to obtain luscious flavor. The result is a thousand stories, but only one message… Enjoy our wine for what it is, an expression of the land that grew it and the hands that have touched it.
The Story
As a child growing up in Australia, Rob would accompany his dad to one of the local wineries where they would ‘go around the back’ and find a designated barrel of Port wine with a unique chalk mark. Once the barrel was identified they syphoned the Port into their 5-gallon container. Doing this required sticking a hose in the barrel, sucking on it until the Port started flowing and then jamming the hose into the container without drinking or spilling too much. Rob figures his first taste of Port was probably around the age of 10, courtesy of this syphoning hose. Once the container was filled, they would hand some cash to the cellar guy and return home to carefully decant the Port into a selection of small barrels. To this day, Rob’s 94-year-old father still keeps a small barrel of Port at the ready to share with friends.
Rob’s fascination with Port grew from these early experiences and evolved into a love of Portugal’s famed Vintage Ports and eventually triggered a visit to Porto. Now, he was expecting the Ports to be glorious - and they were. The big surprise was how good the dry table wines were. Screamingly good white and red wines that were also very reasonably priced.
Kat and Rob discovered a small family farm growing grapes and making wine in both the Douro region near Porto and the Vinho Verde region further north. Standing out among their varied offerings were the Alvarinho (Albariño) and Touriga Nacional. The family has an unusual arrangement with another customer that prohibits us from using their name, which is a shame. However, the story of the Portuguese family and their wines took Rob back to his childhood and reminded him of the family his Dad would buy Port from. In every way, these wines are an expression of the land that grew them and the hands that have touched them.
Specs
Varietal: Albarino/ Alvarinho
Region: Vinho Verde
Alcohol: 13%
What’s Included
6-bottles:
6x 2021 The Messenger Albariño, Vinho Verde, Portugal
Case:
12x 2021 The Messenger Albariño, Vinho Verde, Portugal
It started 20 years ago with an opportunity to work for a craft brewer in Western Australia. Showing up in Australia with a degree from the University of California, a good work ethic, and a “can-do” spirit was the perfect combination of the right place right time. After three years down under, Kat moved back to the US, and her husband, Australian Rob McDonald quickly followed.
They founded Old Bridge Cellars and began importing the legendary Australian wines they both loved…d’Arenberg, Jasper Hill, Yarra Yaring, Leeuwin Estate. Along the way, Kat took a break and went to law school, they planted vineyards in both Australia and the Napa Valley and began making their own wines including the eponymous named Mak.
In 2008, they founded Art+Farm Wine in Napa. Art+Farm is home to their single vineyard wines the girls in the vineyard, their outrageous blends-The Messenger, and their true varietals: Circadia.
Kat and Rob live in Napa with their two children and an odd-looking creature that is supposed to be a dog. Kat is a little obsessed with her heritage breed chickens and the eggs they lay and also her bees. Rob is obsessed with composting and growing the perfect tomato. Both are huge proponents of dry farming and see water as the single biggest factor in the future of agriculture.
Available States
CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, IL, MA, MI, MN, MO, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, TN, TX, WA, WI
We got a case last offering, in the dead of winter, but it was still very nice. Definitely a summer wine, glad to see it back now that things are heating up, and the price is very right so will be in for a case.
Bought this last go round as well. A very well made Albariño, especially for the price. Crisp, minerally, extremely quaffable. So glad it’s back up since I just consumed the last of the previous case. A perfect Summer sipper.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2021 The Messenger Albariño - $40 = 26.66%
I loved the offering last time, very well balanced and delightful. I even bought a case directly from the seller since I couldn’t wait for this offering. Automatic buy, in for a case - would buy 2 if had the space!
Rob here from Art+Farm. Interesting music choice by our hosts. This wine gets me playing The Boss Waiting on a Sunny Day - usually half way through a glass by the time the Clarence Clemons solo hits
Coincidentally, or maybe a sign? I opened a bottle of this last night. It is a lovely wine and summer timing is perfect. Have a case heading my way.
Cheers!
Glad this came back, I didn’t get to order in previous offering because I thought I might be between addresses by shipping time so held off on ordering.
But I love an Albariño, and also never met a wine from Portugal I didn’t like. And still have fond memories of the California Albino Rhino, which some here may remember.
I have liked all the Messenger wines I have had and like what I read about Ant+Farm, and Rob liking Springsteen put me over the Edge. Here’s to waiting on a sunny day while drinking this Albarino
@chipgreen According to Google image search, it’s a mosquito. In this house, we have always referred to the winery as “Ant + Farm”, so not too surprising. We have had, and still have, a few from them so now we’re on notice!
Opened a mosquito-free bottle. Nice, refreshing Albarino. Looking forward to drinking more over the summer. Will stash the buggy bottle away “for science”.
@chipgreen Well that’s a first for me . . . this mosquito had immaculate timing. I bottled this wine in Napa and it went through a pad filter that we affectionately call a ‘bug catcher’ because it catches any larger particles, followed by .45 micron filter, so it couldn’t have been in the wine going into the bottle. The empty glass gets squirted with gas immediately prior to filling (to remove anything that might have fallen in). Once the bottle leaves the filling spout there is maybe a second or so that the moving bottle is uncovered before the cap goes on. This lucky mozzie managed to take a kamikaze dive into a moving bottle during the single second available. Stunning timing! Happy to send you another bottle seeing as you are keeping that one for science - just lmk where to send it.
2021 The Messenger Albariño, Vinho Verde, Portugal
Tasting Notes
The Messenger
The Story
Specs
What’s Included
6-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$288.00/Case for 12x 2021 The Messenger Albariño, Vinho Verde, Portugal at Art + Farm Wine
About The Winery
Available States
CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, IL, MA, MI, MN, MO, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, TN, TX, WA, WI
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Jun 5 - Wednesday, Jun 7
2021 The Messenger Albariño
6 bottles for $74.99 $12.50/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $109.99 $9.17/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
We got a case last offering, in the dead of winter, but it was still very nice. Definitely a summer wine, glad to see it back now that things are heating up, and the price is very right so will be in for a case.
Bought this last go round as well. A very well made Albariño, especially for the price. Crisp, minerally, extremely quaffable. So glad it’s back up since I just consumed the last of the previous case. A perfect Summer sipper.
/giphy idiotic-resourceful-coffee
/giphy literate-scattered-wrench
that previous offer
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2021 The Messenger Albariño - $40 = 26.66%
Sounds way too interesting not to try. Especially at the case price.
/giphy rejoicing-gothic-falcon
I loved the offering last time, very well balanced and delightful. I even bought a case directly from the seller since I couldn’t wait for this offering. Automatic buy, in for a case - would buy 2 if had the space!
In for a case - thanks Art + Farm Wine.
dreamy-early-elephant
Rob here from Art+Farm. Interesting music choice by our hosts. This wine gets me playing The Boss Waiting on a Sunny Day - usually half way through a glass by the time the Clarence Clemons solo hits
@ArtFarmWine
@rjquillin yep, doesn’t matter if you like Springsteen’s music or not, that’s one hell of a performance.
Sounds good! Recently had an Albariño at a local restaurant and liked it a lot.
/giphy chapped-buttered-mom
Coincidentally, or maybe a sign? I opened a bottle of this last night. It is a lovely wine and summer timing is perfect. Have a case heading my way.
Cheers!
We have a bottle or 2 left from the last case purchase. Very solid everyday white.
Looks like a rebuy for us.
/giphy bustling-discursive-poison
Glad this came back, I didn’t get to order in previous offering because I thought I might be between addresses by shipping time so held off on ordering.
But I love an Albariño, and also never met a wine from Portugal I didn’t like. And still have fond memories of the California Albino Rhino, which some here may remember.
/giphy tinted-yucky-coral
Sounds like I better get my order in …
/giphy sinkable-jerky-juice
Really enjoyed it last time in for a case
/giphy cordially-impatient-fire
Love this varietal, in for a case.
/giphy beastly-flat-gambler
/giphy frankly-lumpy-lobster
Damn, foiled again! Had a case in the cart only to find out no shipping to Kansas!
I have liked all the Messenger wines I have had and like what I read about Ant+Farm, and Rob liking Springsteen put me over the Edge. Here’s to waiting on a sunny day while drinking this Albarino
/giphy pendulous-scattered-oyster
Don’t forget to call/ hug your Mum’s today.
Okay, I’m in for a case. Looks like a real winemaker’s wine. Will probably last about 12 days.
/giphy temporary-uptight-dove
Grabbed a case in CMH, happy to share a bottle of anyone has fomo
Love albino!
In for a case
@gkrivin
/giphy Edgar Winter?
@gkrivin Giphy could not figure out what I was asking, apparently, so let’s enjoy this kitten instead.
We’re on the road back from our youngest’s college graduation and this looks like a great way to celebrate that and the mom’s day too!
/giphy incredible-beige-scorpion
/giphy calm-addictive-mimosa
@ArtFarmWine
So, there is a bug floating in one of my unopened bottles. Is this the latest trend in Albarino? Like the worm in Mezcal?
Has anyone ever seen this before? It’s a first for me. Doubt I would have noticed if it was in a red wine.
@chipgreen According to Google image search, it’s a mosquito. In this house, we have always referred to the winery as “Ant + Farm”, so not too surprising. We have had, and still have, a few from them so now we’re on notice!
@davirom
They should release a Mosquito Moscato.
@chipgreen Or a Buggy Bordeaux, something blood red. . .
Opened a mosquito-free bottle. Nice, refreshing Albarino. Looking forward to drinking more over the summer. Will stash the buggy bottle away “for science”.
@chipgreen What, no bugs? Bo-ring!
@chipgreen what a beauty pic! You would def see bugs, if any.
@chipgreen Well that’s a first for me . . . this mosquito had immaculate timing. I bottled this wine in Napa and it went through a pad filter that we affectionately call a ‘bug catcher’ because it catches any larger particles, followed by .45 micron filter, so it couldn’t have been in the wine going into the bottle. The empty glass gets squirted with gas immediately prior to filling (to remove anything that might have fallen in). Once the bottle leaves the filling spout there is maybe a second or so that the moving bottle is uncovered before the cap goes on. This lucky mozzie managed to take a kamikaze dive into a moving bottle during the single second available. Stunning timing! Happy to send you another bottle seeing as you are keeping that one for science - just lmk where to send it.
@ArtFarmWine
Haha, I love the back story. That mosquito seems almost bigger than life now.
No need to send another bottle but thanks for the offer!