This is another wine that has had the magic hands of Mariano Garcia on it. He must be a busy guy with consulting gigs all over northern Spain. Anyway, this is mencia in it’s most elemental form, or as a joven wine if you will. 20 year old vines, planted very high up (up to 2400 feet above sea level) fermented in stainless steal and bottled unfiltered. It’s a very enjoyable wine, and after tasting a couple of reds from Chinon in the Loire Valley on Sunday night I can see the link people have made to Cabernet Franc (DNA tests have now proved there is no relationship apparently).
Earthy and undergrowthy with hints of dark chocolate and clove on the nose. Some nice blueberry and cherry fruit blows in with a bit more time. There are certainly plenty of tannins here, long chalky things that give texture. Medium bodied but full flavoured. Crunchy minerals, raspberry, cherry and blueberry fruit mixed up with some earthy herbs and spices. Character filled and easy to drink, it’s good drinking at $26. 88 Pts.
Source: Negociants Australia RRP: $26 Closure: Conventional Cork
Great tasting notes. This wine has really grown on me. Have you had a chance to taste Telmo’s Gaba do Xil Mencia at around the same price point?
Thanks Miguel. I had a very quick look at the Gaba do Xil when I was in Rioja, the 2007 is looking really good and the new label is excellent. I’ll have to chase up a bottle.
There have been a lot of issue with shipping of late (not as many ships are sailing to Australia from Europe due to the GFC), so I’ll have to check if its here yet….