Envinate 'Lousas Vinas de Aldea' Mencia 2019 Magnum

Immediately appealing on the nose. Our discussion when tasting this brought up comparisons to Beaujolais, Burgundy and even Northern Rhone Syrah. But in the end, it’s utterly unique to Ribeira Sacra and is simply gorgeous Mencia. Deep, layered and alluring, the wine has a generous core of mid-weighted fruit, attractive violet and red petal aromatics and a siltiness to the tannins which are fine and slightly grippy. There’s a dusting of black and white pepper, rounded, gentle mouthfeel and a real sense of energy to this. Love it. – Ches Cook, FWC. 

This mixes origins (Amandi, Bibei and Ribeiras del Sil), soils (but mostly gneiss, slate and granite), altitudes (400 to 600 meters) and exposures. It also mixes grape varieties—it's mostly Mencía with some 20% other grapes, including Merenzao, Brancellao, Caíño, Sousón, Mouratón, Alicante, Godello and Palomino, etc.—and comes from vines ranging between 15 and 60 years of age to represent the region and vintage.