Bodega Albamar Fusco Mencía 2018

Today I’m hanging out in Galicia, Spain (in my mind and what’s in my wine glass lol) 🇪🇸 enjoying another fine example of what the region and Bodegas Albamar have to offer.  Today’s wine is Bodega Albamar Fusco Mencía 2018. It is 100% Mencía ….. what is Mencía?!?

Mencía 101 - it’s a varietal predominantly grown in northwestern Spain 🇪🇸 in the DOs of Bierzo, Valdeorras and Ribera Sacra and Dão in Portugal (aka Jaen).  Fun fact - Ribeira Sacra means Sacred Shore.  Vines are planted in 2000 year olds Roman terraces on hyper steep granite slopes.  The best Mencia will be extremely supple, a fine, subtle crunchy gravel minerality with fresh red berry & pepper profile.

Mencía is like a sexy Pinot Noir and an earthy Cabernet Franc made a baby and boom 💥💥 out pops Mencía 😂 at least that’s my personal opinion. 

Bodegas Albamar farms and ferments the grapes naturally, leaves the wine unfiltered or fined (see my post from February 11th) for more details on this incredible producer.  This wine is made from 30-40 year old vines.  Fun fact - Fusco is a Galician word for darkness, but this wine is the exact opposite. The wine is a dark color but tastes bright, juicy and fresh.

In the glass -  the color is deep ruby with subtle hues of violet towards the rim.  Medium intensity of cherry, pomegranate, blackberry, pepper, dust, graphite, minerals. The palate has a bright acidity, fine grained tannins, medium body and alcohol. Fresh flavors of cherry, pomegranate, blackberry, red plum, pepper, dust, graphite, minerals, with a savory mint, black pepper and fennel finish.

Pair with Hickory Smoked Rosemary Sage Venison tenderloin, Steak au Poivre (pepper steak), Fennel Roast Pork or Portabello Mushroom Burgers with Manchego cheese.