Magnificent Mencia

Magnifique Mencia from Laura Lorenzo - Step aside because this is a ground breaker, female winemaker, making wines in her own style and philosophy and so in touch with her terroir. This work results in authentic wines made with passion, patience and love. Laura describes her farming as “agro-ecology with minimal impact.” She works with techniques that nurture life in the soils that have been decimated by years of industrial agriculture, to create a healthy and thriving ecosystem for her old bush vines. Biodynamic, and minimal/low intervention winemaking, her wines are a dedication to the generations of hard working regional vineyard workers.

Grown on steep slopes at 500m altitude in a mix of gravel, clay, gneiss, quartz, these 20 year old vines are hand harvested 2 weeks earlier to preserve the high acidity. Partially destemmed and fermented with ambient followed by 12 months of ageing in old oak barrels.

Daterra Viticultores Casas de Enriba 2019

Ribeira Sacra, Spain 

Inky ruby boysenberry color with a stirring gourmet bouquet of black fruits, violets, crushed gravel and spice. Fresh and fabulous flavors of freshly picked blackberry, black plum, boysenberry, pomegranate, black cherry, bramble, pepper, anise. The bright acidity and sticky tannins carry the flavors in a lingering finish. You can taste the whole bunch natural fermentation, the care and the purity of the grapes. I lightly chilled this wine on a hot summers evening, it was perfection.

Paired with Pinchos Morunos (spice crusted pork tenderloin bites) and roasted portobello mushroom and basil bites.