2018 Valdesil Valderroa Carballo Mencia, Galicia

Cherry, purple rim.Floral, spicy, red berry notes, black fruit, undergrowth. Flavourful, fruity, good acidity, long finish.

93 points guiapenin.com

Released in only the best red-wine years, and with age, Carballo is Valdesil’s top Mencía. It’s crafted from a small collection of ancient pezas on the extremely steep, north-facing slopes of Carballeda de Valdeorras - home to some of the highest vines in Galicia, growing in the purest black-slate rock. You might call it one of Raúl Prada’s passion projects.
 
The winemaking is more involved than for the standard Valderroa Mencía. After strict sorting, the grapes are destemmed and fermented in concrete and matured in neutral oak for 16 months. Displaying aromas of sweet dark cherry, liquorice and blood orange, it’s an elegant and refreshing Galician red. Not short of grit, it has impressive length of flavour that rings with a pure cassis note. It would pair beautifully with a Galician sirloin.