2021 Algueira Mencía, Ribeira Sacra

Algueira’s entry-level Mencía is drawn from the estate’s younger Mencía vines, which cling to Ribeira Sacra’s precipitous slate and schist slopes that rise from the river Sil. Where Algueira’s premium releases are whole bunch fermented and aged in oak, the grapes for this early release are destemmed and raised in stainless steel. It fermented with indigenous yeasts and saw 15 to 20 days of maceration.

The idea is to craft an immediately enjoyable introduction to Algueira’s Mencía offering. Welcome to charm central. It opens with a soft explosion of red and blue fruits and mixed floral aromas, leading to a vibrant, textured, racy palate with fresh summer fruit and graphite minerality rippling throughout. The texture is Pinot-like but with a lovely, anise spice and graphite-scented finish that is so Algueira. Fresh, vibrant, juicy and low in alcohol, this is really delicious.