2015 Laura Lorenzo-Daterra Viticultores, Mencia/Godello, Casas de Enriba, VdT Valdeorras, Spain.
This wine reinforces my initial belief and confirms the amazing talents of Laura Lorenzo as a vigneron, her gorgeous 2015’s are some of the most stunning wines of year, they are unique, authentic and soulful! This Casas de Enribe 2015 red is a lovely co-ferment of Mencia 80% and Godello 20% from rocky slopes of granite, gravel, clay, gneiss and quartz in the VdT Valdeorras zone, close to the Ribeira Sacra, it has that Cote-Rotie (Syrah & Viognier) elegance and vitality, but it certainly reminds me more of a slighter lighter and more feline version of either August Clape or Teirry Allemand Cornas, though not stem influenced, it’s utterly brilliant regardless of comparison or my attempt at relating it to you! This deeply hued and wonderfully textured wine was hand harvested, all organic, and remarkably is from young vines, it was native yeast fermented and raised 9 months in neutral 500L French oak, the addition of Godello was done to add vibrancy and acidity due to the warm of the vintage and really compliments the ripe forceful Mencia allowing for a more balanced and complex wine. The 2015 Daterra Viticultores Casas de Enribe starts with an open bouquet of floral and spicy tones with violets, dried roses, wild herb and pepper notes leading to a refined and poised palate of medium weight showing fine tannins and a cut of acidity with silken blackberry, dark cherry and fresh picked juicy plum fruits along with anise, flinty/chalky stones, mineral spice and a hint of black fig, earth, cinnamon and lingering tangy currant/blueberry. Lorenzo’s wines are raw, transparent and terroir driven wines that offer layers of pleasure to the senses with every sip, they seduce completely and are some of the finest natural wines you’ll ever taste from a region that deserves much greater attention. These absolutely beautiful and charismatic Mencia and Godello offerings, imported by Jose Pastor Selections are worth the hunt, look for all these 2015 Daterra Viticultores, drink them over the next 3 to 5 years, again these are stunning wines that really impress and have a passionate impact, do not miss!
($28 Est.) 94 Points, grapelive
