2014 Fazenda Pradio, Mencia, Tinto, Ribeira Sacra, Spain.
Xabi and Martina Pradio run this small all natural winery in Galicia’s Ribeiro Sacra as well as a guest house and restaurant that highlight their family traditions and respect for their land, the history and terroir. Xabi farms and makes the wines organically, no chemicals or additions are ever used, and like Lapierre in Morgon, Beaujolais, he is using almost no sulphur. The Mencia is fresh, vibrant and alive with flavor and fruit with spice, mineral and lifting acidity, this 2014 especially is an impressive effort with dark fruit at the core and rich medium weight, this is a textured wine that gives a lot for the price. Not as out-right beautiful as Guimaro, but certainly a wonderful expression of this grape and place, you’ll want to find Fazenda Pradio and enjoy the wines. The 2014 Tinto/Red is all Mencia, stainless steel fermented with native yeasts and without any added sulphur, finishing at just above 12% alcohol, this is vivid and expressive Mencia with subtle floral and earth tones that folds into dark cherry, black plum and wild berry on the palate with hints of flinty stones, lavender, pepper and blood orange. Nice bright acidity and satiny tannins hold things in place with traces of anise, strawberry and savory elements adding complexity to this stylish offering from Pradio, drink over the next couple of years, but right now is a great time to enjoy this Mencia.
($18 Est.) 91 Points, grapelive
