2014 Guimaro, Mencia, Ribeira Sacra, Vino Tinto, Galicia Spain.
Pedro Rodriguez’s Guimaro wines are some of the most compelling from the region and the basic Mencia Vino Tinto is one of the best values you’ll ever find, especially the beautiful and mineral driven 2014. The 2014 Mencia from Guimaro shows fine detail and layered textures with very Burgundy like grace and lightness, the color is garnet/ruby in the glass and the medium weighted palate gives a gorgeous mouth feel. At 13% alcohol, the latest Guimaro is well balanced and is full of vitality with pretty raspberry, cherry and tangy red currant fruits shinning through. Light floral tones, wild flowers, dusty spices and stony notes add complexity and the finish is lengthy with a lingering red berry pureness. Rodriguez crafts his wines using old school and natural techniques with native yeasts and a mixture of tank and neutral casks, everything is done to let the terroir speak in it’s own voice through the wines, and these wines are glorious with cuisine, Mencia from this cool climate region of northwestern Spain goes great with seafood, cheeses and has the flexibility of Pinot Noir, with it’s lifting acidity and brightness. I highly recommend all of the Guimaro wines, the white, made from Godello and the Cru wines are all fantastic, I’ve been lucky enough to taste with Pedro a few times and it would be hard to find a nicer person and his wines are a great reflection of person and place, be sure to look for this Guimaro Mencia, it should drink well over the next 5 to 10 years.
($18 Est.) 92+ Points, grapelive