Description
“a name to watch!” …says Jesús Barquín one of the most influential wine critics in Spain who co-authored the wine bible “The Finest Wines of Rioja and North West Spain”.
Mengoba’s wild, rural vineyards are at nose-bleed altitudes of up to 2500 ft above sea level. This is stunning country; a landscape of wild, natural beauty – a quality that is mirrored in the Mengoba wines. The patches of old, goblet vines here are strewn across small, isolated pockets, nestled amongst the densely forested high country.
Bierzo is a region that totally missed the industrialisation that so much of Europe went through post WW2. It was too difficult to mechanise and there was simply no interest in the area until a clutch of winemakers realised the remarkable potential of the high altitudes, old vines and quartz and slate rich soils. French winemaker Gregory Pérez was one of those drawn to the area by the sheer potential of the remarkable terroir as well as the two principal, indigenous grape varieties of Bierzo: Godello (white grape) and Mencia (red grape).
Mengoba has fast established itself as one of the region’s benchmarks. The vineyard work is absolutely artisanal; the vines are grown according to organic principles and Perez’s highest plot remains one of the Spain’s few quality producing vineyards still ploughed by cow!
We don’t know how Señor Pérez has produced a handcrafted wine of this quality and shipped to us in Australia for this price! The source of this Mencía is Horta and Villafranca — sandy and clay sites at an elevation of 550m. It’s high enough for cool nights and thus the retention of cleansing acidity in the grapes. After a sorting, the fruit was mostly destemmed, crushed and left to ferment in stainless steel. Pérez worked with around 20 per cent whole bunches this year to impart more complexity and backbone. Wonderfully aromatic, juicy and long, brimming with vibrant cherry and iodine notes. On the palate, raspberry fruit is matched with elegant tannins, the high-grown Mencía character shining through in a blend that also includes a small amount of Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouchet) that adds to the wine’s freshness, structure, deep colour and perfume. Reminds me of Pinot meets sangiovese here.. Viva Espana !
$28
