Aug

21

Mencia: the new Spanish red wine you need to drink

Filed Under EN 

I am within the wild hills of north-west Spain, first in Galicia, then simply throughout the border into Castilla y Leon, and I’m tasting one thing new.

It’s mencia, a grape that creates splendidly scented, deeply fruity pink wines alive with strawberry, blackcurrant and mulberry juiciness. Mencia has one thing of the character of excellent Beaujolais, or Loire Valley cabernet franc, but additionally a personality of its personal.

.tg-pullquote__global__groupzoom: 1;.tg-pullquote__global__group:earlier than, .tg-pullquote__global__group:aftercontent material: “”; show: desk;.tg-pullquote__global__group:afterclear: each;.tg-pullquote__inlinefloat:left;.tg-pullquote__contentmargin: zero 20px 10px 0px; font-size:18px; line-height:23px; font-family:georgia; width:260px; float:left;.tg-pullquote__content–mobilefloat: none; font-size: 18px; margin-left: four.687%; margin-right: four.687%; width: 90.626%;.tg-pullquote__titlefont-family:arial; font-weight:daring; font-size:16px; border-top:1px dotted .tg-pullquote__quoteshade: font-style:italic; margin-top:5px; margin-bottom:5px;.tg-pullquote__attributionshade: margin-bottom:5px;.tg-pullquote__source.tg-pullquote__source__linkshade: define:zero; text-decoration:none;.tg-pullquote__source__link:hoverborder-bottom: 1px dotted colour: .tg-pullquote__sharefloat:proper;.tg-pullquote__share–iconbackground-image:url(“http://s.telegraph/graphics/pullQuotes/belongings/share_sprite.png”); background-image: url(“http://s.telegraph/graphics/pullQuotes/belongings/share_sprite.svg”), none; width:26px; peak:26px;.tg-pullquote__shareLinkborder-bottom:none;.tg-pullquote__shareLink:hoverborder-bottom:none !essential;.tg-pullquote__share–twittermargin-right:5px;.tg-pullquote__share–facebookbackground-position: 26px zero;

‘These reds are made by a few of Spain’s most enjoyable winemakers proper now’

Both approach, reds constructed from mencia are very trendy proper now – simply watch them whooshing into the UK from the wine areas of Ribeiro, Ribeira Sacra, Valdeorras, Monterrei and particularly fashionable Bierzo. It’s inland from the Atlantic, and never as impossibly scorching as some elements of Spain. That explains the perky acidity in these mouthwatering reds, not too heavy and versatile with meals (good for cured meats).

Grapes are grown on the slopes of the Sil river within the Spanish area of Ribeira Sacra  Photograph: GETTY IMAGES

They usually’re made by a few of Spain’s most enjoyable winemakers proper now, such because the younger and dynamic Veronica Ortega and the long-bearded and gifted advisor Raul Perez, often described because the area’s “wine wizard”.

Names to look out for, however the place to seek out their wines? In addition to these under, there are good mencias available at , , and even , amongst others.

Time to catch the brand new wave of northern Spanish reds.

Attempt these

El Castro de Valtuille Mencia Joven 2013/14 Bierzo, Spain (, £10.20, and different independents)

A youthful, quaffable wine, darkish purple and filled with aromatic cassis and cherry, one to pour with a charcuterie board.

Valderroa Mencia 2013 Valdeorras, Spain (chosen shops and waitrosewinecellar, £11.99)

Deeply fragrant, exuberantly fruity pink full of black cherries and mulberries with a touch of liquorice. Fits a light-weight chill.

Petalos 2012/13, Descendientes de J Palacios Bierzo, Spain (, £18.49 or £13.87 whenever you purchase two till 31 August)

Wealthy, rounded and juicy with ripe blackberries and a touch of spicy oak from French barrel ageing. Steak wine.

TIPPLE TIP pink and perky…

Two pink champagne provides attraction this week: the high-quality, fruity Champagne Lanson Rosé NV, France, down from £35 to £28 at till 25 August

and dry, raspberryish Oudinot Brut Rosé NV, down from £27 to £22 at till 7 September.

Comments

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.