A Merced Mencia 2021

Located in the Bierzo region of northwestern Spain, the A Merced Mencía vineyard flourishes on rolling hillsides with a distinct Atlantic influence. The vines are planted in soils that blend schist, quartz, and clay, giving the Mencía grape a beautiful tension and precise aromatic expression. The Michelini i Mufatto estate cultivates small, high-altitude plots, where temperature variations promote slow ripening, preserving the natural freshness and mineral character of this Bierzo terroir.

Hand-harvested Mencía grapes from old vines undergo spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts in tanks, with gentle maceration to preserve the fruit's finesse. The wine is then aged for several months in used oak barrels and/or neutral containers to retain freshness and the pure expression of the terroir, without excessive oak influence. Bottling is carried out with minimal intervention, in a style that is lightly extracted and focused on balance.

This wine reveals notes of fresh red berries , crisp black berries , and violet , complemented by discreet spicy touches and a subtle mineral backbone. On the palate, the wine is juicy and elegant, carried by a lively acidity that underscores the grape variety's luscious character. The tannins are fine and well-integrated, providing structure without harshness, while the finish, lengthened by a touch of salinity, leaves an impression of freshness and aromatic precision.

The history of wine in Spain is so ancient that no one really knows who first brought the vines to the region. By the time the Phoenicians arrived some 3,000 years ago and founded the present-day cities of Cádiz and Jerez, viticulture was already well established, and Spanish wines were widely traded throughout the Mediterranean and North Africa. You could say that Spain is a winemaking miracle. After years on the sidelines of the world of fine wines, it is now a major player. Investment and ambition in vineyards and wineries are resulting in increasingly rich, complex (often high in alcohol), and spicy reds that are gaining popularity with international consumers. Proud to have more land dedicated to vines than any other country, Spain is only now beginning to capitalize on this resource in a consistent way. Spain is a chaotic jumble of regions and subregions, much like its landscape is a chaotic jumble of incredibly rugged scenery. A glance at a map reveals the climatic diversity among Spain's many wine regions, from the lush, green vineyards of Galicia on the northern Atlantic coast to the parched vineyards of the southeastern Mediterranean. Spain's saving grace for viticulture is the average altitude of its vineyards, which is over 600 meters. Many Spanish vineyards are thus able to produce grapes with good color and acidity simply because nighttime temperatures are relatively low and the grapes don't ripen until after a sufficiently long growing season. But there is a real treasure trove to be found for those willing to dig, and now that a class of connoisseurs has developed in Spain, all sorts of ambitious investors have done their part to change the image of Spanish wine. Today, a new generation of winemakers has quietly begun to craft spectacular wines and experiment with grape varieties that would have been unthinkable not so long ago. Wine remains an important commodity and an integral part of Spanish culture.