Mencia Crucijada 2021

The Encrucijada Mencía wine from the Michelini i Mufatto estate comes from the Bierzo region in northwestern Spain, in the autonomous community of Castile and León. The vineyards are situated on hillsides with an Atlantic influence, characterized by predominantly schist and clay-limestone soils, offering good drainage and a pronounced mineral expression. This area of ​​Bierzo benefits from a temperate climate with moderate summers and cool nights, allowing for slow ripening of the grapes. The predominantly Mencía grape variety finds ideal conditions here for producing refined wines.

Detailed winemaking information for Michelini i Mufatto Encrucijada Mencía 2021 is not available on the official media of the estate.

This wine reveals notes of fresh red berries , small black fruits , and plum , accompanied by delicate floral touches reminiscent of violet and peony. Subtle spicy nuances emerge, with hints of pepper and licorice, along with a delicate minerality evoking wet stone. On the palate, the wine is elegant, with a silky texture supported by vibrant acidity , fine tannins , and a long, precise, and flavorful finish.

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.