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90POINTS

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Actual label may vary.

Mencia by Castro Ventosa 2016

Mencia

by Castro Ventosa 2016

Producer : Bodegas Castro Ventosa

Region : Bierzo (Spain), Spain (Spain)

Bottle Per Case : 12 x 750 ml

Food Pairing : Breads, Cured Meat, Ham, Hard Cheese, Red Meat, Roasted Vegetables

Tasting Notes

"The young, unoaked and juicy Mencía 2016 Castro Ventosa, in a tall Bordeaux bottle with a pink and garnet label, like all wines, was harvested throughout the season, some before and others after the rain, as this is the biggest volume wine of the winery. The nose is very clean and expressive, with a Rhôneish feel to it. The palate is juicy, with unnoticeable tannins, good freshness and balance. These wines have been harvested earlier and earlier to achieve lower alcohol and more acidity, to make them more drinkable. This is a perfect example of it. 2016 was a short vintage because of mildew, and most of the vineyards delivered around 50% of their normal yields. This wine is no exception. Even if accessible and destined for the short term, they can be surprisingly long lived. Great value.

90 points - Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate, Aug 2017

Specs

Bottles Per Case 12 Pack
Point Score 90
Bottle Size 750 ml
Producer Bodegas Castro Ventosa
Region Bierzo (Spain), Spain (Spain)
Alcohol 13% alc./vol.
Style Warm and spicy reds
Vintage 2016
Farming Method Sustainable
Grapes 100% Mencia
Food Pairing Breads, Cured Meat, Ham, Hard Cheese, Red Meat, Roasted Vegetables
Descriptors Earthy, Floral, Fruity, Mineral
Wine Type Red
Wood Presence Unoaked
Body Medium
Price of Case $203.40

The Producer

Bodegas Castro Ventosa

Castro Ventosa was founded by the Perez family in 1752 and the family owns the estate ever since. The Perez family owns 75 hectares of Mencía vineyards in Bierzo making them the biggest owners of this varietal within the Bierzo D.O. The Bierzo appellation is made of 5000 hectares with 2500 ha planted with white varietals and 2500 ha planted with Mencía and there are 5000 landowners within the appellation.

Raúl Pérez, who now runs the winery, is a figurehead for Bierzo wines in Spain. Castro Ventosa produces three different Mencía; Valtuille, El Castro de Valtuille and El Castro de Valtuille “Joven Mencia”. Mencía is indigenous from Bierzo and some suspect that it is an ancient clone from Cabernet Franc.

The Bierzo D.O. is located in the northwest of the Province of Castilla y León, just above Portugal. Castilla was one of the original Spanish regions to unite against the Moors in the Middle Ages and thus became the north-west stronghold for the Catholics. The region has a great historical past with many remains that testify of its rich history.

The winery is situated in the village of Valtuille de Abajo at the foot of the slope of the Castro, the ruin of an ancient Roman fort that dominates the village of Valtuille de Abajo. Some of Castro Ventosa’s vineyards are planted on that same hill just around the ruins, the name Castro Ventosa means 'The Windy Castle'. The Valtuille is made from five parcels situated in Valtuille de Abajo with pre-phyloxeric vineyards that are located on the only sandy soil found in Birezo.

Bierzo is in a small valley surrounded by mountains. This exceptional geographical position gives the area a specific microclimate. The low altitude prevents frost in winter and the warm summer months provide ideal conditions to grow exceptional vines. The soil is a mixture of quartzite and slate.

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