Aires de Vendimia Mencia Valtuille de Abajo, Jose Antonio Garcia 2018

Like the rest of the wines, the 2018 Aires de Vendimia Mencía de Valtuille is quite impressive, elegant, clean and fresh, with neatly integrated oak, a fluid mouthfeel, fine tannins and good harmony. It's nicely textured, and the roughly 15% white grapes found in the old vineyards surely contributes to the finesse and freshness. It fermented in oak foudre with 80% full clusters and native yeasts and finished fermenting without the skins after being pressed (like a white) in barrel. It matured in French oak barrels for one year and spent three months in oak foudre. 4,700 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2020. Drink 2020-2025.

Deep ruby colour. Highly spicy Mencia typicity here. Pepper, violets, rosemary and red cherries all come together on the nose. The palate is equally as characterful - crunchy with fruit and tannin with the same, fragrant fruit. Darker fruited tones push through towards the finish, but this complex, vibrant, herbal and layered wine really focuses on high tones and weightless intensity.