| SPANISH WINE WEEK WITH JOHN WILSON TUESDAY PICK |
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| “M” Mencía 2019, Bierzo, Luna Beberide |
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For today’s Spanish wine, we travel up to the northwest corner of Spain, a world away from the dry sunny resorts that we know so well.
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Luna is the name of the family, Bierzo is the area, and Mencía is the grape variety. Mencía is one of Spain’s many hidden treasures, a variety that has really only come to light over the last decade. |
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Many see it as the Spanish Pinot Noir, others compare it to Beaujolais or Cabernet Franc or Syrah.Personally, I think it has a character of its own. Generally pale in colour, it has supple dark fruits, sometimes with an intriguing savoury, earthy note. It is only really found in Galicia and the neighbouring Bierzo, where Luna Beberide are based. The Luna family has eighty hectares of vineyards, many of them 50-80 years old.
Tasting Note: Fresh and lively with tasty summer fruits and a savoury touch of liquorice. There are some light tannins on the finish, well-integrated so the overall impression is one of supple rounded fruit.
Food Match: Mencía is a very food-friendly wine, great with all kinds of white meats, and pork in particular. Why not try it with a pork chop or a gourmet pure pork sausage with lentils? | |
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