RKS 2025 Wine: Mencía a Pinot Noir on Steroids?

Posted byRobert K Stephen (CSW)Posted inFood, WineTags:, , , ,

One of my favourite descriptors of a grape is attributable to Matt Kramer of the Wine Spectator many years back when he stated the Mencía grape reminded him of Pinot Noir on steroids. Whether that descriptor is correct is less relevant than the descriptor itself! You will find Mencía in Northwestern Spain and in the Dão region in Portugal where it is known as Jaen. 85% Mencía, 8% Grenache and 7% Sousón in this wine.

Aroma: Raspberry, cocoa, cranberry and Catanian cactus pear.

Palate: Brackish with a slight bitterness. Firm yet smooth. Tiny bit perky. Raspberry, sweet Ruby Red grapefruit, Santa Rosa plum and a hint of blackberry with a predominately short finish with some long fade elements. A slight chill (not The Big Chill) is essential

Personality: I am certainly no Pete Rose on steroids. Acidity (not out of control) gives me a perkiness.

Food Match: Pulpo Gallego.

Cellarbility: 2025-year end.

Price: $22 CDN.

RKS 2025 Wine Rating: 88/100. Natalie MacLean 90. Decanter World Wine Awards 97.

(Matilda Nieves 2020 Mencía, D.O. Ribeira Sacra, Spain, 750 mL 13%).

Published by Robert K Stephen (CSW)

Robert K Stephen writes about food ,drink, travel, film, and lifestyle issues. He also has published serialized novels "Life at Megacorp", "Virus # 26, "Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog" and "The Penniless Pensioner" Robert was the first associate member of the Wine Writers’ Circle of Canada. He also holds a Mindfulness Certification from the University of Leiden and the University of Toronto. Be it Spanish cured meat, dried fruit, BBQ, or recycled bamboo place mats, Robert endeavours to escape the mundane, which is why he has established this publication. His motto is, "Have Story, Will Write."

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