Envinate
Lousas Viñas de Aldea Mencía
Ribeira Sacra, Galicia, Spain
The last and probably the best bottle from a lot of four purchased from our local importer. There was quite a bit of bottle variation in our Malaysian importer’s 19’ Envinate release - the Migan’s and Palo Blanco’s were quite the rollercoaster ride - but the Vinas de Aldea seemed to have gotten the good side of the container. Like the last bottle, this was full of floral elegance and tangy energy. Super complex aromas of violets, ripe cherries, sweet herbs, pepper, and a touch of coffee and flint. All finesse on the palate, but has depth too. Sweet red fruits, bittersweet herbs, umeshu, and an absolutely lovely, Mosel-esque slatey minerality; finishing sharp with grippy, chalky tannins. For me it was firmly in that red kabinett territory, and downright perfect with our fatty Angus picanha. Loved it!
The last and probably the best bottle from a lot of four purchased from our local importer. There was quite a bit of bottle variation in our Malaysian importer’s 19’ Envinate release - the Migan’s and Palo Blanco’s were quite the rollercoaster ride - but the Vinas de Aldea seemed to have gotten the good side of the container. Like the last bottle, this was full of floral elegance and tangy energy. Super complex aromas of violets, ripe cherries, sweet herbs, pepper, and a touch of coffee and flint. All finesse on the palate, but has depth too. Sweet red fruits, bittersweet herbs, umeshu, and an absolutely lovely, Mosel-esque slatey minerality; finishing sharp with grippy, chalky tannins. For me it was firmly in that red kabinett territory, and downright perfect with our fatty Angus picanha. Loved it!
Oct 22nd, 2023Wow. This was pretty different from the first bottle. Open from the get-go here, the glass was filled with floral, spicy, and red-fruited aromas. Lovely verticality and chock full of energy, with lip-smacking sweet red fruits, chalky tannins, and a bittersweet herbaceous finish. Delicious!
Wow. This was pretty different from the first bottle. Open from the get-go here, the glass was filled with floral, spicy, and red-fruited aromas. Lovely verticality and chock full of energy, with lip-smacking sweet red fruits, chalky tannins, and a bittersweet herbaceous finish. Delicious!
Jun 24th, 2022Light reduction to start, which quickly dissipated to reveal high-toned red cherries, preserved plums, and violets on the nose. Medium-bodied with grippy tannins. The fruit on the palate came off as being quite sweet, but pure and balanced by fresh acidity and herbaceous elements. Delicious, though the missus and I didn't find it particularly exciting to drink.
Light reduction to start, which quickly dissipated to reveal high-toned red cherries, preserved plums, and violets on the nose. Medium-bodied with grippy tannins. The fruit on the palate came off as being quite sweet, but pure and balanced by fresh acidity and herbaceous elements. Delicious, though the missus and I didn't find it particularly exciting to drink.
Feb 19th, 2022
Dark cherries, stewed dark plums, turned earth, cedar wood, tree bark. Intriguing.
Light on the palate with great flow, juicy acidity, salty minerality. Light in alc, brilliant drinkability.
So much more elegant vs the avg Mencia out there.
Delicious sipping!
Dark cherries, stewed dark plums, turned earth, cedar wood, tree bark. Intriguing.
Light on the palate with great flow, juicy acidity, salty minerality. Light in alc, brilliant drinkability.
So much more elegant vs the avg Mencia out there.
Delicious sipping!
Hay, silage, strawberry juice, delicate herbs. Awesome Mencia.
Hay, silage, strawberry juice, delicate herbs. Awesome Mencia.
Nov 28th, 2021
Powerful and complex. Love it. Must decant.
Powerful and complex. Love it. Must decant.
Oct 2nd, 2021Excellent now and should improve with aging. It's like a more fruit forward Beaujolais at this time. Definitely going to pick up a couple more at $40 to lay down for a few years.
Excellent now and should improve with aging. It's like a more fruit forward Beaujolais at this time. Definitely going to pick up a couple more at $40 to lay down for a few years.
Aug 22nd, 2021