A bit of an odd duck, really; not sure I fully get aged Mencia. It’s still lively, youthful, with beautful red fruit and a cherry skin pinosity, with a hint of game. Saline minerals and a slightly tacky oak note that feel slightly at odds with the fruit, like in old rioja where the oak doesn’t quite integrate. This sensation is heightened by the somewhat hollow mid-palate, which again doesn’t quite jive with the surprisingly resonant finish. Nice structure and acidity - no danger of fading soon. 89
Day 2: much better integrated - and seems very n rhone in profile. Tannins yes, now with a clearer crunchy red fruit profile inflected with black pepper. 91
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Shut down at first, double decanted and minty red and black fruit very fresh despite low acid. The criticism is a little thin on the mouthfeel it otherwise quite alive and even youthful.
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Very French in character, balanced and still with some signs of freshness, though the ageing has done well for this year. Best comparison is to n.Rhine Syrah, with peppery notes, ripe polished fruit and integrated oak. Certainly not a cornas in style, more of an hermitage.
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The nose was amazingly fresh, fruity and vibrant, especially consider it's twenty years of maturity, as a wave of ripe cherries, strawberry, sweet herbs, exotic spice, dusty marine-inspired minerality and hints of moist soil lifted from the glass. On the palate, I found soft textures on a feminine frame, yet vibrant still, showing fresh red berry fruits, masses of inner florals, minerals and soil tones, as gentle acidity kept things lively. It finished medium in length, with hints of red fruits lingering amidst minerals and a coating of dry extracted floral tones.
It's simply a pleasure to drink. Not over the top in any way and so lifted--feminine to the core.
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Incredible, fresh dark plum, silky tannin, black pepper, roasted meat and smoke and cedar, yes this sounds like a n.rhone note but that's what this wine resembled. still fresh and time remaining
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Deep garnet core. Very little sediment upon decanting. Oak, volatility (ink) and cola are most apparent on the nose. The palate, however, presents a much smoother, integrated whole: flowers, earth, dark cherries and cocoa powder, with a bit of black licorice and autumn leaves on the finish. The acidity is balanced and the tannins are resolved. The wine is surprisingly lighter than the nose would suggest, and the oak is not at all distracting. There is no rush to drink this (as the beautiful dark cherry fruit is still very much present), though I doubt it will get any better. Really in a lovely place right now.
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Decanted 2 hours, consumed after 6 hours; showed at its best after hour 4 in the decanter. Was really tight and awkward out of the gate; and I can see why some reviewers may have rushed to judgment if not provided its due-time in the decanter. This wine really likes air, and was even improving at the bottom of the bottle in hour 6. This juice is everything that a Spanish wine should be; down-and-dirty and very rustic old-school. Nose of plum-reduction, rust, wet leather, and barnyard funk. Good nose concentration in the late-evening prime window. A solid deal at $45, and better yet at the $20 I paid at back-shelf liquidation at WCW. No rush; will stay at this peak for at least 5, maybe 10 more years
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This wine has always been somewhat of a disappointment given the hype that surrounded its introduction. This bottle was no exception, and created little joy amongst the tasters. Bierzo is a bust so far.
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Still showing serious structure, fairly dense mouthfeel and not very outgoing personality. Probably wait a little longer and maybe it'll really open up someday.
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Not extremely aromatic, and somewhat light in the mouth. Smoky, earthy, rather low acidity. Some tannin, but fruit is not pronounced. Can't get very excited about this bottle.
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Very nice surprise. Expecting a tannic monster yet this has matured and integrated very well. Deep purple ink color. A massive nose of earth, leather and tar. Mouthfeel is smooth, rich and opulent. Comes on with broad refined Spanish flavors, though not hugely layered and now smooth tannins. Finish disappoints a bit due to short length as not alot going on.
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This was a smooth wine with flavors / nose of black cherry. Tannins quites pronounce on this one, perhaps indicating that more time in the decanter might have helped (though we would have run the risk of the fruits fading).
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This was a smooth wine with flavors / nose of black cherry. Tannins quites pronounce on this one, perhaps indicating that more time in the decanter might have helped (though we would have run the risk of the fruits fading).
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Dark tile red with brown edges. Powerfull nose. Very wide spectrum of notes. Floral (dark flowers), Wood (cedar, wet leather etc), Berries (dark berries, cassis, brambleberries etc.), Animal scents (musc) and so on. It just kept revealing new scents all the time... Wonderfull! Powerfull and fullbodied. With a pleasant alcohol and very soft, but present, tannins... Reminded me of the style of a fully mature Hermitage. Yummy!! Drink now and the next 5 years...
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5/17/2023 - ohne_musik wrote: 91 Points
A bit of an odd duck, really; not sure I fully get aged Mencia. It’s still lively, youthful, with beautful red fruit and a cherry skin pinosity, with a hint of game. Saline minerals and a slightly tacky oak note that feel slightly at odds with the fruit, like in old rioja where the oak doesn’t quite integrate. This sensation is heightened by the somewhat hollow mid-palate, which again doesn’t quite jive with the surprisingly resonant finish. Nice structure and acidity - no danger of fading soon. 89
Day 2: much better integrated - and seems very n rhone in profile. Tannins yes, now with a clearer crunchy red fruit profile inflected with black pepper. 91
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1/7/2023 - vintage_whine wrote:
Shut down at first, double decanted and minty red and black fruit very fresh despite low acid. The criticism is a little thin on the mouthfeel it otherwise quite alive and even youthful.
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9/17/2021 - vintage_whine wrote:
Very French in character, balanced and still with some signs of freshness, though the ageing has done well for this year. Best comparison is to n.Rhine Syrah, with peppery notes, ripe polished fruit and integrated oak. Certainly not a cornas in style, more of an hermitage.
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3/31/2019 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 91 Points
The nose was amazingly fresh, fruity and vibrant, especially consider it's twenty years of maturity, as a wave of ripe cherries, strawberry, sweet herbs, exotic spice, dusty marine-inspired minerality and hints of moist soil lifted from the glass. On the palate, I found soft textures on a feminine frame, yet vibrant still, showing fresh red berry fruits, masses of inner florals, minerals and soil tones, as gentle acidity kept things lively. It finished medium in length, with hints of red fruits lingering amidst minerals and a coating of dry extracted floral tones.
It's simply a pleasure to drink. Not over the top in any way and so lifted--feminine to the core.
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2/25/2018 - vintage_whine wrote:
Incredible, fresh dark plum, silky tannin, black pepper, roasted meat and smoke and cedar, yes this sounds like a n.rhone note but that's what this wine resembled. still fresh and time remaining
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9/18/2016 - Guy Des Rosiers Likes this wine: 89 Points
Deep garnet core. Very little sediment upon decanting. Oak, volatility (ink) and cola are most apparent on the nose. The palate, however, presents a much smoother, integrated whole: flowers, earth, dark cherries and cocoa powder, with a bit of black licorice and autumn leaves on the finish. The acidity is balanced and the tannins are resolved. The wine is surprisingly lighter than the nose would suggest, and the oak is not at all distracting. There is no rush to drink this (as the beautiful dark cherry fruit is still very much present), though I doubt it will get any better. Really in a lovely place right now.
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6/23/2013 - TheGrizz wrote:
This a well structured wine with smooth tannins, a little light on the finish. I decanted 2 hrs before serving and showed well over the next 2 hours.
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12/8/2012 - pinothoarder wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 2 hours, consumed after 6 hours; showed at its best after hour 4 in the decanter. Was really tight and awkward out of the gate; and I can see why some reviewers may have rushed to judgment if not provided its due-time in the decanter. This wine really likes air, and was even improving at the bottom of the bottle in hour 6. This juice is everything that a Spanish wine should be; down-and-dirty and very rustic old-school. Nose of plum-reduction, rust, wet leather, and barnyard funk. Good nose concentration in the late-evening prime window. A solid deal at $45, and better yet at the $20 I paid at back-shelf liquidation at WCW. No rush; will stay at this peak for at least 5, maybe 10 more years
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4/29/2012 - robmatic wrote:
This wine has always been somewhat of a disappointment given the hype that surrounded its introduction. This bottle was no exception, and created little joy amongst the tasters. Bierzo is a bust so far.
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12/10/2010 - robmatic wrote: 90 Points
Still showing serious structure, fairly dense mouthfeel and not very outgoing personality. Probably wait a little longer and maybe it'll really open up someday.
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7/21/2010 - robmatic wrote: 88 Points
Not extremely aromatic, and somewhat light in the mouth. Smoky, earthy, rather low acidity. Some tannin, but fruit is not pronounced. Can't get very excited about this bottle.
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2/26/2008 - NotNYC wrote: 91 Points
Very nice surprise. Expecting a tannic monster yet this has matured and integrated very well. Deep purple ink color. A massive nose of earth, leather and tar. Mouthfeel is smooth, rich and opulent. Comes on with broad refined Spanish flavors, though not hugely layered and now smooth tannins. Finish disappoints a bit due to short length as not alot going on.
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5/29/2007 - winekahuna wrote: 91 Points
Not sure I understand this wine. Good complexity, structure and finish, but nothing earth shattering.
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11/12/2006 - agbailey wrote:
This was a smooth wine with flavors / nose of black cherry. Tannins quites pronounce on this one, perhaps indicating that more time in the decanter might have helped (though we would have run the risk of the fruits fading).
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11/12/2006 - agbailey wrote: 89 Points
This was a smooth wine with flavors / nose of black cherry. Tannins quites pronounce on this one, perhaps indicating that more time in the decanter might have helped (though we would have run the risk of the fruits fading).
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7/29/2006 - Tad GW wrote: 91 Points
A concentrated tannic beast of a wine with a lot going for it. Rustic and chewy.
50+5+12+16+8=91
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5/7/2006 - premiercru1973 wrote: 95 Points
Dark tile red with brown edges. Powerfull nose. Very wide spectrum of notes. Floral (dark flowers), Wood (cedar, wet leather etc), Berries (dark berries, cassis, brambleberries etc.), Animal scents (musc) and so on. It just kept revealing new scents all the time... Wonderfull! Powerfull and fullbodied. With a pleasant alcohol and very soft, but present, tannins... Reminded me of the style of a fully mature Hermitage. Yummy!! Drink now and the next 5 years...
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