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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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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