Plenty of sediment, so needed decanting but also seemed to benefit from the air and freshen up. It’s still really fresh and vibrant, some extra depth and complexity from the bottle age along side the plummy fruit and the touch of dark chocolate on the finish. Could well last longer although maybe the fruit is starting to tire a little after a couple of hours, either way it’s fantastic value to age this well for so long
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Quite a herby, mineral nose, reminiscient of northern rhone. On the palate ist red fruited and fresh in the style of a Foillard Morgon. I have very little experience with these wines. I know this is an entry level wine presumably designed for early consumption but age has not diminished its freshness. There is a mouth coating richness to this which reminds me of more fresh styled granache. It's a truly lovely wine. Very enjoyable and exceptional value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lots of development on the nose of leather, tobacco and truffle, the palate is much more about the fruit though with dark berries and spice to the fore, good acidity and just a lick of dark chocolate on the finish which I find a bit of a mencia signature, this is lovely drinking now, will last a few more years at least
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still youthful and packed with ripe red fruit. Has an interesting floral dimension as well with aromas of violets and carnation. Medium bodied with good structure and quite high acidity which balances very well the sweetness of fruit. Good clean finish. I believe this can even improve with mid-term cellaring.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
An opaque dark wine with bright purple rims, very dense aromas of plums, blackberries, violets, smoke, licorice, and creamy vanilla. Silky texture with blackberries, blueberries, plums, the midpalate shows balsamic flavors, dark chocolate, black olives, roasted coffee, and leads to a long smooth yet chewy tannic finish filled with black pepper, and mineral undertones. A mid to full bodied wine with generous polished fruit, not overcloying, very drinkable and delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fourth time I taste this wine and again it appears very different than last. And this is not due to ageing. This time ripe fruit and violet notes dominated the nose. Palate of medium body, quite high acidity and medium level of tannins. Not bad at all reminiscent of northern Rhone Syrah from St. Joseph or Crozes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I believe 2009 was a warmer vintage in Bierzo, and this bottle features ripe, dark fruit and a bit less of the acidity and red fruit I've gotten from Mencia in cooler vintages. Whether due to vintage or the winemaking, I would put this on the modern side compared to other NW Spanish reds. That said, this is not at all marked by any intrusive oak, and it is still a very good, nicely priced, user-friendly bottling that's easy to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lovely bright clean ruby colour. The nose is vibrant with ripe cherry fruit and a distinctive cocoa aroma. This is a splendidly balanced, elegant wine that expresses not just a graceful balance between rich, generous fruit and a refreshing mineral backbone, but an unusual aromatic profile that is expressive of the Mencía variety and the Bierzo region. There are many wines of this sophistication - especially in "established" regions of France and Italy - commanding much higher prices and delivering less charm.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very floral aromas with deep red berry fruits. Light on its feet, full of raspberry and cherry fruit. Touch of dark chocolate creamyness on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
TWERPS - Mencia & Godello (London): Smells quite jammy and alcoholic. Very oaky! Peppery too. And lacks freshness. Good fruit though - may come good with some time in bottle. Quite a dark fruit profile for Mencia. Also a little yeasty. 2014+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bierzo has for me been the best discovery of the last 2 years. The quality is mind blowing given the average price. £10-£15 can turn out a top quality bottle. If you havent dabbled then I strongly advise seeking out - the Mencia grape has a great future. Raul Perez is one of the more famous proponants in this region and this wine was a great example. Had this open for a few days now, and it has softened beautifully, without losing any of its initial intensity. Fresh nose that oozes spice and red berry, but the palate is where this wine springs to life. Just perfect balance with the ripe grippy tannins, refreshing acidity and juicy fruit, sent off with a good medium finish. This wine will certainly improve over the short to medium term. 91++
Dark ruby. Remarkably fresh nose with dark cherry and spice. Medium-bodied, fresh and vibrant fruit, soft tannins and balancing acidity. Long aftertaste. A very enjoyable wine to enjoy now and over the next 3-5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark ruby color. Expressive nose with plums, black cherry and spice. Fruit is very deep and the wine does not lack complexity. Medium weight with flavorful palate and very good finish. Impeccable winemaking.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ruby colour with a forward nose of plums, strawberries, sweet spice, floral notes and judicious oak. Easy drinking, charming with supple texture soft tannins and satisfying finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
P&P. Six months after an off bottle, this time the wine is plain gorgeous. Very intense nose with black pepper, spices, black fruit, licorice and eucaliptus. Palate is fresh, medium bodied, rounded and lush. I experienced a lot of bottle variation with this wine. Hopefully my last bottle shows like this one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
An intriguing and unusual wine. I rate this highly both in terms of price performance and in terms of offering something different than the usual. The nose is cedar with overtones of floral and oak. The taste is nicely balanced and complex with a cherry finish and modest to minor tannins. I sense only a bit of Pinot Noir like character, unlike the other reviews.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
- Brick color with medium forming legs and aromas of ethanol. It's somewhat balanced and has flavours of coffee and sherry with a medium/full body. Linear texture with a long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Elegant medium bodied youthful wines. Much different impression than last time I had this wine, which was not so long ago... This time nose was much fruititer and cleaner with black cherry, raspberry and plum. Also tannins this time were much softer... Very nice young wine. Puts to shame many Pinot Noirs of double the price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fantastic nose, very expressive, intense, open and complex - remarkably so despite its youth. Meaty and smoked cured ham notes along cherry and very pinot noir-like fruit. Ready to drink although still tannic. Refreshingly high acidity balances fruit in this medium bodied wine which exhibits spiciness, dark bitter chocolaty notes and violet notes. Good length. Curious to see how this ages. Remarkable wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured. Medium intensity on nose, red fruit, compote fruit, truffles, chocolate and smoky aromas. Medium-bodied palate, a little heavy (maybe due to high serving temperature), quite fruity, medium finish. Improved on 2nd day.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasting session with Raul Perez (Barcelona): 6th wine of the night. Dark cherry color. Both red and black ripe fruit on nose, medium intensity, coffee, chocolate. Slighty dry palate, red fruit, medium finish. A steal for less than 10€. (90-91).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured. This bottle was not as intense on nose to start, compared to a previous bottle and felt a bit heavy on palate, probably due to palate fatigue (last bottle of 4). Over time, however, the nose showed more intensity with liquorized fruit, spices, flowers. Palate still felt somehow heavy. Next time I should decant (84-86).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened for 2 hours. Medium to dark color. Intense nose of red berries, cassis, candy, spice. Very elegant palate, medium to full bodied, lush, right acidity, no harsh edges, medium finish. Incredible wine for a ridiculous price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
3/12/2022 - kingkanu wrote:
Plenty of sediment, so needed decanting but also seemed to benefit from the air and freshen up. It’s still really fresh and vibrant, some extra depth and complexity from the bottle age along side the plummy fruit and the touch of dark chocolate on the finish. Could well last longer although maybe the fruit is starting to tire a little after a couple of hours, either way it’s fantastic value to age this well for so long
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2020 - kingkanu wrote:
Really lovely drinking now, medium body, mature with darker berry fruit, new leather and smoke, good acidity and length, no sign of tiring yet
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/29/2017 - rayq wrote: 93 Points
Quite a herby, mineral nose, reminiscient of northern rhone. On the palate ist red fruited and fresh in the style of a Foillard Morgon. I have very little experience with these wines. I know this is an entry level wine presumably designed for early consumption but age has not diminished its freshness. There is a mouth coating richness to this which reminds me of more fresh styled granache. It's a truly lovely wine. Very enjoyable and exceptional value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/2/2016 - kingkanu wrote:
Lots of development on the nose of leather, tobacco and truffle, the palate is much more about the fruit though with dark berries and spice to the fore, good acidity and just a lick of dark chocolate on the finish which I find a bit of a mencia signature, this is lovely drinking now, will last a few more years at least
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/29/2016 - Stefanos T. Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still youthful and packed with ripe red fruit.
Has an interesting floral dimension as well with aromas of violets and carnation.
Medium bodied with good structure and quite high acidity which balances very well the sweetness of fruit.
Good clean finish.
I believe this can even improve with mid-term cellaring.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/2/2013 - Gobi wrote: 94 Points
An opaque dark wine with bright purple rims, very dense aromas of plums, blackberries, violets, smoke, licorice, and creamy vanilla. Silky texture with blackberries, blueberries, plums, the midpalate shows balsamic flavors, dark chocolate, black olives, roasted coffee, and leads to a long smooth yet chewy tannic finish filled with black pepper, and mineral undertones. A mid to full bodied wine with generous polished fruit, not overcloying, very drinkable and delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/11/2013 - Stefanos T. wrote: 90 Points
Fourth time I taste this wine and again it appears very different than last. And this is not due to ageing.
This time ripe fruit and violet notes dominated the nose.
Palate of medium body, quite high acidity and medium level of tannins.
Not bad at all reminiscent of northern Rhone Syrah from St. Joseph or Crozes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2013 - MJHDC wrote:
I believe 2009 was a warmer vintage in Bierzo, and this bottle features ripe, dark fruit and a bit less of the acidity and red fruit I've gotten from Mencia in cooler vintages. Whether due to vintage or the winemaking, I would put this on the modern side compared to other NW Spanish reds. That said, this is not at all marked by any intrusive oak, and it is still a very good, nicely priced, user-friendly bottling that's easy to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/22/2012 - ricard Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lovely bright clean ruby colour. The nose is vibrant with ripe cherry fruit and a distinctive cocoa aroma. This is a splendidly balanced, elegant wine that expresses not just a graceful balance between rich, generous fruit and a refreshing mineral backbone, but an unusual aromatic profile that is expressive of the Mencía variety and the Bierzo region. There are many wines of this sophistication - especially in "established" regions of France and Italy - commanding much higher prices and delivering less charm.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/15/2012 - Biggsy wrote: 88 Points
Very floral aromas with deep red berry fruits. Light on its feet, full of raspberry and cherry fruit. Touch of dark chocolate creamyness on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/9/2012 - davestenton wrote:
TWERPS - Mencia & Godello (London): Smells quite jammy and alcoholic. Very oaky! Peppery too. And lacks freshness. Good fruit though - may come good with some time in bottle. Quite a dark fruit profile for Mencia. Also a little yeasty. 2014+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/24/2012 - Periko wrote: flawed
Unfortunately the worst was for the last as this one was corked. Humidity and cork on nose. Palate was hollow and alcoholic.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/3/2012 - thewineoceros wrote: 91 Points
Bierzo has for me been the best discovery of the last 2 years. The quality is mind blowing given the average price. £10-£15 can turn out a top quality bottle. If you havent dabbled then I strongly advise seeking out - the Mencia grape has a great future. Raul Perez is one of the more famous proponants in this region and this wine was a great example. Had this open for a few days now, and it has softened beautifully, without losing any of its initial intensity. Fresh nose that oozes spice and red berry, but the palate is where this wine springs to life. Just perfect balance with the ripe grippy tannins, refreshing acidity and juicy fruit, sent off with a good medium finish. This wine will certainly improve over the short to medium term. 91++
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
6/30/2012 - tb_baltimore Likes this wine: 92 Points
again excellent QPR -- felt as good about this 2nd bottle as the first one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/18/2012 - Yiannis wrote: 90 Points
Dark ruby. Remarkably fresh nose with dark cherry and spice. Medium-bodied, fresh and vibrant fruit, soft tannins and balancing acidity. Long aftertaste. A very enjoyable wine to enjoy now and over the next 3-5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/17/2012 - Stefanos T. wrote: 91 Points
Dark ruby color. Expressive nose with plums, black cherry and spice. Fruit is very deep and the wine does not lack complexity. Medium weight with flavorful palate and very good finish. Impeccable winemaking.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/16/2012 - Dokken wrote: 89 Points
Ruby colour with a forward nose of plums, strawberries, sweet spice, floral notes and judicious oak. Easy drinking, charming with supple texture soft tannins and satisfying finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2012 - Periko wrote: 90 Points
P&P. Six months after an off bottle, this time the wine is plain gorgeous. Very intense nose with black pepper, spices, black fruit, licorice and eucaliptus. Palate is fresh, medium bodied, rounded and lush. I experienced a lot of bottle variation with this wine. Hopefully my last bottle shows like this one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/31/2012 - tb_baltimore Likes this wine: 92 Points
An intriguing and unusual wine. I rate this highly both in terms of price performance and in terms of offering something different than the usual. The nose is cedar with overtones of floral and oak. The taste is nicely balanced and complex with a cherry finish and modest to minor tannins. I sense only a bit of Pinot Noir like character, unlike the other reviews.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/27/2012 - Rodrigo Freitas wrote: 90 Points
- Brick color with medium forming legs and aromas of ethanol. It's somewhat balanced and has flavours of coffee and sherry with a medium/full body. Linear texture with a long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2011 - indiscriminate palate wrote: 92 Points
A very elegant, food-friendly, complex wine. Cherry, herbs, some floral and savory notes. Med fine tannins, Med-plus acid. Excellent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2011 - Stefanos T. wrote: 92 Points
Elegant medium bodied youthful wines. Much different impression than last time I had this wine, which was not so long ago... This time nose was much fruititer and cleaner with black cherry, raspberry and plum. Also tannins this time were much softer... Very nice young wine. Puts to shame many Pinot Noirs of double the price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2011 - Stefanos T. wrote: 91 Points
Fantastic nose, very expressive, intense, open and complex - remarkably so despite its youth. Meaty and smoked cured ham notes along cherry and very pinot noir-like fruit. Ready to drink although still tannic. Refreshingly high acidity balances fruit in this medium bodied wine which exhibits spiciness, dark bitter chocolaty notes and violet notes. Good length. Curious to see how this ages. Remarkable wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/10/2011 - Periko wrote: 87 Points
Popped and poured. Medium intensity on nose, red fruit, compote fruit, truffles, chocolate and smoky aromas. Medium-bodied palate, a little heavy (maybe due to high serving temperature), quite fruity, medium finish. Improved on 2nd day.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/20/2011 - Periko wrote: 90 Points
Tasting session with Raul Perez (Barcelona): 6th wine of the night. Dark cherry color. Both red and black ripe fruit on nose, medium intensity, coffee, chocolate. Slighty dry palate, red fruit, medium finish. A steal for less than 10€. (90-91).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/17/2011 - Periko wrote: 85 Points
Popped and poured. This bottle was not as intense on nose to start, compared to a previous bottle and felt a bit heavy on palate, probably due to palate fatigue (last bottle of 4). Over time, however, the nose showed more intensity with liquorized fruit, spices, flowers. Palate still felt somehow heavy. Next time I should decant (84-86).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/6/2011 - Periko wrote: 91 Points
Opened for 2 hours. Medium to dark color. Intense nose of red berries, cassis, candy, spice. Very elegant palate, medium to full bodied, lush, right acidity, no harsh edges, medium finish. Incredible wine for a ridiculous price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment