95-pointer Galician red under $20!

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The press GOES CRAZY for Mencía!

New York Times nailed it with “always with beguiling, exotic aromas of wild red fruit… Bierzo is a region of tremendous potential with wines that are distinctively its own” as this wine is unlike anything else we can point to. In the whole wide vinous world, it’s simply unique. Uniquely scrumptious too!

Lovely, brilliant lipstick ruby red centered with crimson swirls. Cranberry, pomegranate, raspberry, wild bramble, and smoky cured meats resonate on the nose. Once sipped, this is all about texture, at once it grips with borderline grainy tannins, while a fresh streak of juiciness keeps it all in balance. The finish has more red fruits, believe it or not, with blueberry skin and plummy accents adding to its intrigue. Enjoy it with roasted fowl, free-range chicken, lamb, or a paella overloaded with saffron and veggies.

Julie Glenn for USA Today pleaded “Spain, I owe you an apology. I always seem to forget that you offer a wealth of delicious and affordable wines… Your Mencía grape from Bierzo is better than any mid-tier red from California… one of my all-time favorite grapes because it is so big on flavor. Chocolate and tobacco can often be found in descriptors of Mencía, and Losada Vinos de Finca adds an earthiness and some herbal notes making it one of the more complex wines you’ll find…”

And before Mencía even became one of the trendiest varieties on the planet, Wine Spectator called it “a Spanish red for lovers of Pinot Noir” continuing that it “may be the answer for those of us who love the fragility and refinement of Pinot Noir” and concluding with a “wish the prices could be less daunting.” Well, guess what? Mission accomplished today! As bruised and broken palates know well, a knockout Pinot this gorgeously fruited yet so affordable is quite the rare bird.

At the original $30 price tag, this is a world-class red that drinks twice, maybe thrice as good. At $19, it’s a “drop all you’re doing and pile up” level of priority.

95 Points – James Suckling

“Attractive, ripe and bright purple berries with raspberries here, too. The palate has a silky, elegant and plush feel with fine and sleek tannins, carrying fruit in fresh mode. Drink now or hold.”