Regina Viarum Mencía 2022

A splendid wine made with grapes collected by hand from south-west facing vineyards on steep slopes in the town of Doade (within the Amandi region of Ribeira Sacra). The warmth of the slate and schist soils helps the fruit to ripen and adds personality to the wine. Located at a midway point between the Atlantic and Mediterranean climates, the ripening process here is perfect and gives the wine an excellent balance between maturity and freshness. Grapes are destemmed and crushed ready for a 72-hour maceration at very cool temperatures. The must then undergoes a controlled fermentation with daily racking (delestage) and pumping over at a maximum temperature of 28 degrees to extract all the colour, aromas and complexity. Standing for 6 months on its lees in stainless steel tanks, rather than wood, preserves its fruity character. Displaying a transparent and deep Picota cherry colour with violet glints, Regina Viarum is a flowing wine but also a splendid example of typicity. Lifting the glass near your nose for a moment is long enough to recognize it as a Mencia wine. It combines wild red fruit with fine notes of smoke, redcurrants and cherries, alongside hints of ash and pepper. Serving it cool will bring out its Atlantic character, but around 16º it offers a depth rarely seen in wines at this price. Fresh and smooth in the mouth with a balanced acidity and elegant and polished tannins, it has a pleasant and lingering fruity and herbal finish. An ideal partner for a fresh tuna steak or a semi-hard cheese.