Ribeiro, Galicia, Spain
This is one unbelievably delicious, tangy, and compelling Mencia! Nestled at the eastern edge of Galicia, the Ribeiro DO is one of Spain’s most fascinating and compelling wine regions. Famed for their white wines, a mere 15% of Ribeiro’s production is red, and usually a blend of indigenous varieties. The Bodegas O’Ventosela’s Gran Leirina is crafted from 100% Mencia grown on sandy, granitic soils in the Ribeiro’s finest climats near the Portuguese border. The Gran Leirina casts an opaque plum ruby hue, followed by pure, peppery black fruits mingling with hints brown spices, tangy acidity and smoky granitic minerality. Lightly tannic, juicy, and driven by its granitic backbone, the wine adds suggestions of cracked black pepper, star anise, cinnamon, tobacco, and persistent waves of smoky, mineral-driven cherry and plum fruit. The O’Ventosela Gran Leirina will prove a lovely partner over the coming three years with roast pork, chorizo, paellas, tapas, grilled mushrooms, braised rabbit, and recipes featuring smoky pimenton.
