Mencia wines tend to exhibit earthy, vegetal characters with berry nuances and stony minerality. Bright complexion with a vivid maroon color, relatively fresh acidity and tannins, often with an herbal dimension of mint or thyme.
This Spanish variety of Galician origin was rediscovered in its homeland of Bierzo and Ribeira Sacra in 2002 and this is the only planting of the variety in the Willamette Valley. The nearly 2-acre block is planted with four different clones. It is grown on the highest and rockiest volcanic site at the Eola Springs Vineyard in the Eola Amity Hills AVA and as it does in its homeland the variety delivers a distinctive minerality and dark volcanic soil character to the tannins of this wine. The grapes were fermented half destemmed and the rest whole-bunch with foot treading for the first few days, the cool fermentation was intensely fragrant with rose, musk, and blue fruits that morphed into exotic paprika, chorizo, and sumac aromatics. This wine is a shapeshifter but we believe we have captured the essence of the variety in the Eola Amity Hills AVA in this bottling.
11.5% Alc. by Vol.
Rose petal, honeysuckle and lavender effuse from this new and aromatic vintage of Mencia. As is classic with our house style, this wine is lighter bodied yet maintains texture and distinctive tannin. White pepper, crushed gravel and graphite compliment the palate of this characterful wine.
65% Whole Cluster fermentation in open top stainless steel fermenter. Aged in concrete egg and 500 liter puncheon for 15 months. Hand harvested September 16, 2021. 350 cases produced. Demeter certified Biodynamic wine.
12.1% Alc. by Vol.