Pittacum Aurea Mencia 2011

Cellar for up to 3 years. Decant 1 hour before serving.

The wine region of Bierzo in northwestern Spain is renowned for its deep, aromatic red wines made with the indigenous Mencia grape. The sloping vineyards and well-draining soils help to expose the vines to plenty of sunshine while helping them to cope with the rains rolling in from the nearby Atlantic Ocean. The winery Bodegas Terras Gauda works some 200 small individual plots in the region which are all harvested by hand and carefully blended together to give a complex, well-defined expression of Bierzo’s unique terroir.

This exquisite Mencia is made exclusively with grapes sourced from the winery’s Finca Areixola vineyard which contains vines over a century old. The grapes are harvested in small crates to minimise damage and undergo a rigorous selection process when they arrive at the winery. The wine is then vinified and aged in oak barrels for 14 months before being allowed to rest and mature in the bottle for an additional two years until it is released.

The old Mencia vines help to give this wine an inky ruby hue and charming aromas of red berry jam, mountain herbs and hints of minerality. The first sip reveals intense redcurrant, cherry and sweet spice flavours which are balanced by a fresh acidity and smooth texture.