Videos / Episode: 42 - 93pt Wine from Spain made from the Mencia Grape

Spain has been the hippest country in the wine world for years now, and with young winemakers discovering old vineyards on a regular basis, the excitement is not about to stop. Recently, the most exciting red grape to rise from the dust is Mencia, from the Bierzo region in the northwest part of the country. On the lighter, more aromatic side, the grape was once thought to be an ancient clone to Cabernet Franc. In a recent Food & Wine feature, the magazine suggests Mencia as a wonderful alternative to Pinot Noir, calling it "The grape for the person who loves Sonoma Coast Pinot's fresh berry notes. Bierzo's seriously old vines and slate and granite soils that give the wines balance and minerality." One of the most exceptional Mencia's we've tried is from Descendientes de José Palacios, the new Bierzo project from Alvaro Palacios, one of Spain's greatest winemakers. With layers of fruit and spice and an elegant structure, you won't find a more concentrated, unique expression of the Mencia grape. Wine drinkers are only beginning to discover the allure of this grape, and there are still relatively few examples imported into the United States. As always, Marketview Liquor is on the cusp of upcoming wine trends, and we've got a handful of delicious Mencia in stock!