2023 Vinos Valtuille Pago de Valdoneje

Aromas of wild raspberry, dark plum, and violet petals integrate with savory notes of licorice, crushed stone, and a hint of Mediterranean scrub. The palate is medium-bodied and exceptionally supple, featuring a core of juicy red fruit and a smooth, velvety texture. It displays a balanced structure with fine-grained tannins and a bright acidity that leads to a long, expressive finish marked by a touch of black pepper and a cooling mineral lift.

Winemaker Marcos García utilizes 100% Mencía grapes sourced from eighty-year-old vines. In the cellar, the fruit is partially de-stemmed and fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel tanks to emphasize the primary fruit and floral aromatics. The wine undergoes a gentle maceration to build mid-palate weight while keeping the tannins polished and approachable. It matures for several months on its fine lees in neutral vessels, a process that adds a subtle creaminess and structural depth without the masking influence of new oak.

The fruit is grown in the village of Valtuille de Abajo within the Bierzo region of Northwest Spain. The site is defined by its gentle slopes and unique soils composed of clay and sand with a high mineral content. These ancient vineyards benefit from a transition climate where the humid Atlantic influence meets the dry heat of the Spanish interior. This specific terroir allows the Mencía to develop its signature aromatic complexity and elegant, medium-bodied structure, resulting in a wine that captures the rustic yet refined essence of the Bierzo valley.