Casa Aurora Clos La Nave Mencía 2023

Grape: Mencía
Vintage: 2023
Type: Red

Sourced from a tiny parcel of centenarian mencía vines in Bierzo Alto, this mountain red wine reflects a site-specific focus. Winemaker Germán Blanco manages these steep terraces organically, where the roots struggle through decomposed granite and slate soils. The hand-picked grapes are foot-trodden and fermented spontaneously with a high proportion of whole bunches in open-top vessels. Aged entirely in neutral oak barrels before an unfiltered bottling, it preserves an unmanipulated mountain identity.

It pours a translucent ruby-purple color, opening with vivid aromas of wild blackberry, crushed violets, and white pepper. On the palate, the light-to-medium body is racy and energetic, pairing crunchy red currant fruit with a distinct whole-cluster stem structure. Fine-grained, vertical tannins provide a smooth framework that coordinates nicely with the mountain acidity. Subtle notes of damp earth and wild thyme develop across the fluid mouthfeel. It finishes completely bone-dry, leaving a lingering trail of graphite.