Casa Aurora Clos La Nave Mencia 2023

Grape: Mencia
Vintage: 2023
Type: Red

Sourced from a tiny, ancient parcel in the rugged, high-altitude terrain of Bierzo Alto, this cuvée reflects Germán Blanco’s dedication to rescuing forgotten mountain vineyards. The centenarian vines are planted on steep, south-facing terraces rich in decomposed granite, slate, and clay, which naturally yields minute, concentrated clusters. Blanco utilizes gentle foot-treading and a spontaneous fermentation with a high proportion of whole bunches in open-top vessels, opting for a short maceration to preserve the grape's delicate alpine freshness. Aged entirely in old, neutral oak barrels to keep the fruit unmasked, this wine stands as a highly focused, authentic portrait of a wild, high-altitude landscape.

In the glass, it shows a translucent, vibrant ruby-purple color with bright magenta edges. The aromatics are immediately expressive, flashing notes of wild blackberry, crushed violet petals, white pepper, and a subtle hint of damp forest floor. On the palate, the whole-cluster stems provide a fine-grained, "vertical" tannic frame that gives the wine exceptional definition and structural poise. Bracing, cool-climate mountain acidity cuts cleanly through the crunchy red and black berry profile, keeping the texture weightless and fluid. The finish is long, savory, and remarkably clean, leaving a lingering, mineral trail of graphite, crushed slate, and wild thyme.