Aba Solleira Ribeira Sacra Mencía 2018
WineSpark Price €22.25
If the jaw-dropping scenery, stunning medieval buildings and gorgeous Galician food of Ribeira Sacra weren't enough, the wine is pretty good too...
- The main grape variety here is Mencía, which you’ll also find down the road in Bierzo. It's closer to the Atlantic coast here so you get a fresher and more elegant style of red
- The combination of granite and slate soils give the wines great depth and complexity - usually at a very gluggable 12-13% alcohol
- And you can't but admire the human achievement to make great wine from the land here. It’s harsh, steep and remote - they’ve been refining their craft for hundreds of years.
Given the conditions, it’s a region of small, fragmented production. So you need to know the best producers, and Carlos Rodríguez is right up there in Ribeira Sacra.
After 20 years’ consulting for big wineries in Rioja, he started his own project called Aba Solleira in 2017, where his wife Emi and her family are from.
The 2018 was their second vintage, and shows you exactly what good Mencía from this part of the world is all about.
It's a blend of a handful of south-facing plots on granite soils. It’s a bright, fresh and creamy red starting to turn beautifully earthy and savoury with age. If you like a good Marsannay or Crozes Hermitage, then this is for you!
| Wine type | Red |
| Grape(s) %'s | Mencia 100% |
| Country | Spain |
| Region of origin | Galicia |
| Appellation | Ribeira Sacra |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Alcohol % | 12.50% |
| Oak? | 60 % of the wine aged in oak |
| Months in Oak | 12 |
| Type of Oak | tank of 3500 liters, french oak |
| Allergens (e.g. does it contain Milk, Egg, Fish, Nuts) | sulphites |
| Average age of vines | 25 |
| Average altitude of vines (m) | 350 |
| Soil type(s) | granite |
| Closure Type | DIAM |
| Is this wine organic? | no 100% but mostly |
| Biodynamic? | no 100% but mostly |
| Sustainably produced? | yes |
| Suitable for vegans? | yes |
| Ageing potential (years) | 5-6 years |
| Ideal drinking window (e.g. 2021-25) | 2020-2024 |
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