2023 Envinate Lousas Rosende Mencia

Lousas is the name Envintate has given to their wines from Ribeira Sacra, translating to slate and a nod to the rock that marks these wines. Each of their Lousas releases are predominantly Mencia, along with a smaller component of various indigenous varieties such as Merenzao, Caino, Garnacha Tintorerra, and Palomino among many others.

Vina de Aldea is a blend of several plots from the Amandi, Quiroga, and Ribeiras do Sil subregions of Ribeira Sacra. Doad meanwhile hails from different terroirs throughout the Galician town of Doade, is Mencia dominant with the remaining 15% a field blend of various varieties. Rosende is sourced from a single vineyard from a village of the same name, and the soils here are similar to the Northern Rhone with granite crystals flecked through the sand. Finally the single vinyard pair of Seoane and Camino Novo perched on the edge of the River Sil, each featuring vines over 80 years old. While similarly located these two are very different in style, Seoane being the more lifted, elegant and immediately attractive, whereas Camino Novo is more brooding and often one of the most profound Mencia in the area.

Other Reviews....
Without a doubt, the finest Rosende to date is the 2023 Lousas Parcela Rosende. It is at the level of the Seoane. During the end of the élevage and the time spent in bottle, the wine has gained in perfume and elegance, and the meaty edge I saw in the barrel sample last year has disappeared. This is floral, perfumed and intoxicating, and it has a much lower level of ripeness, 12.7% alcohol. There are up to 15% other red and white varieties, which were picked the 13th of September. It fermented with full clusters in bins and a large concrete vat and matured in neutral 228-liter barrels and a 2,000-liter oak foudre for one year. There is a clear step up in perfume, precision and elegance here. Bravo! There are 4,960 bottles and 45 magnums of this. It was bottled in November 2024. Drink 2025-2035.
97 points
Luis Gutiérrez - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate