Coming Soon - 2024 Envinate Lousas Vinas de Aldea 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...
Herbal, bloody and ferrous, with dark and wild berries. The palate is medium-bodied with focused, nervy tannins and incisive acidity, showing a more mellow profile than the 2023, with a fluid, slightly more ethereal expression of fruit. From multiple plots in Amandi, Quiroga and the Miño area, each vinified separately with varying proportions of whole bunches. Aged mostly in barrique with a smaller proportion in cement. Drink or hold.
96 points
Jacobo García Andrade - JamesSuckling.com