Dominio de Tares Cepas Viejas Mencía 2011 (Spain) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine is a sneak preview of a wine that will be in the LCBO in a couple of weeks as part of the October 17 VINTAGES Release.

Dominio de Tares is located in El Bierzo, within the province of León in the northwestern part of Spain, just north of Portugal. The estate is surrounded by top quality vineyards with plantings of indigenous varietals, the majority being Mencia and Godello. The goal of this winery is to produce to produce wines that express the true terroir of the DO Bierzo and its long tradition of winemaking.

This red wine is made from the Mencía grape, from bush-vines that are 60+ years old on lime and calcareous slate soils with high ferric content. It was hand harvested bunch-by-bunch and fermented using natural yeasts over 12 days, followed by malolactic fermentation, and aged for 9 months in French and American oak, plus another 6 months in bottle.

Tasting Note:

DOMINIO DE TARES CEPAS VIEJAS MENCÍA 2011 - DO Bierzo, Spain (#379891) (XD) - $29.95

Curranty red fruit, flower and woody aromas from the cork. Medium+ intensity nose that goes back and forth between savoury and fruity with freshly tilled earth, blackberry, dark currant with hints of herb and spice. The palate is medium+ bodied with appealing eucalypt, black licorice, dark currant, earth flavours. Quite complex. It's well-balanced with mouth-watering acids, and in a good place right now. Hints of violet on the long finish. Dusty tannins with good structure will drink well for the next 5-7 years. The braille on the label is an interesting touch that reads "Cepas Viejas" and translates to "Old Vines". Perfect for pairing with lamb. Score: 90 pts