Thursday, October 15, 2026 red wine review is a lovely Mencía from the DO Bierzo appellation in Spain that made its debut at the LCBO over the long weekend as part of the LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.
It is produced by Estévez Bodegas y Viñedos, a small, family-owned winery with a winemaking heritage dating back to the late 19th century. While the modern winery was established by Helios Estévez in 2015, its roots go back to his great-grandfather, Ramón, who acquired vineyards in Valtuille de Abajo, Bierzo, in northwestern Spain, in the late 1800s using money earned while working in Brazil.
In the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, the family settled in Mexico. Helios later emigrated to Mexico to join his father, who had been exiled there. During his time in Mexico, Helios worked in the vineyards while developing a strong desire to return to Bierzo and continue his family's winemaking heritage. In 2015, that dream became a reality with the help of his wife and four children, as they established the family venture in the small village of Valtuille de Abajo.
The focus at Estévez Bodegas y Viñedos is on caring for the old vineyards of Valtuille de Abajo. The winery works with six small, distinctive vineyard plots planted primarily with Mencía and Godello. Each offers its own characteristics in terms of soil composition, elevation and sun exposure, and all are tended to by hand. Along with three village-level wines, including this Mencía, Helios is particularly focused on producing single-vineyard wines that express the terroir of each site.
This red wine belongs to the village-level tier of Estévez's Versos de Valtuille range, which translates to "Verses from Valtuille." The name refers to the poetry Helios Estévez wrote while living in Mexico, expressing his longing for his ancestral home in Valtuille de Abajo, in Spain's Bierzo region. In much the same way, the wines of Versos de Valtuille are born in the heart of the village and seek to express its landscape, traditions, and history.
To craft this 100% Mencía, the grapes were selected from a blend of old vineyards in Valtuille de Abajo, with vines averaging 75 years of age and grown at elevations of 500–550 metres above sea level. The vineyards feature a diverse range of soils, including clay, slate, limestone, and pebbles. At the winery, the grapes underwent wild fermentation using indigenous yeasts in 7,500-litre French oak foudres, and remained in oak for 8 months of maturation.
In 2024, Spain's growing season had its share of highs and lows, with exceptionally heavy rainfall presenting significant challenges in some regions. However, the impact varied across the country. Situated in the province of Castile and León in northwestern Spain, Bierzo experiences a mix of cool Atlantic and warmer continental influences. Despite the challenges, the 2024 vintage produced fresh, precise wines in Bierzo. Let's see how this 2024 Mencía from Bierzo is tasting tonight...
The fresh, medium+ to medium-high intensity nose is ripe with wild dark berry, blackberry, black cherry, mulberry, and wild herb aromas layered over notes of savoury, earthy mineral, and spice. The crunchy, mid-weighted palate is dry with delicious wild dark berry, blackberry, wild herbs, black cherry, earthy mineral, and spice flavours in a clean, well-balanced profile. Acids are fresh and juicy, while the ripe tannins are smooth, refined, and gently grippy. Savoury, stony, and earthy notes linger on the long and juicy finish. Should drink nicely to the end of the decade and is a highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts
One ultra-premium wine by Estévez Bodegas y Viñedos is available in very small quantities at the LCBO, while the full range can be ordered through their Agent - DB Wine & Spirits.
It is produced by Estévez Bodegas y Viñedos, a small, family-owned winery with a winemaking heritage dating back to the late 19th century. While the modern winery was established by Helios Estévez in 2015, its roots go back to his great-grandfather, Ramón, who acquired vineyards in Valtuille de Abajo, Bierzo, in northwestern Spain, in the late 1800s using money earned while working in Brazil.
In the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, the family settled in Mexico. Helios later emigrated to Mexico to join his father, who had been exiled there. During his time in Mexico, Helios worked in the vineyards while developing a strong desire to return to Bierzo and continue his family's winemaking heritage. In 2015, that dream became a reality with the help of his wife and four children, as they established the family venture in the small village of Valtuille de Abajo.
The focus at Estévez Bodegas y Viñedos is on caring for the old vineyards of Valtuille de Abajo. The winery works with six small, distinctive vineyard plots planted primarily with Mencía and Godello. Each offers its own characteristics in terms of soil composition, elevation and sun exposure, and all are tended to by hand. Along with three village-level wines, including this Mencía, Helios is particularly focused on producing single-vineyard wines that express the terroir of each site.
This red wine belongs to the village-level tier of Estévez's Versos de Valtuille range, which translates to "Verses from Valtuille." The name refers to the poetry Helios Estévez wrote while living in Mexico, expressing his longing for his ancestral home in Valtuille de Abajo, in Spain's Bierzo region. In much the same way, the wines of Versos de Valtuille are born in the heart of the village and seek to express its landscape, traditions, and history.
To craft this 100% Mencía, the grapes were selected from a blend of old vineyards in Valtuille de Abajo, with vines averaging 75 years of age and grown at elevations of 500–550 metres above sea level. The vineyards feature a diverse range of soils, including clay, slate, limestone, and pebbles. At the winery, the grapes underwent wild fermentation using indigenous yeasts in 7,500-litre French oak foudres, and remained in oak for 8 months of maturation.
In 2024, Spain's growing season had its share of highs and lows, with exceptionally heavy rainfall presenting significant challenges in some regions. However, the impact varied across the country. Situated in the province of Castile and León in northwestern Spain, Bierzo experiences a mix of cool Atlantic and warmer continental influences. Despite the challenges, the 2024 vintage produced fresh, precise wines in Bierzo. Let's see how this 2024 Mencía from Bierzo is tasting tonight...
Tasting Note:
ESTÉVEZ VERSOS DE VALTUILLE MENCÍA 2024 - DO Bierzo, Spain (#50750) (XD) - $22.95The fresh, medium+ to medium-high intensity nose is ripe with wild dark berry, blackberry, black cherry, mulberry, and wild herb aromas layered over notes of savoury, earthy mineral, and spice. The crunchy, mid-weighted palate is dry with delicious wild dark berry, blackberry, wild herbs, black cherry, earthy mineral, and spice flavours in a clean, well-balanced profile. Acids are fresh and juicy, while the ripe tannins are smooth, refined, and gently grippy. Savoury, stony, and earthy notes linger on the long and juicy finish. Should drink nicely to the end of the decade and is a highly recommended buy! Score: 90 pts
One ultra-premium wine by Estévez Bodegas y Viñedos is available in very small quantities at the LCBO, while the full range can be ordered through their Agent - DB Wine & Spirits.
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