Winemaker Notes
Deep crimson hued with violet undertones in appearance, the 2021 vintage opens with intriguing, well-delineated aromas of ripe, juicy mulberry and Queen Anne cherry that give way to fragrant yet subtle notes of cedar and aromatic bay leaf. Beautifully balanced, with structural support provided by a vein of long, silky, black tea-like tannin and a touch of mineral-like salinity which adds tension through to an elegant, energetic finish.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Herbal undertones of sage and eucalyptus enhance the wine’s plummy aromatics. Blue fruits deepen to purple plum and black cherry, surrounded by black tea tannins. Structure exists within its approachable frame while an earthy mid-palate forecasts a savory finish of dried violets and charred oak.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2021 Mencia Ribeira Sacra is a dark red/purple color. In the glass, it reveals notes of dark stones, pepper, wild blackberries, and a wonderful meaty character. In the cellar, it was aged for one year in 500-liter puncheons. Full-bodied, it takes on a Rhône-like character with hearty structure and a long finish.
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Vinous
The 2021 Mencía Alvaredos-Hobbs hails from Ribeira Sacra, where it aged in barrels. Purple-hued, it presents black fruit, earthy mushroom, wild herb, pomegranate and violet hints. It's leaner in texture, with some edges and bold freshness. The 2021 is grippy yet balanced, with some edges and bold freshness. It finishes long and flavorful, combining richness and maturity with energy and depth.
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Wine Spectator
Beautifully fragrant and enticing, with aromas of mace, cured tobacco, sandalwood, violet and graphite. This draws you into the glass, where the silky texture carries a bright, focused range of plum skin, steeped black cherry, smoke, milled pepper and anise. Long and plush on the well-spiced finish. Mencía and Garnacha. Drink now through 2031.
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James Suckling
Sandalwood, briars, violets, dried lychees, pepper and ripe mulberries. Juicy and plump, with a medium body and firm, fine-grained tannins. Botanicals and juniper in the long finish. Drink now.
When acclaimed vintner Paul Hobbs arrived in Spain in 2015, he traveled to a remote village in the northwest region of Galicia. There, he met with Antonio Lopez, a local viticultor who introduced him to Alvaredos, a small town surrounded by mountains and vines planted on steep, terraced slopes. Together they explored the vineyards, smelled the soil, and quickly realized their mutual desire to unearth the potential held in these ancient sites and indigenous varieties.
After a long drive together back to Madrid, a lifelong partnership was established. After nearly 20 years, Antonio fulfilled his ardent desire to pay tribute to the small village and his grandfather who introduced him to the land when he was a child. The project also represents a new opportunity for Paul to champion one of the oldest and forgotten corners of viticulture in Spain by honoring its unique history while playing a role in elevating the region for present and future generations.
Primarily found in the Bierzo, Ribeira Sacra and Valdeorras regions of Spain and in the Dão of Portugal (where it is called Jaen), Mencia is an early ripening, low acid grape that can produce wines of great concentration, complexity and ageability. And yet Mencia once suffered from a poor reputation and deemed capable of producing simple and light red wines. Post-phylloxera growers would grow this variety on low, fertile plains, which produced high yields and uncomplicated finished wines. Somm Secret—The recent rediscovery of the ancient, abandoned vines planted on rugged hillsides of deep schist has unveiled the potential of Mencia and added discredit to its old reputation.
Located in the center of the Galician region in northern Spain, the Ribeira Sacra is one of Spain's most beautiful vineyard areas with stunningly breathtaking views. Vines are planted in the steep valleys and precipitous gorges of the Rivers Miño and Sil that wind through Galicia's lush green countryside. The Ribeira Sacra region has similar dramatic landscapes as the Mosel or Douro Valleys, but a more sparse population and a tranquility unmatched. The region gained official DO status in 1996.
Both white wine and red wine production are dominated by blends of local Galician grapes, with varietal wines being the exception. Today, while the region has seen some consolidation and modern stainless-steel equipment is widespread, winemaking remains artisanal. This reflects the tiny landholdings and farmhouse wineries, along with a traditional and predominantly organic approach to viticulture. With such low yields and often minuscule production levels, these wines are highly sought-after and can be difficult to find on the export market.
Ribeira Sacra DO’s principal white grape varieties tend to be highly fragrant and include Albariño, Doña Blanca, Godello, Loureira, Torrontés and Treixadura. Principal red grape varieties here include Mencía, Brancellao, Merenzao, Caiño, Sousón and Tempranillo.