F. Algueira : Pizarra 2017

A pure mencia that comes from the Carballocobo, the vineyard the producer started with 30 years ago. The nose is slightly evolved, with some prune and balsamic aromas, but the palate is fresh and juicy, with a linear profile, supple tannins and a lovely, ethereal finish. Drink now.

The 2017 Pizarra Algueira, a Mencía blend from Doade in Ribeira Sacra, was made during a warm vintage. Fermented with stems and macerated for nearly 50 days, it shows garnet tones with balsamic, saffron, black fruit and dried fig aromas. Its stony texture dominates the palate, accompanied by a tannic structure reflective of the warm year. The 2017 is a red that mirrors the character of the vintage.

There is very high ripeness and some heady aromas in the 2017 Pizarra along with abundant dusty tannins that remind me of the profile of the wines from the turn of the century, with more extraction and tannins. 6,500 bottles produced. It was bottled in August 2019.