While walking through an LCBO late one afternoon, I decided to pick up this Mencia from Brieza DO. I am not too familiar with this grape and thought I would give it a try.
Visually, the wine is medium ruby with slight rim variation but still very youthful. It displays a few slow-moving tears for viscosity. On the nose, cherries dominate with some currants, cherry cough syrup, wet leaves and cola. On the palate, it is dry, with medium-plus alcohol, grippy medium-plus tannins, medium-plus acidity and medium-plus body. It has a medium-plus finish. Red fruits (cherry, currants, pomegranate) are forefront.
Why I liked it.
It had a nice balance between the acidity, tannins, alcohol and body. The wine displayed a robust style yet was not overpowering with oak and fruit.
What I pared it with.
I had the Mencia with boeuf bourguignon.
What I didn’t like about it.
I did enjoy the wine and would purchase it again though I felt the wine was too rustic for the boeuf bourguignon. It would have been better with pepper steak or spicy sausage or perhaps even turkey.
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