Castro Candaz A Boca do Demo 2020

Castro Candaz A Boca do Demo is a Galician red from D.O. Ribeira Sacra, made by Raul Perez from old-vine Mencia. The vineyards sit on the steep slate terraces above the Mino river, where the schist holds little water and forces the vines deep, giving small concentrated berries and the graphite minerality typical of the appellation. The Atlantic-influenced climate brings cool nights and a wide diurnal range, preserving acidity and fixing the perfume of the grape. After fermentation the wine spends twelve months in foudres, large oak vessels that allow slow oxygen exchange and soften tannins without overlaying heavy vanilla, so the fruit and the soil stay in the foreground. The colour is deep cherry red. The nose carries wild raspberry, dark cherry and violet over crushed stone and black pepper, with a faint smoky edge from the wood. On the palate it is medium bodied and savoury, with fine grippy tannins, fresh acidity and a mineral finish. Serve at 16 to 17 degrees, decanting young bottles for half an hour. It suits roast beef, game birds and mushroom dishes.