O Gran Meín Tinto 2021

O Gran Meín Tinto comes from Viña Meín, a family estate in D.O. Ribeiro whose land appears in Galicia's history books beside the monastery of San Clodio, tied to the origins of Ribeiro in the 11th and 12th centuries. The wine is a blend of two native Galician red varieties, Caíño Tinto and Brancellao, both suited to the region's cool, damp Atlantic climate and its granite and slate soils. That climate keeps ripeness low and acidity high, giving a light-bodied wine at 12.5 percent with a fresh, savoury character. After fermentation the wine is aged for eleven months in separate containers by variety, a gentle regime that allows slow oxygen exchange to soften the firm tannin and acidity native to these grapes while adding little obvious wood flavour, so the fruit and site lead. It is pale to medium ruby, with redcurrant and sour cherry on the nose lifted by crushed herbs, black pepper and an earthy, mineral undertone. The palate is light and sappy, with fresh acidity, a fine grippy tannin and a saline, persistent finish. Serve lightly chilled at around 15 degrees. Lovely with poultry, game birds and oily fish.