Pittacum Val de la Osa 2019

Pittacum Val de la Osa is a Mencía red from D.O. Bierzo, made by Bodegas Pittacum in Arganza, León. The century-old Mencía vines are planted on loamy soils across slopes, worked entirely by hand and picked into small 12-kilogram boxes to keep the fruit intact. Bierzo sits in a sheltered basin where Atlantic and continental influences meet, giving Mencía its combination of ripe red fruit and fresh, mineral acidity. The old vines and slope planting reduce yields and add depth. After a selection table, the grapes ferment for around twenty days in a 20-hectolitre tank at controlled temperatures, with light pump-overs for gentle extraction that draws colour and tannin without harshness. The wine then spends twelve months in French oak barrels, where slow oxygen exchange softens the structure and adds a light spice. The colour is medium cherry red. The nose shows red berries, cherry and plum, with black pepper, a hint of liquorice and an earthy, savoury edge. The palate is medium bodied and fresh, with fine tannins and a long finish. Serve at 16 degrees with red meats and game.