Ponte da Boga Bancales Olvidados 2021

Bancales Olvidados is made by Ponte da Boga, a Galician winery established in Terras Caldelas in 1898 and now part of Corporacion Hijos de Rivera. It is single variety Mencia from small plots on the steep terraced slopes above the Bibei and Sil rivers, the heart of D.O. Ribeira Sacra. This is heroic viticulture, where vines cling to narrow stone terraces too steep for machinery, so everything is done by hand. The slate and granite soils and the river canyon's cooler, Atlantic influenced climate are central to the style. They slow ripening and preserve acidity, giving Mencia its fresh red fruit, floral lift and stony minerality rather than heavy alcohol. The wine is aged ten months in used French oak barrels. Because the barrels are not new, they add little wood flavour and instead allow a gentle oxygen exchange that softens the tannins while keeping the fruit clean and fresh. It is medium bodied, with red berry and cherry fruit, black pepper, a smoky mineral note and a savoury finish. Serve at around 15 to 16C; it suits grilled meats, pork and mushrooms.