Tilenus Mencía Roble 2022

Tilenus Mencía Roble comes from Bodegas Estefanía in D.O. Bierzo, the sheltered valley in north west Castilla y León where Raúl Pérez built his reputation. The fruit is drawn from old Mencía vines, some over a century old, rooted in the region's mix of slate and clay over a continental climate moderated by Atlantic influence. That cool, wet edge and the broken slate give Bierzo Mencía its characteristic freshness and graphite minerality, while the warm summers ripen the dark fruit. After fermentation the wine spends ten months in French and American oak, a measured ageing that softens the naturally firm tannins and lends vanilla and sweet spice without burying the variety. The colour is deep ruby. The nose leads with dark cherry, plum and wild bramble, backed by liquorice, damp earth and a stony mineral note. On the palate it is medium to full bodied, with ripe but structured tannins, fresh acidity and a savoury, mineral finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees, decant young bottles for half an hour. It suits roast lamb, grilled beef and earthy mushroom dishes.