Bodegas y Viñedos Merayo, Las Tres Filas Mencia, DO Bierzo, Spain, 2023

Producer Profile

There is an intriguing balance between young and old taking place at Merayo, where 80-year- old Mencía bush vines give up their fruit to young, dynamic winemaker Juan Merayo.

Juan then crafts wonderful wines full of the fresh, perfumed character and ripe red fruit associated with this grape variety. The grapes are hand-picked with appropriate reverence for the age of the vines before undergoing the temperature controlled ferments and sensitive use of French and American oak that ensure Juan creates the expressive wines he is looking for.

Viticulture

From vineyards planted with bush vines averaging 80 + years old, some up to 120 years old, with a yield of around 4500 kilos per ha.

Winemaking

Fermentation in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. Aged for 6 months on its lees in American and French oak barrels.

Tasting Note

Cherry red with violet hues. Intense, fresh, elegant nose where red fruit, strawberry and raspberry sensations dominate, as well as floral and violet notes. In the background, very well integrated vanilla, tobacco and minerals. Elegant and silky. On the palate it is fresh, with red fruit. Round, soft, silky tannin. Balanced acidity, freshness and varietal notes dominate in perfect harmony with wood flavours that give the wine complexity. The oak ageing is well integrated and very elegant.

Food Matching

Cured beef, roast turkey and lamb!