2018 Cantariña Viña de Los Pinos Mencia Bierzo Spain

Cantariña is located in Bierzo in Leon, Spain. This family-owned winery is the dream of 5 siblings who wanted to rescue the family’s old winemaking tradition and the cultivation of centenary vines. The Ysart Alvarez de Toledo sibling's objective is simple “the recovery of the terroir and respect for nature in the production of wines in order to enjoy and transmit what the land offers us.”

The winery started in 2015, with the release of its iconic Garnacha label. And one year later, they incorporated other native grapes like Mencía, Merenzao, and Godello.

Today, the winery owns almost 30 acres of vineyards located in the most beautiful terroirs of Bierzo. All the vineyards are managed with artisanal, sustainable, and ecological viticulture, without pesticides or herbicides, and with minimal intervention. 

2018 Cantariña Viña de Los Pinos Mencia is one of the hidden gems in Bierzo. An icon. The result is impressive. A fresh and easy-to-drink Spanish red blend. Decanter called it."A benchmark for natural wine lovers."  This wine has a very limited production.

Aging: 11 months in French oak foudre.

90% Mencía, 10% Doña Blanca, Palomino, Garnacha. This is a Mencía in its sweetest expression, which shows strawberry, and ripe red flowers. On the palate, it is lively with beautiful acidity and soft tannins. Deep, mineral, and earthy. Drink this wine slightly fresh. 

Astonishing aromas: anise, menthol, cut herbs, and rubbed sage. The palate has juicy layers with plenty of fine tannins, mouth-watering acidity, and notes of black tea, juniper berry, cassis, and an earthy, stony edge. A benchmark for natural wine lovers. Very long and truly interesting (and enjoyable) ~96 Decanter

Color: cherry, garnet rim; Aroma: wild herbs, dried herbs, ripe fruit, expressive; Mouth: tasty, balsamic, spicy, easy to drink. ~91 Guía Peñín

The nose of the 2018 Cantariña 2 Viña de los Pinos, from the Paraje Las Gundiñas in Villafranca del Bierzo, has notes of iron and blood, earthy and dusty, with marked rusticity. It's austere, and the finish is very dry, despite the volume and the 14% alcohol. It might need time. 6,084 bottles and 184 magnums were produced. It was bottled in August 2020. ~Robert Parker.

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