Castro Ventosa 'Vino de la Villa' Valtuille - Mencia

The 2019 Mencia from Bierzo, Spain is a remarkable wine crafted by Raul Perez, a globally - renowned and humble winemaker. He started making wine for his family's winery in 1994 at 22, earning widespread acclaim. His wines truly express the essence of their origin villages and vineyards. This 'Vino de la Villa' is a blend of three old - vine Mencia parcels in Bierzo. Each vineyard has a small amount of other co - fermented grapes, adding depth, complexity, and allure. It's a full - bodied and serious wine with an enticing aroma of spiced blackberries, raspberries, wild herbs, and black licorice. Well - integrated tannins support the flavor, and it has a pleasant, long finish with a crushed gravel note. Perfect to pair with pastrami sandwiches or grilled artichokes with Timut pepper aioli.

To enjoy this wine, first, let it breathe for about 30 minutes to an hour before serving. Pour it into a wide - bowl wine glass to enhance the aroma. Serve it at a temperature around 60 - 64°F (15 - 18°C). It pairs really well with pastrami sandwiches or grilled artichokes with Timut pepper aioli as mentioned. When storing, keep it in a cool, dark place, lying the bottle on its side to keep the cork moist. Avoid exposing it to direct sunlight or extreme temperature changes. If you open the bottle but don't finish it all, re - cork it tightly and store it in the refrigerator. It should still be good for a couple of days.