Encrucijada

Spain
Bierzo
2021

From Alto de Valdecañada in Ponferrada. A blend of 90% Mencía 10% Palomino from 80-year-old goblet-pruned vineyards.  Grapes are foot-trodden (pigeage à pied) on whole clusters, followed by fermentation in clay amphoras and gentle maceration without implementing the pumping over technique.  It ages for nine months in used 500 liter French barrels. 

97 points
"All of the wines from 2021 have considerably less alcohol than the counterparts from 2020, reflecting the much cooler condition of the year. The 2021 Encrucijada has a moderate 12% alcohol and retained very good acidity. It's perfumed and elegant; the plants are happier after being recovered from being abandoned, and the cool vintage lifted the wine up. It's fresh, tightly wound, very tasty and fine, with elegant tannins. It has to be the most elegant and balanced vintage of Encrucijada so far. 1,700 bottles were filled in October 2022."
Luis Gutiérrez,
Wine Advocate
8/10/2022

SKU/Code: 
DB3869-21
Product Line: 
Wine
Red
Varietal: 
Mencia
Farming Type: 
Organic