Lomba dos Ares

Spain
Galicia
2020

Lomba dos Ares is Curro & Jesus’ village wine from their oldest and steepest vineyards on the west bank of the Bibei – the river that separates Ribeira Sacra from Valdeorras. Averaging about 70 years old, the vines for this wine offer a patchwork of indigenous varieties, with Mencia comprising the largest share and varying amounts of other grapes rounding up the blend, such as Bastardo, Caiño Tinto, Negreda, Garnacha Tintorera, Aramón, etc. Fruit is hand harvested, left whole cluster and all grapes coferment with natural yeasts in tank.  The wine is made of a long, gentle maceration with pigeage for 40-60 days, followed by 10 months in oak foudres and old French barrels.

92 points
"The Lomba dos Ares bottling from Fedellos do Couto is a classic red wine crafted from the old-fashioned field blends found in the most ancient vineyards of Galicia. Mencía is the dominant grape in the blend in this steep vineyard, which also includes Caiño Tinto, Garnacha Tintorera and a handful of others. Grapes are hand-harvested, fermented together, whole cluster, with native yeasts and aged in old foudres. The 2020 Lomba dos Ares offers up a fine, black fruity nose of dark berries, pomegranate, tree bark, dark soil tones, coffee bean, sweet botanicals and chicory. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied, focused and complex, with lovely depth at the core, excellent mineral drive and grip, ripe, moderate tannins and a long, tangy and beautifully balanced finish. These vines lie on the border of Valdeorras and Ribera Sacra, on the west side of the Bibei River, but to my palate, the wine very much has a Bierzo personality to it, despite it not officially belonging to the D.O. Fine juice. 2030-2060."
John Gilman,
View from the Cellar
Issue 109

SKU/Code: 
DB3467-20
Product Line: 
Wine
Red
Varietal: 
Mencia