Staining purple-ruby with bright pink edges.  Big fresh-baked-bread initial blows off to an intense green stemminess over layers of crisp wet minerality.  The early roundness of the fruit never leaves, and blossoms to fabulous salted licorice and leather.  If you haven’t experienced Mencia, this is an outstanding example to try and an incredible bargain.  The nose never slows down, paying out massive chunks of fruit and funk.  In the mouth, instantly rich while acidic–a TEXTBOOK food-wine–nice and watery over the middle but green apricot and floral throughout while pencil-lead and walnut-shell slowly bring everything to a mildly tannic finish.  The beauty is, it drinks so amazing with or without food.  Just a stunning bottle of wine for the price.

2014 FINCA CUARTA Mencia Ribeira Sacra DO Spain 14.0