
Reviews
Technical Details
- BlendMencia
- CountrySpain
- RegionBierzo
- AppellationBierzo
- Alcohol14%
Bodegas y Vinedos Luna Beberide ART Bierzo 2018
70+-year-old vines, from the high elevations of Bierzo, and one of our under-the-radar favorite grapes – MENCIA! This is a treat that is singing right now...for only $27!
This is truly an insider Bierzo red we’ve been loving for years here at First Bottle, and the 2018 is one of the very best yet. The cherry on top of this great, complex, immensely enjoyable wine is the PRICE! We direct-import it for over 50% OFF what you’d pay elsewhere, and boy, it does deliver! Frankly, this is one of the best deals of the year, as this is an epiphany-level wine. This is one of the hottest and fastest-growing categories in the wine world right now (especially among young sommeliers), and Luna Beberide is at the front of the pack.
The winery was established in 1987, but its mencia vineyards (pronounced men-theee-ya) are distinguished by age – 70-plus years old on average, with some plots over 100 years old! Alejandro Luna, who is in charge of operations here, is one of the region’s most influential vintners – a champion of old vines, and classic Bierzo vines that highlight these traditional varieties. The vineyards have been reared under the careful hand of none other than Mariano Garcia since 1998. If you know Vega Sicilia (and really, who doesn’t know Vega Sicilia), Mariano was their star oenologist for years and years. He took oversight over vineyard farming as he was a long-time family friend.
The wine is a pure and aromatic delight – with notes of high-toned wild berries, violets, hibiscus, and roasted coffee. The flavors are wild, berry driven, and savory, with plenty of spice and roasted, gamey herb notes. This is crazily complex and with plenty of structure and acidity to continue development over another decade. Mencia done well is one of the most unique wine experiences you can have – even long-time pros are sure to be blown away by this wine. Just fantastically delicious stuff at a truly killer price! This is definitely a star on the rise!