Brezo Tinto, Bodegas Mengoba

The red 2022 Brezo Mencía is juicy and primary, a bit raw and grapey, with the character of the pure variety. In reality, it has 10% white grapes and 5% Garnacha Tintorera (or Alicante Bouschet) in the blend, which gives it some added complexity. It has moderate ripeness, 13% alcohol and a serious palate, and it's medium-bodied with very fine tannins. Really good in its segment. It fermented with 20% full clusters in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts and was bottled unoaked. - Luis Gutiérrez

The red 2020 Brezo Mencía contains some 15% Alicante Bouschet (a.k.a. Garnacha Tintorera) from vines in Valtuille and Villafranca del Bierzo. It was produced in a juicy and herbal way, with freshness and a light to medium body, moderate alcohol (13.5%), fine tannins and good freshness. This fermented with 20% full clusters and was bottled unoaked to keep the juicy fruit and freshness from the grapes. Light and easy to drink. - Luis Gutierrez

Sorte bær i næsen. Flot frugt koncentration med sorte kirsebær, animalske noter, let røg og vilde urter. Yderst flot og præcis syre. En spændende vin, som man bare får lyst til at tage et glas mere af. Fremragende køb! - Thomas Rydberg

Rustik i udtrykket med sorte bær i næsen. Flot frugt koncentration med sorte kirsebær, animalske noter, let røg og vilde urter. Yderst flot og præcis syre. En spændende vin, som man bare får lyst til at tage et glas mere af.

Giv den nogle timers ilt. Stor, ligefrem munter frugt, der holdes i ave af en stram struktur og en præcis syre; det er rigtig vin, det her, balancen er imponerende. Ganske mineralsk og stålsat karakter. Mange krydderier og en del sødme. Tanniner til sidst, er nok endnu bedre om et par år. Glimrende til maden (gråand) og et fund til prisen. - Niels Lillelund

The spicy and peppery 2019 Brezo Mencía could make you see why some people compare Mencía with Cabernet Franc (they are completely unrelated), with that herbal twist that gives this wine an Atlantic freshness and a somewhat wild profile. This clearly transcends its price category; it's a sophisticated, unoaked old-vine Mencía from old vineyards where is always a small percentage of other grapes, such as Alicante Bouschet, Doña Blanca... It's sleek, elegant and polished, fresh and easy to drink, nicely crafted. Truly impressive.

The entry-level red 2017 Brezo Mencía follows the path of the 2016 vintage, with its fruit-driven but complex nose and its serious palate. It's perhaps a tad riper than the previous year, denoting a very warm growing season. This contains some 15% Garnacha Tintorera but can still be labeled as a varietal wine. It fermented with 80% full clusters and was bottled unoaked. 45,000 bottles produced. - Luis Gutierrez

I loved the nose of the 2016 Brezo Mencía as soon as I put my nose in the glass. It was floral, a little heady, expressive and intoxicating, with notes reminiscent of malted cereals, decayed violets, earth and spices. The palate is juicy with a soft, approachable texture, very nice balance and freshness and a tasty finish. As it comes from old vineyards, it always contains a percentage of other grapes, mostly Garnacha Tintorera. This looks like a steal! - Luis Gutierrez

The 2014 Brezo Tinto is a blend of Mencía with some 15% Garnacha Tintorera (aka Alicante Bouschet) from a majority of clay soils in Valtuille. Some 20% of full clusters were used in the fermentation in stainless steel vats. The wine is bottled unoaked. It shows a smoky, intense profile that made me think of the reds from the northern Rhône, with some bacon and violets, very floral overall. The palate has lively acidity and a great texture, complex and rich enough without being heavy. In fact, it's medium-bodied and quite fluid. This is great value and great introduction to Bierzo. 50,000 bottles produced - Luis Gutierrez