Bodegas Mengoba, Bierzo
Bierzo ligger i den nordvestlige del af Spanien. Interessen for Bierzo er stigende, og som vinregion ser det lovende ud - der er lokale druesorter af høj kvalitet og de bedste vinmarker er veldrænede med skifer og granit i jordbunden; helt perfekt for at lave mineralske vine med karakter. Rødvinene i området bliver primært lavet på lokaldruen Mencia, der giver afbalancerede og frugtige vine....
Trukket på skallerne og dermed en orangevin. Meget parfumeret og blomstret i næsen. Masser af abrikos- og ferskennoter i smagen. En meget vellavet vin, som jeg blindt ville have svær ved at gætte var mencia eller godello. Bedste orangevin, jeg har smagt til dato!
The amber colored 2017 Mengoba las Tinajas was fermented and macerated with the skins for 10 months in clay tinajas (amphorae), and if you tasted this blind, it would be almost impossible to guess Bierzo or Godello. It does have a different character form most "orange" wines, though, as it is more perfumed, nuanced and fresher, with peach aromas and flavors, a velvety texture and ultra-fine tannins. It's super tasty and long, very showy and in this challenging vintage every bit as good as the already amazing 2016. One of the best in its class. It was bottled in March 2019. This doesn't wear the DO back label either, for obvious reasons. - Luis Gutierrez
The orange wine 2016 Mengoba las Tinajas has more of a golden color and a captivating nose of quince paste and white pepper. It's produced with Godello from Bierzo, but the style of wine is not approved by the appellation of origin and therefore sold as a generic Vino Blanco. The destemmed grapes are left whole and placed in four 500-liter terracotta tinajas (amphorae), where the wine fermented and was kept in contact with the skins for ten months. Skin contact can be overdone, but that's not the case here, where the varietal character is still noticeable and the palate is very tasty but not that tannic. This vintage feels very lively and fresh in the palate. I really liked this very much; it's among my favorite wines of this style in Spain. 1,100 bottles. - Luis Gutierrez
he 2015 Mengoba las Tinajas is a Godello sold without appellation of origin. The wine was amphorae-aged and fermented with some skin contact (four months) and followed by a further five months in the same amphorae once it was pressed, providing a deep golden color and notes of quince paste but still keeping the varietal character of the grape. The palate is dry and revealed some fine tannins from the skins. It's tasty and full bodied, very apt for food. Only 900 bottles were filled in June 2016. - Luis Gutierrez
There is a new top of the range white, a pure Godello fermented and aged in amphorae simply called 2014 Mengoba las Tinajas ('tinaja' means amphora). The grapes are sourced from old vines in Arganza on clay-rich soils. The grapes fermented in contact with the skin in 300-liter clay amphorae where it stayed for three months. The wine was bottled unfiltered and unfined in June 2015. It has a cloudy, orange-like color that made impossible for the appellation to accept it as a young white wine, so it's sold without the appellation. I cannot say I'm a fan of amphorae wines, as I find the they are too often marked by the container more than by the origin and even grape variety, but this feels quite fresh, not earthy at all. There are some notes of morel mushrooms and curry that made me think of 'flor' in a Jura way, which gives it a strong personality. This is truly different and very tasty, with that umami/salty feeling and great acidity that would make it really apt for the table. Unfortunately, the scarcity is reflected in the price. Only 800 bottles were produced - Luis Gutierrez
