2023 Quinta do Estranxeiro 'O Estranxeiro' Tinto Mencía, Galicia, Spain

Made by Eulogio Pomares and Rebeca Montero of Zárate, who launched the Quinta do Estranxeiro project in Ribeira Sacra in 2019. It is mostly Mencía from steep terraced, bush-trained vines over 50 years old, from a Sil river site with slate and granite and a cooler Miño river site on granite. It ferments spontaneously with native yeast, macerates for about three weeks, and ages in large neutral wood and concrete before bottling. Fresh red berries, tart plum, dusty earth and balsamic notes feel energetic and expressive, like a juicy, wild red for dinner with friends.