2023 Guimaro Mencia, Ribeira Sacra, Spain

The perfect intro to the wines of Ribeira Sacra and one of the greatest values in wines today. Dark-fruited but with tons of energy and lift, from multiple plots of Menca vines with an average age of 40 years old.

The region has been producing wine since the Roman era, and Pedro Rodrguez is blessed with a collection of old-vine local varieties including Menca, Sousn, Brancellao, Merenzao and Caio. Through sheer will and determination, he undertakes the backbreaking labor this terroir demands to reveal wines of unmistakable energy that, frankly, are simply delicious.

Pedro vinifies naturally: organic fruit fermented with a large proportion of whole clusters, in open-top vats sans temperature control or any additions. They are bottled unfined and unfiltered, and with a minimal dose of sulfur.

We consider the wines of Gumaro essential drinking for lovers of true terroir-expressive wines.