If you haven't heard of the Mencía variety before, it's very normal, since it's a red grape variety, grown only in Spain and Portugal! In Portugal, of course, they call it Jaen. Now, if Pinot Noir (in general) and Cabernet Franc of the Loire Valley (in particular) are absolutely to your taste, we guarantee that Cesar Marquez's Sufreiral, you will love it!
Cesar Marquez is a young winemaker, who in the last few years has occupied a lot of oenologists and wine critics, not only of Spain but also of the world winemaking scene. He grows his vines in the picturesque viticultural zone of Bierzo in Valtuille de Abajo and it is not by chance that he received his baptism in biodynamic cultivation, from his uncle Raul Pérez, a very famous figure who has inspired many young people, but also old ones winemakers worldwide!
Their ancestors had their roots deep in the cultivation of vines since the famous Castro Ventosa family winery dates back to 1752. But Cesar, after his studies and travels in the most important wine-growing countries, wanted to do something exclusively his own and secure a place among the pioneer Spanish Vignerons of the "new wave". Thus, in 2015, he selected the best vineyards, in the best locations of Valtuille de Abajo and, applying the Burgundy classification system, exploited the potential of the oldest vines, aged 80-120 years, of the Godello and Mencía varieties. Acre yields remained small, and each vineyard was vinified separately, uniquely highlighting each different terroir, resulting in the production of wines that received unprecedented ratings!
Sufreiral, comes from the vineyard of the same name, at an altitude of 620m, and is a blend of 85% Mencia, 12% Alicante Bouschet, and 3% white local varieties, added further to enhance the aromatic character of the red variety. After the manual harvest, 25% of the whole bunches are pressed with the rest gently and fermented in open containers for 60 days. Its juice rests for 7 days and is then transferred to French oak barrels, where it remains for 12 months.
We must also inform you that the Sufreiral vineyard is one of the most sought-after in the region because its limestone soil gives the wines very soft notes of minerality, juicy red and black fruit, and an enviable elegance. With such value for money, you should give it as a gift to yourself!
