2021 Envinate Ribeira Sacra - Lousas Seaone

The Ribeira Sacra in Galicia, northwest Spain, is a storied ancient wine region that fell into neglect and obscurity in the 20th century and came roaring back onto the serious wine scene a couple of decades ago. It is a spectacularly steep set of river valleys studded with tiny, terraced, slate-and-granite-rich parcels of old vines, most of which are planted with mencía, a beautifully terroir-expressive red variety. ‘Envínate’ (= “wine yourself"!) is a collaboration of four friends from different parts of Spain who met in enology school and then banded together to make wines from Galicia and the Canary Islands. Both regions are strongly influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, resulting in wines of freshness, elegance, and moderate alcohol.

Seone (pronounced “shao-nay”) is a single parcel of pure slate soils and 80+ year old vines at 400 meters altitude in the Amandi subzone of Ribeira Sacra. The farming here is practicing organic. The grapes - 95% mencía and the remainder other local red varieties - are foot trod (100% whole cluster), fermented with indigenous yeasts, and aged for 11 months in older 500-liter barrels. 13% alcohol. Cherry and kirsch aromas leap out of the glass, along with floral, herbal, and slate-y mineral notes. Decanting won’t hurt, but the wine is plenty expressive poured right out of the bottle. It has great acidity and gentle tannins. Serve it with a very slight chill in Burgundy stems. Drink it with pork dishes, barbecue, or even heartier seafood (calamari, octopus, tuna). And if you’re disposed to aging wine, don't hesitate to stash away a bottle for 5-10 years.