Envinate 2020 Ribeira Sacra Parcela Misturado de Abeleda
What a joyful wine! Misturado comes from centenarian vines of the red grapes Mencia, Merenzao, Brancellao, Caiño, Mouraton (60-65%), and the white grapes Palomino, Godello, and Doña Blanca (35-40%) in the Ribeiras do Sil region. The vines are about 600 meters above sea-level, and planted on gneiss soils with a high quartz content. Aging is in barrel for 11 months. This is a beautiful, light, and elegant red that reminds me of a cross between a really good natural wine and a fine red Burgundy. The brightness and vibrant energy of the wine is no doubt influenced by the mineral rich soils, which provide a gritty backbone. Drink now. I'm sure it could improve nicely with age, but there is a charm to the wine that I think might be best enjoyed in its youth. -EL