Veronica Ortega 2023 Cobrana

This hard-hitting field blend (Mencia, Godello, Dona Blanca, Palomino Fino, et al.) comes from a blend of vineyards in the village of Congosto, averaging around 750 meters above sea level. Soils are blue slate and red clay, and the zone is generally one of the last to ripen in all of Bierzo (I've been told many of the top producers source fruit from here and hold the area in particularly high regard). Open-top, whole-cluster fermentation, long maceration, and a very gentle extraction lead to a wine that is both elegant and rustic at once (calling all Italian red wine drinkers). Fresh, bright cranberry fruit, florals, spice, and a gaminess all ring out from this truly complex wine. The tannins are young but quite fine; I get the feeling this wine would do quite well in the cellar.