2024 Mencia
$35.00 / bottle
Never tasted Mencia before? May as well start now! A new variety to Australia, it’s packed with violet florals, cherry syrup, and a bright, punchy, savoury palate. Whip up some Paella and settle in for a long lunch (and lifelong love affair) with this Spanish beauty.
Specifications
RegionRegion
100% McLaren Vale
Winemaker
Corrina Wright, 6th Generation
Grape Variety
100% Mencia (pron. MEN-THEE-A)
History
With 300 acres of premium grapevines on the Taranga property, the Oliver family has over 50 blocks representing different grape varieties, clones, soil types & vine ages. Each vintage, different varieties & blocks will show their strength and from this has been born the ‘SMALL BATCH’ range. These wines have been handcrafted to speak of both the variety and the vintage in which they have been produced.
Reviews
Dusky, moody florals, deep red, purple and blue – like a sultry old-school perfume but without the sombreness – immediately declare variety, with blueberry, tart wild blackberry, briary herbs and gamey hints reinforcing the impression. This was fermented with native yeasts and saw no additions bar sulphur. Mid-weight, vibrant and varietally on song, along with a briny, iodine mineral edge suggestive of place, this is an excellent example. 94 points
- Halliday Wine Companion
Already the Queen of Fiano, Corrina Wright is a go-getter and I reckon she's claimed the Queen of Mencia title too. One of the first to bring Mencia to McLaren Vale, her fruit is now sourced by a few others in the region. The quality is unquestionable and it has continued to surge since its first release in 2016. Serve this at the right temperature (18 degs) and it's absolutely humming. Black cherries, sour cherries, black currants, dark chocolate soil (the stuff you get in those fancy restaurants), a flash of tilled earth and some baked red berries - veneers of interest around every corner. A wave of spice washes through and just hangs - yes! Silky smooth, this glistens with its sleek lines and sumptuous presence. And just when you think all is done, that length! Another brilliant release from the Fiano Queen of Mencia. 95 points
- QWine
It might have been a cool, wet, late season but the Spanish red grape enjoyed the slow, drawn out ripening time. The ’23 Mencia is a fine follow up to the terrific ’22. The concentration, balance and length on this purple youngster – not to mention the wealth of fruit on display – is striking. Red fruits shine, loud and clear, alongside gentle florals, cranberry, baked earth and herbals with an added, discreet savoury influence. Oak provides a background nicely spiced presence. Speaks with tremendous fruit charm and warmth. What a personality. 95 points
- Jeni Port
A long way from its Spanish home, but seemingly perfectly happy, this is a wine definitely worth seeking out. The team grafted Mencia on to old Cabernet vines and they have thrived. Crimson/magenta in colour, this is a broader style of red. Florals, roasted meats, tobacco leaves, chocolate and leather. A supple and slippery texture with sleek tannins and persistence. This is an attractive wine with lingering finish. Enjoy it now, or cellar it for a couple of years. 91 points
- Ken Gargett
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