Bodega y Viñedos Castro Ventosa - Bierzo DO - Mencia - Red - 2024

Wine:

With its deep color, the 2024 Bierzo Red Mencía opens with vibrant aromas of dark fruit, wild blackberry, and violet—all wrapped in remarkable freshness. The palate is silky and precise, delivering juicy fruit flavors within a fresh, fleshy texture, finishing with a subtle peppery lift. It’s a deliciously seductive wine, ready to enjoy now and over the next five years. A Selection Committee favorite, rated 92/100.

Vinification:

Manual harvest over 25 days. Fermentation with indigenous yeasts. Aged for 3 months in 5,000-liter oak casks.

Color:

Deep ruby red with hints of violet.

Nose:

The nose reveals an intense bouquet of dark fruit and wild blackberries, lifted by violet notes and a striking sense of freshness.

Palate:

The palate seduces with its silky texture and juicy fruit, supported by a fresh, fleshy and precise structure, with a peppery and deliciously indulgent finish.

Temperature:

Serve at 14–16°C.

Food and wine pairing:

Lamb tagine with prunes, roast beef in a herb crust, goat cheese or Manchego cheese.

Cellar aging:

From now until 2030

A powerhouse partnership! When Raúl Pérez, the “little prince” of Bierzo, joins forces with César Márquez, a master of winemaking, the result is nothing short of electric.

At Castro Ventosa—an ancient Roman site surrounded by vineyards—these two standouts of Spain’s new-generation winemakers continue to drive the region’s revival with creativity and precision. Drawing on a heritage of old vines and native grape varieties, they craft wines that are refreshingly vibrant, impeccably pure, and defined by their finesse.