Rodrigo Méndez - Cies Tinto, Val do Salnes, Rias Baixas, Spain (2021)

TASTING NOTES

Gorgeous wine! A slightly Cab Franc type nose with herbaceousness, tomato leaves and green bell pepper. Crunchy red fruit, salty snap and fresh herbs. Bright, pure and chill able. Red wine for seafood and seaside vibes.  

'Cies' is the name of an island in Rias Baixas.

Coming from vineyards between 60 and 80 years old planted on sandy granitic soils at 70 meters above sea level. Manual harvest, with destemmed grapes that ferment in stainless steel tanks. Controlled alcoholic fermentation with native yeasts. Malolactic conversion and aging for 12 months in used French oak barrels (225 litres) and 1,500 litre foudres.

Red grapes used to dominate the Galician viticulture landscape, but the popularity of Albariño, lack of popularity for light reds and replanting of vineyards make them a real rarity these days. Arch-traditionalists like Rodrigo Mendez are working hard to reintrodcue them to the world.