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Dave Baxter's avatar

My corner wine shop has a Bierzo Mencia for $15 that is just about the best $15 red wine I've ever had. I regularly head over there and nab one on a whim. I may buy out their stock all by myself at this rate! I do need to try some Godello, though. I don't think I've spotted any before.

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Kazumi's avatar

Thank you for your comment. Last month, I sampled around 100 Godello and 20 Mencía wines, most priced under €25, with a few premium selections. It's an exciting Denomination of Origin (DO) to explore!

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Mark Spivak's avatar

Excellent post. I haven't tried that many examples of Mencia, but I'm a big fan of Godello (particularly the barrel-fermented or aged variety, which display a lot of complexity).

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Kazumi's avatar

Thank you for your positive feedback. We tasted about 100 Godello from both DO Bierzo and do Valdeorras during the press trip. Some barrel-fermented Godello are like Burgundian in style (I mean, fruitier version though). I agree with you. I also love the complexity, with freshiness.

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Vicky Hampton's avatar

I definitely need to explore Bierzo's wines some more. I've tried a few Mencias, but I don't think I've had any of their Godello at all. Another wine to add to my to-drink list!

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Kazumi's avatar

Mencía and Godello can be great alternatives to Burgundy! Some of my favorites include the renowned Raúl Pérez and Álvaro Palacios, but this time, I was also blown away by Verónica Ortega’s Mencía and Pittacum’s Godello—both absolutely fantastic!

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Vicky Hampton's avatar

Thanks for the tips!

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