Michelini i Mufatto A Merced El Canto Bierzo 2016

Organic

94 pts Wine Advocate
The single-vineyard 2016 A Merced del Bierzo El Canto comes from a plot in San Lorenzo in Ponferrada, 0.7 hectares of north-facing vines on slate soils. The mixed grapes from the old vines fermented together with full clusters and indigenous yeasts in tinaja, where the wine macerated with the skins for five months. It was then transferred to used barriques where it aged for 15 months. It felt very compact and complete, with more freshness than the 2015. This is the vineyard they liked better from the two plots they used for the A Merced label, the more vertical one, and this is the one that is going to continue in the future (they have already vinified 2017 and 2018). 2016 is a balanced and fresh year, and this wine has a superb palate with piercing flavors and citrus, blood orange-like freshness. 2,500 bottles were filled in May 2018.

100% Mencia sourced from the El Canto vineyard near the town of San Lorenzo. The soils here are slate and quartz with a northern exposure. 100% whole clusters, crushed by foot; fermented with native yeast in clay amphorae and macerated on the skins for five months with no punchdowns or pumpovers, then aged for eight months in used French oak.