Spain is hot. Every few weeks it seems there's a new region that's the coolest thing in wine. One region that's been on the radar for about a decade now but never really challenged for fad status is Bierzo, in northwestern Spain. Along with Ribeira Sacra, a small region inside Galicia, Bierzo's reds are made with a grape called mencía. I'm actually glad Bierzo hasn't caught on, because that means the wines, when we can find them, are affordable. You can read my take on the wines of Bierzo and Ribeira Sacra in today's Washington Post.
After I wrote this column, I had opportunity to taste another sample of Ribeira Sacra: the Viña do Burato 2008 ($18) is another good example of the mencía grape. Fermented in stainless steel and bottled without a whiff of oak, it is lively and fresh and light on its feet at a mere 12% alcohol.
PS - A special salute on this Veterans Day to all members of the U.S. armed forces, past and present. Thank you for your service.
I Live in the area of the Ribeira Sacrá and I cannot find this wine. Is it for export only? Can you tell me the name of the Bodega please?
Posted by: Ian | November 18, 2009 at 05:52 AM
Ian - The importer tells me that Viña do Burato is from D. Ventura, which is a new project by Ramón Losada in Ribeira Sacra. They also produce Peña do Lobo and Viña Caneiro.
Posted by: Dave McIntyre | November 18, 2009 at 07:07 PM