Escalada do Sil Valdeorras 6/750 2015

60% Merenzao, 30% Mencia, 10% Garnacha Tintorera. Vines planted in 1993. Tended in slate and granite sandy soil with traces of clay at 1,640-2,460 ft elevation. In essence: Old vine Merenzao from Valdeorras, organically farmed, fermented whole cluster, aged in 500 liter French barrels for 15 months to produce a mere 425 6-packs.

VINIFICATION AND AGEING:
Whole cluster maceration for 28 days followed by fermentation. Once fermentation has taken place, the wine is pressed and aged in 500 liter French oak barrels for 15 months. After one month of natural decantation, the wine is gently filtered then bottled.

TASTING NOTES:
Opaque ruby. Sexy mineral- and smoke-accented dark fruit, incense and potpourri scents are complemented by suggestions of cola and smoky minerals. Sweet, seamless and concentrated, offering intense boysenberry, cherry liqueur and violet pastille flavors that become livelier and spicier with aeration. Sappy, palate-staining and lively; subtle tannins fold smoothly into the lingering blue fruit. -- Josh Raynolds.

Expert Review

RATING HISTORY: 2016 93JS; 2015 93View from the Cellar, 2015 90W&S, 2015 90JS; 2014 95JS

Food Pairings

Pair this wine with fine cuisine such as oven-roasted duck, medallions of venison, grass-fed or Kobe beef steak, or simply prepared pan-fried merluza (hake). The wild red berry profile of this wine also pairs well with wild mushrooms such as chantere