Mencia

Mencía, known as Jaen in Portugal, is a medium-bodied grape that produces high-quality wines with a bouquet of floral and red fruit flavors.

It is primarily found in the Spanish regions of Bierzo, Ribeira Sacra, and Valdeorras, and in the Dão region of Portugal. Traditionally, wines made from Mencía were light, pale, and meant for early consumption. However, a new generation of winemakers has been producing more concentrated and complex wines, especially from old vines on hillsides with schist soils.

This has led to a renewed interest in Mencía. The grape is known for its high levels of terpenoids, which translate into enchanting flowery aromas, alongside notes of strawberry, raspberry, black licorice, pomegranate, and cherry sauce. On the palate, Mencía offers peppery flavors of sour cherry, red currant, and pomegranate, complemented by a bitter cherry pit note from the tannins