Technical Sheet

Winery: Viñedos Propios, Ponferrada (El Bierzo). 2,000 bottles per year and hand-harvested.
D.O.: El Bierzo
Vintage: 2017
Alcohol: 14.5%
Variety: 100% Mencía.

Tasting notes: Picota cherry-red color with cardinal-red highlights, clean and bright.
On the nose it is intense and clean, with aromas of ripe red fruit and undertones of spices, rockrose, and rosemary.
On the palate it is rounded and fresh, with smooth, balanced tannins, good structure, and a long finish with a fine, elegant aftertaste.

Serving temperature: 16ºC

Winemaking: Made as a single-varietal Mencía from its vineyard located in Los Barrios, in the Bierzo wine-growing area, which has characteristics that differ from other parts of the region. Its wines are therefore distinctive, while still representing part of this terroir. It is aged for 19 months in new French oak barrels.

Pairing: At Made in Spain Gourmet, we believe it is perfect for pairing with red meats, roasts, game, botillo, cured meats, and aged, semi-aged, and creamy cheeses made from either sheep’s or goat’s milk, as well as white meats.

D.O. Bierzo (Denomination of Origin)

The Bierzo region is located in the northwest of the province of León, within the Autonomous Community of Castilla y León, and covers an area of 2,954.28 square kilometers, representing 18% of the province’s total surface area. Geographically, it borders the provinces of Ourense, Lugo, and Asturias and serves as a communication axis between Galicia, León, and Asturias. It has a distinctive Mediterranean microclimate, with milder temperatures than neighboring areas, and its low altitude generally prevents late frosts, which is highly favorable for the harvest. The harvest usually takes place one month earlier than in the rest of Castilla and La Rioja.

Extreme temperatures occur in winter and summer, with an average of 12.3ºC; average lows of 3.6ºC are recorded in the cold months and highs of 23.6ºC in the warmest months.

Rainfall is around 721 mm in an average year. Average annual sunshine is estimated at 2,100 to 2,200 hours of sun throughout the year.

In El Bierzo, vineyards are mainly planted on moist brown earth soils, slightly acidic and therefore free of carbonates, typical of humid climates.

The degree of acidity ranges from 4 to 8.5; in the valleys, values above 6 predominate.

The determining quality factors are found on gently sloping terraces where the vines are very close to rivers, on semi-terraced hillsides, or on steeply sloping vineyards at altitudes between 450 and 1,000 meters.

Grape varieties

El Bierzo is a fertile land where different grape varieties are grown, all adapted to the characteristics of the soils and climate. The wines protected by the Denomination of Origin must be made exclusively with the following varieties: Mencía, Garnacha Tintorera, Godello, Doña Blanca, and Palomino.

Mencía

The main red grape variety of Bierzo, representing 74.5% of the grapes grown in the production area. A low-yielding variety with early budding and early ripening. The cluster is small and medium-compact. The berries are medium-sized, uniform, and blue-black in color. The pulp pigmentation is not colored.

Garnacha Tintorera

A red grape variety representing 2% of the grapes grown in the production area. It is also known as Alicante Bouschet. A low-yielding variety with early budding and medium-early ripening. The cluster is large and medium-compact. The berries are medium-sized, uniform, and blue-black in color. The pulp pigmentation is strong and has a reddish color.

Estaladiña

Less than 2 ha under vine. Also called Pan y Carne. Early budding and veraison, early ripening. It is a medium-yielding variety. The cluster is small, with small blue-black berries. The pulp shows no coloration.

Merenzao

Between 2 and 3 ha under vine. Known as María Ordoña or Bastardo. A medium-yielding variety with medium budding and early ripening. The cluster is small, with medium-large blue-black berries; the pulp shows no coloration.

Godello

A white variety adapted to the terrain and hillsides of Bierzo. It represents 4% of the grapes grown in the production area. A low-yielding variety with early budding and early ripening. The cluster is small to medium in size and compact. The berries are small, uniform, and green-yellow in color. Pulp pigmentation is absent or very weak.

Doña Blanca

A white variety. It represents 2.4% of the grapes grown in the production area. It is also known as Valenciana. A medium-yielding variety with medium-late budding and early ripening. The cluster is medium-sized and compact. The berries are medium-sized, uniform, and green-yellow in color. Pulp pigmentation is absent or very weak.

Palomino

A white variety. It represents 17% of the grapes grown in the production area. Also known as Jerez or Listán. A productive variety with medium budding and medium ripening. The cluster is medium-large and medium-compact. The berries are medium-sized, uniform, and green-yellow in color. The pulp pigmentation is not colored.

Malvasía

A white variety. It represents 0.1% of the grapes grown in the production area. A low-vigor variety with early budding and early ripening. The cluster is medium-sized and medium-compact. The berries are medium-sized, uniform, and green-yellow in color. The pulp pigmentation is not colored.