Up in the northwest corner of Spain’s Galacia region sits the Ribeira Sacra. Not to be confused with the Ribera del Duero. This region is more temperate and isolated. It is, however, not the first region that is thought in discussions of Spanish red wine.
Wine’s like the 2011 Don Ventura “Viña Caneiro” may change that. It is hard to ignore the rich plum, cherry, and roasted strawberry notes. This mencia is juicy with fruit flavors and high acidity. On the palate the chalky minerality combined with the fruit notes give the wine depth and complexity.
This full bodied red wine would pair well with a range of culinary delights. Keep things simple with a focused platter of Spanish themed charcuterie and cheese. Or, go in for a bit more cooking like we did tonight. The wine sang with the bangers, grilled asparagus, and mixed green salad. The wine’s high acidity cleanses the palate and tempers the rich fruit flavors. It’s acidity is not so high that this wine would not be equally enjoyable by the glass sitting on the porch unwinding after a busy day.
SARAH FITZGIBBON 