2012 Lagar de Robla “Premium”, Castilla y León, Spain (Alcohol 14%, Residual Sugar 4 g/l) LCBO Vintages $14.95 (750ml bottle)
It’s not so often that one has the opportunity to taste/drink/guzzle an aged Mencia, especially at an accessible price like this. At $14.95 this lovely bottle of wine from northwestern Spain is a real no-brainer.
Whilst the bouquet is quite reserved, it is also unusually complex and tertiary with fennel, funky underbrush, mocha, and woodsmoke supporting a solid (and spicy) core of ripe black tree fruit (think cherries and damsons). Fellow Winewriter David Lawrason hit the nail directly on the head when he mentioned Turkish Delight aromatics when it comes to this wine… now every single damn time I put my nose to the glass all I can smell is the chocolate covered Turkish Delight of my youth in the UK. It smells truly wonderful.
In the mouth this complexity continues with some excellent structure peeking out from under that deliciously ripe black fruit, although this time dipping into more berry fruit than the aforementioned cherries and damsons. There’s a decent mineral thread running through the palate also that gives the wine a fair bit of lift.
At this killer price I can see this wine being my go-to bottle for as long as stocks last; although the LCBO website is currently showing no bottles, I know for a fact that there is some available at my local store.
(Four apples out of a possible five)
Edinburgh-born/Toronto-based Sommelier, consultant, writer, judge, and educator Jamie Drummond is the Director of Programs/Editor of Good Food Revolution… And that’s a real steal.
