2021 Casar de Burbia - Mencia Hombros (750ml)

Casar de Burbia is a small organic estate in Valtuille de Arriba, in Spain's Bierzo region, where winemaker Isidro Fernández crafts a range of wines centered on Mencía, the area's signature red grape. The family farms roughly twenty-seven acres of vineyards at varying elevations and soil types, and Hombros draws specifically on some of the estate's oldest, most storied plots.

Hombros comes from vines ranging between fifty and a hundred years old, selected from plots chosen for their character across the property. The grapes undergo a cold pre-maceration in stainless steel before fermenting spontaneously with native yeasts, and once fermentation finishes the wine remains on its fine lees for up to two months to build texture before moving into barrel for aging. Production is limited to under ten thousand bottles per vintage.

The wine shows bright cherry and blueberry aromas layered with floral and spice notes. On the palate it is vibrant and full, with juicy, polished tannins framing ripe blue fruit and a touch of crushed violet, closing on a long, mineral finish. Pair it with grilled veal, roast venison, or a rustic game stew.