Avancia Nobleza Mencía

D.O. Valdeorras

Bodegas Avancia is located in O Barco de Valdeorras, in the heart of Valdeorras

90% Mencía, 10% Garnacha Tintorera, Mouratón (Juan García), Gran Negro, Sousón, Cariñena

Aeiroá. Single vineyard with three small parcels located on the southern bank of the River Sil on 30˚ slopes. Oriented Northeast.

1948-1963

Traditional dry farmed viticulture. Bodegas Avancia practices organic and does not use any chemically synthesized fungicides, pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers.

Primarily slate soils intermixed with small quantities of quartz.

Mediterranean/Continental climate with an Atlantic influence. Very cold winters and very warm summers.

Hand harvested in 10kg crates for transportation to the winery. Sorting of the bunches at the winery followed by pre-fermentative maceration and fermentation in 600L open-top neutral French barrels. 1/3 of the production went through maceration and fermentation on whole clusters, 2/3 with a traditional destemmed (but not crushed) elaboration. Very soft extraction, seeking high quality tannins. Pressed in a small, vertical basket press. Malolactic fermentation in used 225L French barrique followed by 8 months in barrel.

Eight months in used French oak barrique (2nd through 5th use). Aged for a further four months in bottle before release.

A field blend from one of the oldest and most heroic vineyards in Valdeorras, Avancia Mencía Viñas Viejas is a small production wine that exemplifies the style of the reds of Valdeorras - ethereal, mineral, floral, lifted, but with a glass staining youthful concentration that sets itself from other Galician reds. As a northern oriented vineyard site, Aeiróa ripens patiently and late in the season, which allows the grapes to maintain high levels of acidity and balance. A percentage of carbonic maceration and stem inclusion brings a crunchy texture and lift to an otherwise powerful wine.