86 2005 Cuatro Pasos - Bierzo 3/7/09 ($11)
100% Mencia 13.5% alc
Color: Medium black cherry. (3.0) Bouquet: Light tart cherry and black raspberry with good acidity and some mineral. A little non-descript though. (2.0) Body: Silky mouthfeel with very good acidity and smooth fruit. Middleweight. (3.0) Flavor: Parallels bouquet, but sweeter and fuller in the mouth. (2.5) Finish: Parallels flavor with herbal/mineral nuances lingering. (2.5)
Overall: Good entry-level Mencia with nice Pinot Noir-likecolor and an excellent silky mouthfeel with very good acidity. The bouquet is a little weak. The herbal/mineral nuances with a little sulfur in the flavor and finish are interesting, but could use more fruit and complexity. Reminiscent of a lighter-styled Italian Pinot Noir. Solid for the price. (13)