92 2010 Raul Perez Vico Mencia (Bierzo) 3/2/13 ($30)
100% Mencia 13.5% alc
Color: Deep black cherry garnet. (3.0) Bouquet: Minerals and elegant earth complement concentrated black cherry, papaya and guava fruit. (3.0) Body: Racy acidity/minerality driven fruit. Light heavyweight that's perfectly balanced. Silky mouthfeel. (3.5) Flavor: Parallels bouquet, but fruit is more flamboyant. (3.5) Finish: Not as expressive as flavor at this point with a slight bitterness. Red and blue fruits linger. (3.0)
Overall: Delicious, concentrated Mencia fruit flavors of black cherry, papaya and guava with just a kiss of incense. Racy acidity and mineral driven structure along with excellent balance give this light heavyweight outstanding aging potential. The flavor is particularly expressive. The finish shows a touch of heat, adding a little bitterness, but nothing the fruit can't handle with time. Drink now for all that delicious fruit or give it 3-5 years to gain more elegance and complexity. Splits the difference between New World fruit and Old World character. (16.0)
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